Airline flight academy opens to public

Aerosim instructor Lori Joachim prepares for a student in a Cirrus SR20.

Aerosim Flight Academy in Sanford, Fla., has opened its training courses to the public for the first time in five years. The academy, formerly known as Delta Connection Academy, offers career-oriented pilot training to nearly 600 students at four facilities. About 60 to 70 percent of the students are international students.

The courses include private and instrument training under Part 61 rules, as well as flight reviews and instrument proficiency checks. The school is also a Cirrus Training Center and uses Cirrus SR20 aircraft.

The school was purchased from Delta by Aerosim, the company that formerly built flight training devices and developed computer-based training courses for Delta and other airlines around the world. Aerosim has also built aviation training devices for the school. Other facilities are located at Jacksonville and Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and in Houston. Public training is available only at Sanford and Houston.

The instrument proficiency check in a flight training device based on the Cirrus SR20 is $199 for a one-day course. The flight review, VFR or IFR, is also a one-day course and can be accomplished for between $300 and $500 depending on a pilot’s currency. Costs for the private and instrument course can be obtained by e-mailing the academy.