The Sky is the Limit

Take flight in a high-demand industry facing a historic need for new pilots as veterans retire. From day one, you're in the cockpit of Piper 100i aircraft with guided instruction from Paragon Flight Training, an award-winning flight academy based at Page Field in Fort Myers, Florida. Begin flying your freshman year and learn the aviation and leadership skills you'll need to transition into this industry.

For questions specific to flight training (aircraft, scheduling, training expectations, fees, timelines), please contact Paragon Flight Training directly. Our team is happy to help.

From Simulator to Cockpit

Aviation Leadership students at LaGrange don't wait to get behind the controls. Flight training begins your freshman year — building flight hours, consistency, and confidence years ahead of most pilot training paths.

Flight Training at LaGrange Callaway Airport

Training takes place just 10 minutes from campus, in partnership with Paragon Flight Training — giving students real flight time without leaving the LaGrange community behind.

Four Piper 100i Aircraft

Students train on Technically Advanced Aircraft featuring digital avionics and glass cockpits — the same systems they'll use as professional pilots.

On-Campus Flight Simulator

An on-campus simulator lets students begin training immediately, supplementing in-aircraft hours with additional practice and preparation.

Leadership & Strategy Coursework

Courses in airport planning and strategic aviation leadership prepare students not just to fly, but to lead within the industry.

18k
job openings annually over the next decade

Potential Careers and Outcomes

More than 602,000 new pilots will be needed to fly globally over the next 20 years, according to the Boeing Pilot Outlook and LaGrange graduates are positioned to meet that demand with high starting salaries and strong long-term career growth.

Job options include

  • Charter Pilot
  • Cargo Pilot
  • Airline Pilot
  • Flight Instructor
  • Aerial Firefighter
  • Test Pilot

Requirements:

  • Citizenship documentation required on birth certificate or U.S. passport.

  • FAA 1st Class Medical Certificate required (must be obtained before flight training begins).

  • Payment in full due 7 days prior to the semester start (and non-payment drop expectation, as mentioned earlier).

FAA Medical Certificate Process:

LaGrange College's Aviation Leadership program is not currently an FAA-approved R-ATP (Restricted Airline Transport Pilot) institution, meaning students are not eligible for the reduced 1,000-hour ATP minimums under FAR 61.160 through this program at this time. R-ATP approval is something we're actively pursuing, and we'll update students as that status changes.

What LC students do have is the ability to start flying their freshman year — meaning more hours, more consistency, and less time (and money) lost to gaps in training.

[Progression Plan]

Why Aviation Leadership at LaGrange?

  • $120,000+ starting salaries for commercial pilots in a historically high-demand field
  • Flight training 10 minutes from campus at LaGrange Callaway Airport
  • Four Piper 100i aircraft with digital avionics and glass cockpits
  • On-campus flight simulator for additional practice
  • Partnership with Paragon Flight Training, an award-winning flight academy