Professional Aeronautics Certificate (PAC)

NOW TAKING APPLICATIONS FOR PRIVATE PILOT & COMMERCIAL PILOT (STARTS AUGUST 2025).

INTERESTED?  Contact us to learn more or apply.
 

To RSVP for the May 14 Info Session, click here.

 

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The Professional Aeronautics Certificate (PAC) is an accelerated aviation training program designed for people seeking a fast-track pathway to a professional flying career. Developed in cooperation between Madison College, Wisconsin Aviation, and acclaimed flight-safety researcher Dr. Chris Johnson (bio below), the program is a unique opportunity for residents of Dane County and surrounding areas to become professional pilots locally in a safe, friendly, and flexible environment using best-in-class flight-training equipment.

• Non-degreed certificate program.
• Regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) under Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 61.
• Students earn FAA licenses and ratings to become professional aviators.
• Ground school taught at Madison College.
• Flight training conducted at the Dane County Regional Airport.
• Students can expect to commit 15-20 hours per week to the program.

PAC is designed for:

• Traditional college students
• Returning adult students seeking a career change
• Military veterans
• High-school juniors and seniors who want to dual enroll for an early start

CURRICULUM

The PAC program is designed to produce commercial pilots in just 16 months. PAC uses blended learning, combining weekly in-person classroom activities, online study, and individual ground and flight instruction. Outside of academic semesters, students have access to rental aircraft to enjoy aviation on their own while building flight experience and honing their flying skills.

Semester 1:  Private Pilot License (PPL)

• Students earn their FAA Private Pilot License in a single-engine airplane.
• Prepares students to operate safely in visual conditions.
• 70 flight hours + 5 simulation hours (front-loaded training) for a strong foundation.

 

 

 

Semester 2:  Instrument Flight Rating

• Students earn their Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) rating for their PPL.
• Designed to prepare students to fly safely in clouds and limited visibility under IFR.
• 58 flight hours + 25 sim hours to further front-load training and hone baseline flight skills.

 

 

Semester 3:  Commercial Pilot License (CPL)

• Students earn a Commercial Pilot License in a single-engine airplane.
• 200 flight hours + 50 simulation hours total experience (minimum):  PPL + IFR + CPL
• Graduates will be employable as commercial pilots.

 

 

 

Semester 4:  Flight Instructor (Optional)

• 2 Licenses: Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) + Certified Flight Instructor Instrument (CFII)
• Increased job opportunities: CFI and CFII openings can be found throughout the U.S.
• PAC graduates will be offered preferential hiring for open CFI and CFII positions.

 

 

 

Multi-Engine (Optional)

• Multi-Engine (ME) rating + Multi-Engine Instructor (MEI) or 25 additional ME flight hours
• One-on-one instruction from MEI + self-study...no classroom-based ground school.

 

 

 

EMPLOYMENT PROSPECTS

PAC graduates will complete the program with 250-300 total flight hours, and they can expect to be immediately employable by private or charter aircraft operators or by flight schools as instructors. Some graduates will finish after earning their commercial pilot license in the third semester and enter the workforce flying commercial charter or corporate aircraft, but most graduates will complete the fourth and final semester to become instructor pilots and then build their hours as instructors before applying for an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate, which requires 1500 hours of total flight time.

EQUIPMENT

• Technically Advanced Aircraft (TAA) with modern avionics
• Advanced Aviation Training Device (AATD) simulator training for rapid skill acquisition
• Advanced weather simulator designed to mimic real-world conditions and scenarios
• Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) software for management of flight documents, charts and logs

 

 

COST

The costs are estimated based on average student progression and are detailed as follows:

PAC COURSE	TUITION	FLIGHT FEES	EXAM FEES	OTHER FEES	TOTAL
Private Pilot	$590	$19,890	$1,300	$3,917	$25,697
Instrument Pilot	$590	$24,925	$1,300	$1,205	$28,020
Commercial Pilot	$590	$24,805	$1,300	$1,316	$28,011
PAC TOTAL					$81,728
OPTIONAL COURSES
Flight Instructor	$590	$18,810	$2,900	$698	$22,998
Multi-Engine	$0	$15,660	$1,300	$951	$17,911

PROGRAM DEVELOPER AND MANAGER

Dr. Chris Johnson, PhD, CFI, CFII, MEI
Prior to building the PAC program, Dr. Chris Johnson was an Assistant Professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He is an Air Force Veteran, commercial pilot, and certified flight instructor (CFI) with CFII and MEI ratings. He earned his PhD in engineering from the University of Wisconsin – Madison in 2012 where he worked for over 12 years and built the foundation of the PAC program. His company www.PilotTrainingSystem.com is a FREE online ground school with over 70,000 YouTube subscribers. Anyone still reading this can start their PPL journey today through that link.

FAQs

What are the application and participation requirements?
Applicants should turn 17 years of age in the same year they start the PAC program. Applicants under age 18 must have legal guardian or parent approval to enroll. Students must be citizens or permanent alien residents of the United States with no history of felony criminal convictions. Excessive use of alcohol or use of most prescription drugs, all illegal drugs, marijuana or any cannabis-derived products (including CBD in any form) is strictly prohibited. Substance-use violations are grounds for immediate expulsion.

Applicants must possess a valid Class 1 FAA medical certificate at the time of application, and they are expected to maintain their medical status throughout the duration of the program. Some medical certificates may be deferred 6 to 12 months or more, and students with deferred medicals will be admitted to PAC on a case-by-case basis. For more information on applying for an FAA medical certificate, please contact us.

What’s the job market for professional pilots?
Right now is an ideal time to start flight training.  The pilot-shortage crisis that the industry faced in 2017, 2018, and 2019 was only paused briefly by the COVID-19 pandemic. The demand for air travel slumped during the pandemic but bounced back to exceed pre-pandemic demand in 2023. With increases in baby-boomer retirements amidst growing demand for pilots in traditional cockpits (manned aviation) and new aviation markets (unmanned aviation), pilot hiring is forecast to be stronger than any other period in history for at least the next decade. This is why aviation companies are paying higher salaries than ever before, and many of them are offering large signing bonuses that substantially offset the cost of flight training.

What is a typical career pathway?
Graduates typically either work for private or charter operators or as instructor pilots to build the 1500 hours required to earn an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) license. An ATP license is required to work for most airlines, major cargo operators and corporate flight departments that operate jet aircraft. Flight instructors and new commercial pilots can expect to earn $40,000-$60,000 per year, and after 15-20 months of experience / hour-building, graduates typically move on to be First Officers at regional airlines or captains at charter flight departments, earning $80,000-$150,000 per year. Career airline pilots enjoy competitive salaries with comprehensive benefits packages, annual raises, union representation and travel perks for themselves and friends and family, and they can earn salaries over $500,000 within 10-12 years of joining a major air carrier such as Delta, American, United, FedEx, or UPS whose most senior Captains work only 10-13 days per month.

How are commercial pilots different from airline pilots?
Airline pilots fly scheduled passenger or cargo flights and must hold an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) license, the highest FAA qualification. However, all pilots must first start their professional aviation careers by earning their private pilot licenses. Next, they earn instrument ratings to fly in the clouds and low visibility, and then they obtain a commercial pilot license before they can apply for an ATP license. There is a minimum of 1,500 hours of flight experience required to hold an ATP license, so commercial pilots most often choose to become flight instructors and work at a school teaching new pilots while building their hours before taking the ATP licensing exam. The ATP exam is normally conducted by an airline in combination with a jet-specific type rating after hiring.

Why choose this program over a 2-year or 4-year degree?
PAC is an accelerated, targeted, vocational program for aspiring professional aviators that is more flexible, less time-consuming and faster than the rigid, full-time commitment required for an associate or bachelor’s degree in aviation. Since PAC only requires 15-20 hours of work each week, high school students can dual-enroll in PAC while finishing high school. This allows them to enter the aviation workforce 1-2 years ahead of their peers, which is valued at $150,000-$200,000 per year. PAC is also designed to attract returning adult students looking for an exciting new career. PAC allows them to work part-time to pay bills while earning their professional flight certifications. In fact, PAC is also a valuable alternative for traditional college students considering an aviation college or university. Specifically, PAC is not tied to an aviation degree, which allows our students to earn a degree in ANYTHING they choose while simultaneously earning their professional flight certifications. This has an advantage over aviation colleges whose degrees are generally related to aviation science or aviation management because those skills cannot be applied to earn money outside of aviation. PAC students, however, can earn degrees and certifications in areas outside of aviation, allowing them to work remotely while sitting around airports and hotels between flights.

What is the training schedule?
Ground school will meet one evening per week for 3 hours, and each student will be assigned a flight block on a first-come first-served basis. Students will be expected to be at the airport every other day 15 minutes BEFORE the start of their flight block. The 8 flight block times are: Mon, Wed, and Fri (MWF) or Tues, Thurs, and Sat…early morning, late morning, early afternoon and late afternoon. 

Is there an attendance policy?
To promote successful program completion, students are expected to arrive 15 minutes prior to the scheduled flight time and to be 100% committed to flying whenever the opportunity arises. Students unable to make their scheduled flight time are expected to notify their instructor at least 24 hours in advance. Failure to attend scheduled appointments may result in penalty fees. Make-up flights may be conducted on Sundays and whenever aircraft and instructor availability allows.

What will I do after graduation?
PAC graduates will typically enter the aviation workforce as certified flight instructors (CFIs) eligible to be hired by Wisconsin Aviation as well as other flight schools in the Midwest and around the United States. Flight instructors typically spend 15-20 months teaching private, instrument, and commercial students, building flight time and gaining valuable experience required to qualify for commercial pilot jobs with corporate flight departments, air freight operators, regional/national commercial airlines, or other professional aviation careers. This program is designed to progress students from zero experience to a six-figure salary as a first officer in about 40 months.

Can I use my GI Bill/Veteran benefits?
Unfortunately, GI Bill benefits cannot currently be used for flight fees under Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 61, but we are working to FAR Part 141 approval for the PAC program that will allow GI Bill benefits to be used for flight fees.

What does a weekly schedule look like?
This program is built to maintain 9-12 hours of contact learning with instructors each week, and it is expected that students will spend at least another 6-8 hours of personal home study and flight preparation, for an estimated 15-20 hours per week on average. Students will spend three (3) hours in class one day per week. Additionally, students will be scheduled for three (3) 2.5-hour flight lessons each week. Ground school courses are scheduled according to the academic calendar: PPL in fall of year 1, IFR in spring of year 1, CPL in fall of year 2, and CFI / CFII in spring of year 2, but flight training is not as rigid. Flight training can start anytime, and PAC coordinators will work with your schedule to build a program that fits. Students will coordinate closely with their instructor on scheduling, and staying on track will require commitment to work around scheduling interruptions caused by weather and aircraft maintenance. Students should be prepared to make up cancelled flight lessons on any day of the week, including Sundays if required. Other outside commitments will need to be scheduled accordingly, and students must be flexible and ready to fly when the weather and aircraft availability allows.

How do I finance this?
Financing is available through a variety of private lenders who specialize in flight training and can offer the most competitive rates. We invite you to secure your own lender, but we can recommend one of our preferred lenders after we have had a chance to review your financing plan. Loan eligibility depends on your credit history and in many cases requires a qualified co-signer.

Scholarships and grants are also available at www.FlightScholarship.info, https://www.aopa.org/training-and-safety/learn-to-fly/aviation-scholarships, and https://www.natafoundation.org/education/scholarships/, 

Are there physical/medical limitations to becoming a pilot?
Yes. All students must obtain a Class 1 medical certification and submit a copy prior to enrollment in this program. A Class 1 medical certification ensures future employment as an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP). We highly recommend you speak with us before scheduling your medical exam by clicking the link below and completing our CONTACT form. After you fill out our CONTACT form, we will contact you and can recommend a physician with the proper FAA certifications near you. 

Is insurance required?
Currently, Wisconsin Aviation provides insurance coverage for students renting their aircraft for dual flight instruction or solo plane rental. Specific coverage details can be provided by the flight school.

How do I learn more or APPLY?
CLICK HERE to submit a CONTACT FORM.