Aviation Pilot Training - 012A - Southwestern Illinois College

Flight Training for Career or Personal Use

If you want an exciting career, train to become an airline or commercial pilot.

If you want the best flight training in the St. Louis region at an affordable cost, fill out the form on the Contact page to get in touch with us.

The SWIC aviation pilot program offers value you won’t find at other flight schools.

See the program highlighted by KMOV Channel 4 here.

Be Part of an Outstanding Professional Network

Featured in the photo are two past SWIC students pictured who both fly for Delta, Captain Dale Helfrich (left) of Mascoutah, IL, and First Officer Paul Anguita (right) of Millstadt, IL,, were in for a nice surprise when they made each other's acquaintance. Having arrived a bit early to their aircraft cockpit, they were exchanging greetings before getting settled in and going through all their pre-flight checklists prior to passenger boarding for their assigned flight from New York to Milan, Italy. It wasn't long before they discovered that they were both alumni of the same flight school, SWIC's Aviation Pilot Training program. You never know where you might run into a fellow SWIC student or graduate!

You just
never know
where you
might run into
a fellow SWIC
graduate!

Featured in this photo are two former SWIC students and graduates who fly for Delta. Captain Dale Helfrich (left), Class of ’86, of Millstadt, IL, and First Officer Paul Anguita (right), Class of ’08, of Mascoutah, IL, were both in for a nice surprise while getting to know each other prior to passenger boarding for their assigned flight from New York to Milan, Italy.

It wasn’t long before they discovered they were from the same area, and as it turns out, both alumni of the same flight training program, SWIC’s Aviation Pilot Training program.

The passengers were in great hands with these two at the controls!

Thanks to Captain Helfrich and F.O. Anguita for commemorating this exciting moment and sharing this photo taken by a member of the crew. Blue skies & tailwinds, gentlemen.

“Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward…”
– Leonardo da Vinci

Why Choose SWIC?

Great Start at a Great Price

Flight school is an investment, but SWIC can save you a significant amount on the cost of becoming a professional pilot compared to other institutions. Upon completion of SWIC pilot training you can transfer to a four-year institution to complete a bachelor’s degree.

Four year degree from SIUC at SWIC

SWIC has partnered with Southern Illinois University Carbondale for a seamless continuation of your training toward a bachelor degree. Upon completion of the Associate in Applied Science degree program, you will return to the same SWIC campus to begin your junior year at SIUC.

What Will I Learn?

Course Topics

Air Traffic Control Systems
Aviation Meteorology
Private Pilot Flight Theory
Commercial Pilot Flight Theory
Flight Instructor Theory
Instrument Flight Theory
Instrument Flight Training
Multi-Engine Flight Theory
Multi-Engine Flight Training
Simulator Training
Simulator Instrument Training

Areas Of Study

Private Pilot Training

Complete the requirements to obtain your private pilot certificate in as little as one semester.

Professional Pilot License Programs

The one-year Aviation Pilot Training Certificate will qualify you to fly commercially.

The two-year Associate degree expands upon the certificate and prepares you to transfer for a four-year degree.

Helicopter Pilot Training

Southwestern Illinois College is excited to offer Illinois’ only collegiate helicopter training program to students interested in pursuing a career as a professional helicopter pilot.

Flight training is offered in conjunction with our Aviation Pilot Training program which prepares you with the skills needed to excel in the world of aviation. Private Pilot Rotorcraft/Helicopter, Commercial/ Instrument Rotorcraft Helicopter, Certified Flight Instructor & Certified Flight Instructor Instrument are the flight certificates that may be achieved during the course of the Associate in Applied Science program.

FAA Approved Training

SWIC is an FAA-approved flight school for ground and simulator training under the Federal Aviation Regulation Part 141. Flight training is provided under FAR Part 141 and approved for college credit under Part 141 through an agreement with Ideal Aviation, a Part 141 School Certificate Holder for Airplane Training.
Certification includes Private and Commercial pilot certificates along with Instrument and Multi-Engine ratings, plus optional courses for Certified Flight Instructor and Certified Instrument Instructor. Certified Muti-Engine Instructor is currently pending. For helicopter, both flight and ground training is approved under FAR Part 141. The Flight and Ground for Helicopter training is approved for college credit under Part 141 through an agreement with Ideal Aviation a Part 141 School Certificate Holder for Helicopter Training.