Palm Beach State, Boca Pilot Grow Aeronautics Program as Demand Soars

Palm Beach State College and Boca Pilot Training are expanding their Professional Aeronautics Certification (PAC) program to a second location at Lantana Airport as the aviation industry continues to grapple with a nationwide pilot shortage. 

The accelerated, nondegree program is designed to prepare students for careers as professional private and commercial pilots. In 12 to 16 months, students can complete 250 to 300 flight hours while working toward the FAA certifications needed to enter the aviation workforce.  

The new program, part of PBSC’s Corporate and Continuing Education (CCE) division uses a cohort model that combines classroom instruction at PBSC’s Boca Raton campus with simulator and aircraft training at Boca Pilot’s facilities at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport and Lantana Airport.  

“This partnership combines exceptional academic instruction with hands-on, industry-quality flight training,” said Deborah Gordon, Director of the CCE program. “As Boca Pilot expands to Lantana and Fort Lauderdale, our collaboration will provide even greater access to students, creating a direct and affordable pathway to rewarding aviation careers.  

Regulated by the FAA, students will be able to earn their private pilot license, instrument flight rating and commercial pilot license. The program also offers certified flight instructor and multi-engine instructor accreditation for students who want to pursue teaching roles. 

“Professional pilots get paid for their FAA licenses, not their degrees,” said Dr. Chris Johnson, the program architect and former Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University professor. “We designed this program to provide exactly what airlines are looking for — career-ready pilots.” 

After earning a commercial pilot license and logging 250 to 300 total flight hours, graduates typically continue building experience as certified flight instructors, charter or cargo pilots, corporate flight crew members or aerial survey and other specialized operators. Once they reach 1,500 total flight hours and obtain an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate, they become eligible for airline positions and more advanced corporate and cargo operations. The program is designed to produce competitive applicants prepared for long-term aviation careers, not just to help students complete certificates.  

“It’s not really a surprise that there’s a demand,” said Dr. Johnson citing the nationwide pilot shortage. “That’s why we did this. In 5 to 10 years, we have to replace 27% of the full workforce.” 

The U.S. faces strong demand for pilots, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting about 18,200 openings a year for airline and commercial pilots over the next decade, driven largely by mandatory retirements at 65 and growing air travel demand.  

“If you look at the market, the program is quite affordable given the market competition,” said Dr. Johnson. This program costs less than most bachelor's degrees and they will make more money than what most bachelor’s degrees produce.”  

According to Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage is $122,670 for commercial pilots and $226,600 for airline pilots, copilots and flight engineers. 

Dr. Johnson said the strong turnout at the program’s first open house in March confirmed there was demand for the training and led the team to move up the start date to summer 2026. “We had such an overwhelming response that we were able to get a small class started in June.” 

With a larger class expected in fall 2026, Boca Pilot Training plans to hire two new flight instructors and purchase additional aircraft and a flight simulator. Another open house is scheduled for this Saturday. 

The Aug. 8 open house will provide prospective students with a walking tour of flight school, where they will explore the program’s aircraft, flight line and maintenance hangars, be able to connect with instructors and attend a presentation. The event will begin at 9 a.m. at Boca Pilot Flight Training inside the Signature Building main lobby at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport. To RSVP or learn more about the event click here.