Lift Academy

Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, Lift Academy offers a professional pilot program to get students from zero to 1500 hours in 12-18 months. Classes at Lift start every month.

Program Highlights

Lift Academy in Indianapolis flies out of Indianapolis International Airport (KIND). The program progresses pilots from zero hours to a certified flight instructor, hiring the completed students to instruct at Lift. The average total program is only 12 months and an additional 6 months to gain 1500 hours.

Lift has an airline agreement with Republic Airways to put students on a path to the airlines. Students who finish Lift’s program and progress to 1500 as an instructor with them will receive a first officer job offer from Republic Airways.

Students can also opt for a Cape Air route. After building 500 hours at Lift, students can work as a first officer at Cape Air to build 1500 hours, instead of working as a flight instructor.

Lift also partners with some colleges to allow students the option to pursue an associate‘s degree while they are in flight school.

Value

The all-in flight training cost at Lift is $90,000. To make flight training more affordable, Republic Airways subsidizes the cost of the career pathway program by $15,000 making tuition for the Republic Airways Career Pathway just $75,000, all in.

Republic offers financing options through Elements Financial and loan assistance for those in the Republic Airways Career Pathway Program.

Eligible students can utilize VA benefits for flight training.

Fleet and Facilities

Lift Academy owns a large fleet of newer Diamond aircraft for flight training.

The fleet of aircraft at includes:

• Diamond DA40s
• Diamond DA42s

The Bottom Line

Lift Academy offers students a track to become Republic Airways first officers in less than 2 years. Students have the option of building hours as a flight instructor or a first officer at Cape Air. All costs at Lift are comparatively affordable and can come with some help from Republic.