Quality
Every lesson fits into a larger plan. Detailed records, standardized instruction, and stage checks keep training focused and protect important milestones.
Flight Training in Dallas & Fort Worth
Why Pilot Rise?
Not just certified. Ready.
Ready for the checkride., Ready because every lesson fits into a bigger plan., Ready for real-world flying., Ready because training adapts to your progress., Ready for changing weather., Ready because our records track individual skills., Ready for confident solo flight., Ready because stage checks confirm you are prepared., Ready for sound aeronautical decisions., Ready because risk management is taught every lesson., Ready for busy airspace., Ready because real ATC experience starts early., Ready for the unexpected., Ready because scenario-based training goes beyond routine maneuvers., Ready for instrument conditions., Ready because simulator practice is built into training., Ready for the next rating., Ready because your instructor understands your long-term goals., Ready for cross-country flying., Ready because strong fundamentals come before shortcuts., Ready for safe independent flight., Ready because mentorship continues beyond each lesson., Ready for the airlines., Ready because our training system is inspired by airline programs., Ready for professional flying., Ready because our standards go beyond FAA minimums., Ready for stronger judgment., Ready because every debrief turns experience into improvement., Ready for efficient progress., Ready because lessons adjust to weather and learning needs., Ready for emergencies., Ready because the simulator prepares you for difficult situations., Ready for unfamiliar airports., Ready because training includes towered and non-towered operations., Ready for greater responsibility., Ready because a second instructor validates major milestones., Ready for a lifetime of flying., Ready because we build pilots, not just flight hours., Ready for whatever comes next., Ready because quality, mentorship, safety, and value guide our training.
A certificate proves you met a standard on one day. Pilot Rise prepares you for what comes after: changing weather, busy airspace, sound decisions, and the next step in your flying.
You get professional structure, personal mentorship, and the flexibility to train around your goals, schedule, progress, and learning style.
AOPA Distinguished Flight School, 2025 and 2026400+Pilots Trained
95%+Checkride Pass Rate
2xAOPA Distinguished Flight School
17Training Enhancements Beyond FAA Minimums
The Pilot Rise Standard
A Better Way to Become a Capable Pilot
FAA minimums matter, but they are only the starting point. Everything at Pilot Rise is built around four standards.
Mentorship
You get a mentor, not just an instructor. We learn how you learn, provide clear next steps, and teach you how to study, practice, and evaluate your own performance.
Safety
Published limits, school-wide risk management, preventive maintenance, and the authority for anyone to stop a flight make safety part of the operating system.
Value
Transparent pricing, pay-as-you-go training, included simulator access, and flexible training paths help reduce wasted flights, repeated lessons, and financial risk.
Structured Part 61 Training
Structured Enough to Keep You Moving. Flexible Enough to Fit You.
Pilot Rise is a Part 61 flight school with the organization students expect from a professional academy, without forcing every student into the same pace or sequence.
Your progress is recorded by skill
Our proprietary element-based training records track individual skills, knowledge areas, trends, recency, and next steps, not only whether a lesson was completed.
Your training does not lose context
After each lesson, you receive clear feedback and study direction. If you fly with another instructor, that instructor can see where you left off and what should happen next.
Your lessons can adapt
Weather, aircraft availability, schedule changes, and individual progress do not always follow a rigid syllabus. Your instructor can adjust the lesson while keeping it aligned with the larger training plan.
Major milestones receive a second review
Stage checks before solo and checkride preparation provide another instructor's perspective before you move forward.
Start With the Right Fit
Talk Through Your Training Plan Before You Commit
Compare locations, timelines, budget, and certificate goals with Pilot Rise before choosing your first lesson path.
Beyond FAA Minimums
Training for the Flight After the Checkride
Passing the checkride matters. Being ready to fly safely without an examiner beside you matters more.
Pilot Rise builds 17 additional training experiences into normal instruction so students develop stronger judgment, adaptability, and real-world confidence.
Real-world decisions
Advanced crosswind work, system failures, impossible-turn awareness, and practical go/no-go decisions.
Airspace and procedures
Class B operations, flight following, flight-plan filing, and experience at both towered and non-towered airports.
Navigation and emergencies
Pilotage without GPS, engine-out landings, power-off 180s, and simulator-based emergency scenarios.
Night and instrument exposure
Enhanced night training, real instrument approaches, and actual IMC when conditions, aircraft, and student readiness make it safe and practical.
See All 17 Training Enhancements
- Observation flights and backseating when available
- Enhanced night operations and decision-making
- Mission-based lesson integration
- Power-off 180-degree accuracy landings
- Engine-out landings during day and night training
- Aircraft system failure practice
- Impossible-turn awareness and decision-making
- Finding and responding to realistic preflight defects
- Advanced crosswind training
- Class B airspace operations
- Flight following and flight-plan filing
- Emergency scenarios in the simulator
- Pilotage and navigation without GPS
- Grass-runway operations when available and appropriate
- Real instrument approach exposure when safe and practical
- Actual IMC exposure when safe and practical
- Tailwind landing demonstration when safe and useful
Safety and Maintenance
Safety Is a System, Not a Slogan
Safety is built into how Pilot Rise plans flights, maintains aircraft, trains instructors, reviews risk, and responds when something does not look right.
Maintained for training
Aircraft receive 100-hour inspections, preventive maintenance beyond minimum requirements, and work from FAA-certified A&P mechanics with IA oversight. Maintenance status is visible in the scheduling system, and repairs are addressed quickly.
Decisions before departure
Published weather minimums, preflight risk review, and continued reassessment during each lesson help instructors and students identify threats early.
A culture that speaks up
Any student, instructor, renter, or team member can initiate a safety stop. Open reporting, Just Culture principles, audits, and regular safety oversight help turn concerns into improvements.
Personal Mentorship
A Mentor, Not Just an Instructor
"If this were my family learning to fly, would this be good enough?"
That standard shapes how instructors are selected, developed, and supported. Founder Michael Forseth is an airline pilot who built Pilot Rise's curriculum and training-record system around the structure, feedback, and continual improvement used in professional aviation.
Our instructors bring backgrounds in airline operations, military aviation, aircraft maintenance, aviation safety, cadet programs, and professional teaching. More importantly, they are expected to explain clearly, adapt to the student, and build independent pilots.
Meet the InstructorsTransparent Flight Training Costs
Clear Costs. No Lock-In.
You should understand the likely cost and payment structure before committing to training.
Pilot Rise publishes aircraft rates, instructor rates, fees, and certificate estimates online. Students pay as they go rather than prepaying for a large block of flight hours or signing a long-term training contract.
Active students also receive included BATD simulator access under the current student-use policy. The simulator supports procedures, emergencies, instrument work, and proficiency without adding aircraft cost.
Choose a flexible, accelerated, or budget-focused path, then change paths if your schedule or goals change. Financing is available for individual ratings and complete career training.
- Published rates and estimates
- Pay-as-you-go training
- Included simulator access
- Flexible paths and financing
Dallas and Fort Worth
Two Airports. One Training Standard.
Choose the location that best fits your commute, preferred training environment, and aviation goals.
KRBD
Dallas Executive Airport
Train in a towered environment with two runways, instrument approaches, full-service fuel, and real ATC communication from the beginning.
Explore Dallas Flight Training
T67
Hicks Airfield
Start from a simple, flexible airport with quick access to practice areas, on-site maintenance support, and nearby towered airports for ATC experience.
Explore Fort Worth Flight TrainingYou can change locations at will or train at both locations at the same time as your needs evolve.
"I wouldn't be an airline pilot without this flight school. I did my private, instrument, and commercial with Pilot Rise."
Take the First Step
See the Difference From the Pilot's Seat
Take a low-pressure, hands-on introductory flight, meet an instructor, and see how Pilot Rise would build training around your goals. Start with a Discovery Flight or go directly to Lesson 1.
- 30-minute hands-on flight
- No card required to schedule online
- Dallas or Fort Worth
Why Pilot Rise FAQ
Common Questions
Straight answers about Pilot Rise training, pricing, transfers, simulator access, and choosing locations in DFW.
What makes Pilot Rise different from other flight schools?
Pilot Rise combines structured Part 61 training, proprietary skill-based records, stage checks, instructor standardization, real-world training beyond FAA minimums, transparent pricing, and a formal safety system. The goal is not only to help you pass a checkride, but to make you capable and confident after it.
Is Pilot Rise a Part 61 or Part 141 flight school?
Pilot Rise operates under Part 61. Its training is organized with a defined curriculum, detailed records, standardization, and stage checks, while preserving the ability to adapt around the student, weather, schedule, aircraft, and progress. Both Part 61 and Part 141 lead to the same FAA pilot certificates.
Do I have to pay for an entire course upfront?
No. Pilot Rise uses pay-as-you-go training and does not require a large prepaid block of flight hours or a long-term training contract. Published pricing and the cost planner help you estimate the full path before you begin. Financing options are also available.
Can I transfer to Pilot Rise or change instructors?
Yes. Pilot Rise can evaluate your logbook, current skills, and remaining requirements, then build a plan from where you are. Detailed training records also make it easier for another Pilot Rise instructor to continue your training without losing the context of prior lessons.
Is simulator use included?
BATD simulator access is included for active students under the current student-use policy. It can be used for procedures, emergencies, navigation, instrument practice, and proficiency. Some sessions may still require paid instructor time, and FAA logging limits apply.
Which location should I choose?
Dallas Executive is a strong fit for students who want regular tower, runway, and instrument-approach experience. Hicks Airfield offers simple operations and quick access to practice areas, with towered airports nearby. Your commute, schedule, and goals usually determine the best starting point.