Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College

Located in Asheville, North Carolina, Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College offers two Associate of Applied Science degrees and two certificate programs. It is the only R-ATP school in the Carolinas and one of 12 in the Southeast.

Program Highlights

Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College is an FAA-approved Part 141 pilot school and flight operations are conducted in partnership with WNC Aviation, which is located on the Asheville Regional Airport (KAVL), directly across the street from the college. 

Programs Asheville Buncombe Technical offers include: 

• Associate of Applied Science
  • Career Pilot Technology 
  • Aviation Management 

• Certificates
  • Instrument Rating 
  • Private Pilot 

Students must take the private pilot certificate course before enrolling in the career pilot technology degree program or hold a private pilot’s certificate prior to applying for admission. 

Value

Asheville Buncombe Technical is a community college, which allows it to keep tuition low. In-state students who attend A-B Tech will pay only $1,200 a semester; out-of-state students will pay $4,200. This is base tuition and does not include flight expenses. 

On top of base tuition, flight students will have additional costs for flight courses. Over the course of training, to complete all flight certificates Asheville Buncombe Technical has to offer, students will need an additional $35,000. This does not include private pilot. This makes A-B Tech one of the most affordable flight schools in the U.S. 

Students can apply for outside scholarships to help with the cost of tuition. Scholarships available include the:

• Western Digital Scholarship Program
• WTS Leadership Legacy Scholarship
• Zach Wardrip Memorial Scholarship

Graduates of the A-B Tech Aviation Career Pilot pathway who hold a commercial pilot certificate are eligible to be hired by Piedmont Airlines and receive up to $25,500 tuition reimbursement. 

A-B Tech also accepts the Post 9/11 GI Bill, which will cover all flight training. 

Fleet and Facilities

Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College works with WNC Aviation to train its pilots. WNC Aviation’s fleet of aircraft include:

• Cessna 172s
• Piper Arrows
• Piper Seminoles

Graduates from A-B Tech’s Part 141 flight training program are eligible for a restricted ATP of 250 hours. The hour reduction is dependent on if the student achieves an associates degree. 

The Bottom Line

Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College can offer students a path to be a professional pilot without too much of a financial burden. A partnership with Piedmont Airlines can allow students to gain employment after graduation and get two-thirds of the flight expenses reimbursed. A-B Tech may be the right fit for a student looking to attend a Part 141 on the East Coast, complete their ratings in two years, and save money.