Hillsboro Aero Academy

Hillsboro Aero Academy has trained airplane and helicopter pilots in Oregon since 1980, and the school says its students have come from more than 75 countries. It operates three Oregon campuses: Hillsboro and Redmond for airplanes, and Troutdale for helicopters at the edge of the Columbia River Gorge.

The airplane fleet has about 80 aircraft: Cessna 152s, Cessna 172s and Piper Seminoles, with Robinson R22 and R44 helicopters at Troutdale. The airplane Professional Pilot Program takes about 18 months at standard pacing and about 14 months at accelerated pacing, on Cessna 152s and 172s and Piper Seminoles, while the helicopter programme on Robinson R22s and R44s is designed for less than 15 months of full time training. The school runs joint EASA/FAA programmes for airplane and helicopter students on the F-1 visa with its European partner Rotorsky, and describes itself as the only US flight school offering this. The school says students can complete the joint helicopter programme in 15 months, against 24 to 36 months for separate FAA and EASA training.

Hillsboro holds IS-BAO safety certification and was among the first flight schools to receive it.