Thrust Flight, a Dallas-based aviation training school, has officially launched its newest facility at Falcon Field Airport (KFFZ) in Mesa, Arizona, in response to a surge in demand for professional pilots across the U.S. Southwest, the company stated.
The campus, located nearly 20 miles east of Phoenix, marks Thrust Flight’s fourth location and first outside of Texas. Classes are enrolling now and will start on August 25.
“Opening a campus in the Phoenix area allows us to continue to address the aviation industry’s growing demand for qualified pilots,” said Patrick Arnzen, CEO and founder of Thrust Flight, in a news release. “Our goal is to empower students to launch long-term aviation careers without wasting time or resources. With expanding Thrust Flight into Arizona, we’re strategically positioned to develop the next generation of pilots and meet critical industry needs.”
Its latest campus opens after Boeing recently reported a projected demand for over 660,000 new pilot jobs over the next two decades.
Thrust Flight’s new school will offer its Zero Time to Airline program aimed at helping students earn their commercial pilots license and start work with partnered carriers in as little as two years. This FAA-approved Part 141 training program is designed to cut 18 weeks from traditional training requirements for airlines.
“Thrust Flight’s program was designed with real people in mind, like mid-career transitioners, college alternatives, and those who can’t afford to sit on long waitlists,” Arnzen said. “We give our students structure, support, and clear expectations so they can succeed in not just training but also throughout their fulfilling aviation careers.”
The Mesa campus will train students using Piper Archer TXs, and multiengine students will fly using Thrust’s Piper Seminoles to better prepare them for the commercial airplanes used by regional airlines.
Students will also have access to Thrust Flight’s career partnerships with major regional airlines, including SkyWest, Envoy Air, Republic Airways, Spirit, Air Wisconsin, and Avelo.
“Our recent developments are just the beginning,” Arnzen said. “At Thrust Flight we’re building more than just a flight school. We’re building an aviation training network that meets students where they are and takes them to where they want to go. We will continue to grow, innovate, and shape the aviation industry, ensuring we meet the evolving demands of tomorrow’s pilots and airlines.”
