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About The Flight School
Completion requirements
About TPC Flight School
One School. Two Paths. One Aviation Community.
TPC Flight School is a nonprofit aviation education platform offering both real-world flight training and the most structured simulator training program on VATSIM. Whether you're building hours toward a certificate or mastering IFR procedures in a sim, TPC is where your career starts.
Real-World Flight Training
Structured ground school, checkride preparation, and mentorship for student pilots pursuing FAA certificates and ratings in actual aircraft.
- PPL, Instrument, Commercial ground school
- FAA ACS-aligned curriculum
- Oral exam and checkride prep
- Career pathway guidance
- Partnerships with 18+ aviation colleges
VATSIM Simulator Training
The largest Approved Training Organization on VATSIM, offering structured sim ratings, ATC procedures training, and a professional network for virtual aviators.
- VATSIM ratings from P1 through P4
- Live ATC environment on real-world routes
- Workshops & discovery flights
- Bridge program connecting sim skills to IRL
Our Story
It started with a question: why is aviation so hard to break into?
The Pilot Club was founded by aviation enthusiasts who saw a gap — passionate people interested in flight, but no clear path from interest to industry. Resources were scattered, mentorship was scarce, and the professional aviation world felt distant.
We built TPC Flight School to change that. What began as a structured VATSIM training program grew into a full aviation education platform serving both simulator pilots and real-world student pilots — united by the same community, the same standards, and the same goal of building careers in aviation.
Today, TPC is the largest Approved Training Organization on VATSIM, with active college partnerships, a professional instructor team, and alumni flying for major carriers around the world.
✈ IRL Training
Real-World Flight Training
From ground school to the cockpit — with a team behind you.
TPC's IRL training division is built around the Aviation Career Center, a structured ground school program aligned to FAA Airman Certification Standards. Every lesson, from aerodynamics to aeromedical factors, is designed to prepare you for the written test, the oral exam, and the checkride — not just to pass, but to actually fly well.
Beyond the curriculum, TPC connects students with mentors who have been through the same training pipeline and come out the other side flying professionally. Our university partnerships give student pilots access to academic resources, scholarship connections, and a pathway into the broader aviation industry.
🖥 Sim Training
VATSIM Simulator Training
The most structured sim training program on the network.
VATSIM is not a game to TPC — it is a professional training environment. Our Pilot Training Department runs checkride-based ratings from first solo through advanced instrument procedures, using real-world ATC phraseology, actual departure and arrival procedures, and a live controller environment.
The skills built in the sim translate directly to the cockpit. Students who come to TPC for VATSIM training frequently cite it as the reason they felt prepared when they sat down in a real aircraft for the first time. For many, the sim is where their aviation career actually begins.
Our Approach
What we believe about aviation education — in both divisions.
The IRL and sim training divisions are different in method, but identical in philosophy. These six principles shape everything we build.
01 · Both
Community-First Learning
Aviation is a team endeavor. Our training is designed to be experienced alongside other pilots — sharing knowledge, building habits, and forming relationships that last a career.
02 · IRL
Standards-Based Instruction
Every IRL lesson is mapped to FAA Airman Certification Standards. Students know exactly what is expected and how to demonstrate it — no guesswork, no filler content.
03 · Sim
Simulation as Foundation
VATSIM is a professional training environment. Simulating real ATC procedures, weather, and airspace builds habits and decision-making that translate directly to the cockpit.
04 · Both
Career-Long Mentorship
Joining TPC is not a transaction. Our alumni network, instructor relationships, and peer community stay with you from first flight through airline hire and beyond.
05 · Both
Accessible by Design
Quality aviation education should not require an expensive subscription. Our core resources are free, because the barrier to entry in aviation is already high enough.
06 · Sim → IRL
The Sim-to-Real Bridge
For many students, the sim is where their real aviation journey begins. We intentionally build curriculum that translates VATSIM skills into real-world readiness.
Our Leadership Team
Meet the people who lead our crew.
Meet the people who lead our crew of instructors, course designers, support staff, and more.
Elliot Jordan
CAO & VP of Pilot Training
Kevin Claus
Director of Virtual Training
Austin Vestal
Asst. Director of Virtual Training
Yu Le Tay
Training Operations Coordinator
Craig Fortson
Operational Advisor
What We're Building Now
Your Flight Path Starts Here.
New IRL ground school courses, expanded VATSIM rating programs, and deeper university partnerships are all in development. We believe access to quality aviation education — whether you're flying a Cessna or a virtual 737 — can change trajectories. We're just getting started.
Get Started
Choose your path.
✈ IRL Flight Training
Explore our ground school curriculum, oral exam guides, and career resources for real-world student pilots.
View IRL Courses🖥 VATSIM Sim Training
Start your VATSIM rating journey with TPC's Pilot Training Department — the most structured program on the network.
Start Sim TrainingJoin the Community
Connect with student pilots, instructors, and aviation professionals across both divisions of TPC Flight School.
Get InvolvedPartner with TPC
Flight school, university, or aviation organization? Let's talk about what we can build together.
Contact Us