Start your JourneyContact us

Take Your Career To New Heights

Being a professional pilot is one of the most rewarding jobs in the world. We have incredible office views with a new city or country to discover when we land. Not to mention the competitive benefits, commercial demand, and the simple satisfaction of chartering a new course. With professional airplane training at Leading Edge Flight Academy (LEFA), you can take your career to new heights. 

GET STARTED
Flight Instructors & Fleet

Flight Instructors & Fleet

Flight Instructors & Fleet

Meet our expert airplane instructors and get to know the ins and outs of our training fleet.

Meet our expert airplane instructors and get to know the ins and outs of our training fleet.

Learn More
Aviation Degree Program

Aviation Degree Program

Aviation Degree Program

Earn your Aviation Science Degree while completing your flight training program with Central Oregon Community College (COCC).

Earn your Aviation Science Degree while completing your flight training program with Central Oregon Community College (COCC).

Learn More
Flight Program Financing

Flight Program Financing

Flight Program Financing

Discover financing options available to help you pay for flight school at Leading Edge Flight Academy.

Discover financing options available to help you pay for flight school at Leading Edge Flight Academy.

Learn More

What to Expect From Our Pilot Training Program

GET STARTED

  • To maximize knowledge, skill retention, and progression, students should plan to be available at least five days per week and complete at least three training events per week. 
  • Your instructor will give you subject areas to study on your own time, so you’re prepared for all flight, ground, and simulator training events. 
  • Time and costs vary depending on the individual, but a reasonable starting estimate is $55k through commercial, $68k through CFII, and $85k through commercial multi-engine and MEI. We have financing options through Sallie Mae, and a degree program with additional financing available through COCC. 
  • The airplane training program includes Private, Instrument, Commercial, Certified Flight Instructor, and Certified Flight Instructor Instrument ratings/certificates.
  • Program completion takes between 12 and 18 months, depending on schedule availability and rate of training progression.

Accelerate Your Career With Employment at Leading Edge

So-called “accelerated airplane training” programs might quickly get you through your training hours. But then what? Students often finish their flight school training and find themselves with 200-300 hours, a considerable monetary investment, and no pathway forward to achieving flight time requirements for their next aviation career job. 

At Leading Edge Flight Academy, we bridge the gap between flight school and the airlines by offering flight instructor interviews to students who completed 100% of their training at LEFA. Due to airplane training demand, our flight instructors fly an average of 70 hours per month and can progress quickly to the hour requirement for their next aviation job. 

We’re committed to efficiently building the highest skill level at the lowest cost in the shortest time. Graduates here can continue to build experiences as instructors and, ultimately, meet their personal goals to become professional aviators in record time. 

SEE OPEN POSITIONS
column-image
column-image

Career Paths after Airplane Training

Industry demand for new pilots is robust right now, with employment expected to grow 13 percent from 2020 to 2030 and about 14,500 openings projected per year for airline and commercial pilots. What does that mean for you? Incredible career opportunities. 

From there, the possibilities are limitless.

Career Paths
Fixed wing add-ons

Additional Fixed-Wing Add-On Certificates

  • Private Add-on
  • Instrument Add-on
  • Commercial Single Engine Add-on
  • Commercial Multi Engine Add-on
  • Certified Flight Instructor Add-on
  • Certified Flight Instructor Instrument Add-on
  • Multi Engine Instructor

Aviation Partners

logo
logo
logo

FEATURED STUDENT

JACOB EDGERLY

COCC Leading Edge Graduate

When Jacob first started his flight training with Leading Edge Flight Academy, he wasn’t sure where that training would take him. Four years later, he was to begin an exciting new career with Horizon Airlines. Jacob’s journey from working line and fueling airplanes to flying commercial jets began with the support he received from our program’s expert team. Working with his COCC advisor and flight provider, Jacob was able to lay out a plan that supported his goals and helped him to get to where he wanted to go: commercial airlines.

 

“When I started flying, the college and the flight provider laid out a plan for me—where I was gonna start and where I wanted to end up… 3.5 years later, I’m going to the airlines, which is exactly where I wanted to be when I started.” — Jacob

View All
“
As a First Officer, I assist Captains in the operation of our CRJ fleet; we get to fly the 200, 700, and 900 variants to all parts of the country! As a Procedures Instructor, I teach new hires how to apply what they learn from Ground School to successfully accomplish a regular gate to gate flight. The foremost impact of my time at Leading Edge was getting to train and work alongside some of the sharpest and kindest individuals one could…I learned a staggering amount both personally and professionally. They are all inspiring and motivating to keep oneself improving and growing, which is arguably the most important habit any pilot can develop.

Steven Crowe

Steven Crowe
“
Leading Edge provided me with the exceptional training that prepared me for an awesome career as a professional aviator. The kicker is that you get to train in the dynamic and gorgeous area that is central Oregon! I couldn’t be happier with my decision to fly at Leading Edge and choose aviation as my career!

Adam Mitchell

Adam Mitchell
“
Instructing at LEFA for 2.5 years not only got me the flight hours and experience necessary to make the next step in my career, but made the transition to flying bigger/faster aircraft easier. LEFA’s safety oriented, fast paced and professional program helped me sharpen valuable skills that have been necessary to meet the high safety and punctuality standards in the corporate pilot industry.

Cullen Foss

Cullen Foss
“
After instructing I got the opportunity to work in Alaska, delivering parts and supplies to a remote gold mine. It helped pave the way to land my current job at a 135 operation. I fly C207s into the local villages delivering cargo and passengers in the Yukon Delta where driving is not always an option. It’s always good to maintain relationships in the aviation community because you never know who’s going to help you get to the next step in your career– or who you may help!

Dayne Schafer

Dayne Schafer