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Pilot Institute Review – Don’t Buy Until You Read This!

Pilot Institute Review – Don’t Buy Until You Read This!

Ashley Brooke
Pilot Institute Ground School Review

Who doesn’t want to fly? Ever since the first caveman shook his fist at a bird flying by, humans have dreamed of flying – if only to get revenge on those birds that think they’re so much better than us. Maybe it’s time. Maybe this is the year you learn to fly.

Okay, so you’re not going to sprout wings out of your shoulders anytime soon. The next best thing might be learning to fly a drone. A drone can give you the ability to fly and see the world from a birds-eye view without having to grow feathers and start eating seeds, although drones can be expensive. And you don’t want to invest in a fantastic new drone only to find you don’t know how to use it properly.

Pilot Institute - Drone and Airplane Pilot Courses

Besides this, did you know there is a growing demand for commercial drone pilots across several industries? That’s right; you can earn a good paycheque doing something you already want to do for fun.

You can also start a business offering commercial drone piloting services, such as photography and videography for weddings, real estate, or construction. Furthermore, you can also provide private training services for anyone looking to become a drone pilot themselves. This is just the beginning of where your career as a commercial drone pilot can take you.

Before you start planning your resume for drone pilot jobs, it’s essential to know that the FAA requires commercial drone operators to be licensed with a remote pilot certificate. Acquiring this certificate requires passing the Part 107 Aeronautical Knowledge Test with a 70% or higher. The exam consists of 60 randomly generated multiple-choice questions and a fee of $175. However, if you do not pass the exam, you will have to wait 14 days and repay the $175 cost to retake the test.

This is why many would-be commercial drone pilots enroll in a drone training course. With drone laws and regulations constantly changing, choosing a program that will teach you all of the basics and provide you with the most up-to-date information is essential.

A good training course should teach you how to read and understand aeronautical charts, emergency procedures, weather reports, radio communication language, and how to make rational aeronautical decisions.

That’s where Pilot Institute comes in. This is one such drone school that can help you gain all of the skills required to successfully pass the Part 107 exam and help you take your career as a commercial drone pilot to the next level! From beginner classes, such as Drone Flying 101, to advanced masterclasses designed to help you earn your commercial drone license, you can learn all the essential skills, techniques, and knowledge right from the comfort of your living room.

Editors Choice
Are You Ready to Fly? 19,382 Reviews
Now, you can cash in on the hot, new business opportunity. With Pilot Institute's commercial drone pilot bundle, you'll learn everything, from getting certified to fly drones commercially to how to start and operate a business in this exciting field. Learn from industry experts what mistakes to avoid, how to manage your finances, marketing, keeping your customers happy & more. So save yourself time and money - sign up for Pilot Institute today to fly high and reach your dreams!

Their online platform offers several benefits, allowing you to learn at your own pace, on your own terms. Affordable payments, lifetime access to videos, flashcard apps, practice quizzes, and knowledgeable teachers offering professional training are all available to Pilot Institute students.

But don’t take our word for it. Instead, keep reading to discover for yourself all there is to know about Pilot Institute to determine if it’s the right drone pilot training school for you!

Why Should You Trust US?

How We Decided Best Part 107 Course

Let’s be honest: the online world is a shady one. Trust is key when it comes to reading reviews online. After all, just about anyone can write an article about anything these days. And with so many drone courses to choose from and more popping up daily, how do you know who to trust?

Well, our reviews are conducted by genuine experts in the field of drone aviation. Allison Ross, Ashley Brook, and Matthew Harris are the expert reviewers we relied on to create this review, and they each bring a wealth of experience and technical knowledge to the task.

Allison Ross has amassed hundreds of flight hours over six years of drone flying experience. A graduate of Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, she holds piloting licenses for both remote aircraft and manned aircraft, giving her an in-depth perspective on what it takes to really fly.

As an award-winning commercial photographer and videographer, Ashley Brook has traveled the world shooting documentaries, corporate videos, and commercials in some of the most stunning and demanding locations.

With over eight years of working experience, she has become a leading expert, hand-selected by tech companies to test and review new hardware and technologies such as commercial drone tech. Her real-world experience makes her an expert in her field and a trusted name in video technology.

Matthew Harris is a noted writer with over 25 years of experience covering the most recent technological developments. Since his graduation from Ball State University in 1994, he has become a trusted name in the world of emerging technologies.

Harris has written millions of words and several hundred cutting-edge articles discussing developments in artificial intelligence, robotics, machine learning, and, of course, drones.

Once we had our experts on board, we were ready to begin our exhaustive research process. Each of our experts spent more than 72 hours reading articles and literature on the best drone courses and scouring through customer reviews on trusted websites like TrustPilot, Yotpo, Shopper Approved, and Grade Us.

The experts didn’t stop there! They then spoke to hundreds of former and current students enrolled in different drone flight programs to get their opinions and experiences to get the whole picture. This enabled our experts to narrow the field down to the top five drone schools:

  • Pilot Institute
  • Drone Pilot Ground School
  • Drone Launch Academy
  • DARTDrones
  • Droneu

With the competitors established, our research team then decided that in order to get a completely immersive, unbiased opinion, they needed to attend each of these online schools themselves.

Finally, it was time for our experts to go back to school. Allison, Ashley, and Matthew enrolled in the Part 107 preparation course of all these online schools to better understand what each one had to offer and pinpoint which one is the best one in the drone industry!

They were able to assess each one based on criteria such as:

  • Value for Money

The criterion here was not to find the cheapest program but to find the one that gives you the most value for your dollars.

By looking at what each Part 107 course includes, what learning materials are provided, how long the course completion takes, and any money-back guarantees, our experts were able to judge which course offers the best bang for your buck.

  • Success Rate

This criterion can be deceptively simple.

Of course, you want to study at a school that is able to get a lot for students to pass. But at the same time, you want a school that is going to be rigorous enough to challenge you and really teach you the skills you need to know.

This means a good school should not only have a high pass rate but also provide a broader range of aeronautical knowledge since this indicates that students are being well-instructed and learning everything they need to know.

Therefore, our experts took a deep dive into the statistics of all of these schools to determine which is the best.

  • Ease of Use

With any course you take online, it’s essential to make sure it will be easy to use with a friendly user interface and isn’t dry or dull so you are not left suffering from information overload.

In addition, you want a course you can take from anywhere using any device, with as few restrictions and limitations as possible. Also, if you are learning to fly a drone in your spare time, you want a course that lets you learn at your own pace so you can find time for it in your busy life.

With these parameters established, our experts did the legwork. In addition to their own expert knowledge across the field, the data they collected throughout their online drone course research revealed that all of these courses are very good and provide excellent value for money!

Finally, all of our researchers came to the same unanimous conclusion that Pilot Institute is the most successful when it comes to the success rate and overall happiness of the student body. Not only is it one of the most popular online schools available, but the standard of knowledge and training provided is invaluable to the student.

The curriculum available at Pilot Institute covers all the bases needed to learn how to control and fly a drone, gain confidence, and get your license to fly a drone in a commercial manner.

About Pilot Institute

Pilot Institute - Drone and Airplane Pilot Courses - Aviation Made Easy

Pilot Institute offers more than just drone flying courses. They also provide classes for pilots of manned aircraft, so you know they know what they’re doing. Lives depend on them teaching people properly.

This is the only aviation training company to be accredited by IACET, the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training, meaning that their courses provide credits to keep licensed pilots certified. Pilot Institute is also a member of the FAA Safety Team, meaning they take what they do very seriously.

The company is headquartered in Prescott, Arizona, but offers tuition anywhere in the world. They have taught more than 200,000 students worldwide. Their instructors are remote pilots, FAA commercial pilots, flight instructors, and other certified professionals who can walk the walk as well as talk the talk, meaning you’re always in good hands.

This flight school focuses on the connection between its students. It encourages its students to interact through the Facebook group and other online spaces to build the kind of camaraderie that makes taking a course much more fun than it otherwise would be. They are also committed to staying current with all regulatory changes from the FAA.

Pilot Institute was founded by Greg Reverdiau and Johann Beishline. Greg is an experienced commercial pilot, UAS remote pilot, and certified flight instructor with a Master’s degree in Aviation Human Factors from the Florida Institute of Technology.

His co-founder, Johann, has a degree in Computer Information Systems and a passion for aviation, leading the two to join forces to create the Pilot Institute.

It was during a hot-air balloon flight with his grandfather that Johann had the idea for Pilot Institute, a way for just about anyone to learn how to fly. At the same time, Greg saw a gap in the market when looking at what is offered by other flight schools.

He noticed that they focus on training to pass tests rather than for actual proficiency in flying, with the result that many flight school graduates have only the bare minimum of training to operate aircraft.

Pilot Institute was born out of the desire to provide in-depth and practical training to make its graduates as well-equipped for flight as possible.

Pilot Institute’s values are based on the four pillars of being Connected, Current, Capable, and Confident.

Connected: This pillar means that the team at Pilot Institute works hard to make sure their students can stay in touch with one another through Facebook groups and other online networks and that they can easily reach their instructors whenever required.

Current: The second pillar refers to their insistence on keeping all the course materials current with FAA and other aviation industry regulations to ensure that everything the students learn is helpful, meaningful, and up-to-date.

Capable: The third pillar relates to the goal of making sure that every graduate of Pilot Institute is capable of flying and isn’t just good at passing tests but can actually handle aircraft safely and effectively.

Confident: The fourth pillar means that they ensure students complete their classes with more than just the theoretical knowledge they need to get qualified, but everything (including practical skills) they need to know to ensure years of safe and fun flying ahead.

5 Most Popular Pilot Institute Courses

Pilot Institute offers a massive range of different aviation courses, including several courses that can help you become a fully qualified pilot for manned aircraft. However, in this review, we will focus only on the drone-related courses offered by the Institute.

Currently, they offer more than 30 different drone piloting courses, including ones for diving drones. But for aerial drone pilots, these are the most important and most popular courses on offer:

  • Part 107 Commercial Drone License Course

Pilot Institute Part 107 Made Easy
Pilot Institute Part 107 Made Easy
Pilot Institute Part 107 Made Easy
Our Score

Learn to fly at America's number-one drone school. Yes, no other drone pilot training facility has as many FAA TRUST certificates issued as Pilot Institute, so it's no wonder that they have more students signing up than any other drone training institution. They have also trained people from renowned companies like Microsoft, Apple, and others, and those who know the aviation industry rely on Pilot Institute to provide some of the best drone pilot training anywhere in the world.

Pilot Institute also offers a Certificate of Completion, which lets potential employers and clients know you have completed industry-leading training at one of the world's most respected drone pilot schools.

This is the course that has made Pilot Institute famous. Getting a commercial drone license requires passing the FAA Part 107 test, and this course is designed to help you easily pass.

Included in the course are:

  • 15 hours of lectures, split between over 200 short, easy-to-watch videos spread across ten different chapters.
  • 20 Interactive quizzes with answer explanations.
  • Unlimited practice tests with questions lifted from actual FAA exams.
  • A flashcard app with 110 slides to brush up on your knowledge.
  • 14-page illustrated cheat sheet that summarizes all the fundamental concepts of the course.
  • Free bonus course to sharpen your drone piloting skills.

In fact, Pilot Institute is so confident that they can help you pass this test that they not only offer a full refund if you don’t pass, but they will give you an additional $175. That’s some serious confidence!

The course will take 15 hours to complete – though not all in one sitting, obviously. Instead, the course is offered in short videos that are easy to watch and can be replayed as many times as you’d like to make sure you grasp all the concepts.

You will also get access to unlimited practice exams featuring hundreds of questions that will help you prepare to challenge the exam. At only $249 with lifetime access to the course materials, this course is a serious bargain for anyone who wants to take drone piloting seriously.

What sets this course apart is the depth of the course materials. After all, there’s more to this course than just some videos.

You’ll also find the comment section underneath the videos useful since students and instructors can interact through these comments. And students can clarify any points of the videos they have questions about.

Pilot Institute also offers an exclusive flashcard app available on both Android and iOS so that you can practice for your test no matter where you are.

Plus, there’s a free bonus course included (Drone Maneuvers Mastery) that will help you quickly learn and memorize over 50 different maneuvers, which is excellent for improving your flying skills and challenging yourself in a fun way.

The course materials also include a 14-day challenge that will help keep you on track with your learning. Plus, Pilot Institute frequently uses quizzes across different chapters to test your knowledge and will provide all the answers after you’ve taken the quiz so you can see where you went wrong and learn from your mistakes.

Additionally, all of the video lessons are available for download, and you can even print lecture slides so that you can go back over what you’ve learned and make sure you grasped every aspect of the training, even when you are offline.

Besides this, as preparation for your final exam, you are supplied with a 14-page illustrated cheat sheet, which will help you focus your revision on the areas that matter most and give you a good sense of what you can expect to encounter in the final test.

Moreover, you also get access to an exceptional support line via live chat, email, or phone calls to help you out in case of any queries or if you run into issues with the training course, which is very unlikely to happen as they have a dedicated team working relentlessly on the back-end to make sure everything is functioning as it should and that you have constant access to all course materials around the clock.

Lastly, don’t forget you get access to all these course materials for life. So, even once you’ve successfully passed the Part 107 test, you can go back and make sure your knowledge is up-to-date whenever required.

Note: If you are using drone training to start a business or for a job, it may be a deductible expense on your taxes. Especially if it’s a legitimate requirement for your business, you may be able to offset some of your tax burdens by deducting the cost of the course.

Talk to a licensed tax professional to get guidance on whether you will be able to write off your training as an expense or not, depending upon the reason for your purchase.

  • Drone Business Made Easy

Drone Business Made Easy
Drone Business Made Easy
Drone Business Made Easy
Our Score

This is the perfect course for anyone looking to make money by flying a drone. Even if you have no prior business experience, this course can give you a good grounding in the basics of how to make money with your drone.

The course teaches you everything you need to know to build a drone business from scratch, offering more than 100 short and easy-to-watch videos that will guide you through every step of your drone business, from licensing to insurance to advertising and landing clients.

All in all, this useful course demystifies the process of launching your own business and gives you the best chance of success in your new venture.

Of course, there’s more to running a successful drone business than knowing how to fly your machine. That’s why this course focuses on the business side of things.

With seven hours of video instructions and 25 assignments designed to help you create a strong business plan, this shorter course can help you build your business skills and understand the opportunities and challenges that come with starting a drone business.

You’ll even get a free business plan template so that you can build your own business plan and have the confidence to approach clients.

At only $199 for lifetime access, this course is the perfect introduction to anyone who wants to make a career out of flying their drone. In addition, it’s extremely helpful for anyone who wants to make a living in the industry because it goes far beyond the techniques of drone flying and delves deeply into how to set up your business.

You’ll learn how to find clients and how to sell them your services, plus the equipment, insurance, and marketing skills you will need to create a thriving drone business.

Furthermore, you’ll also learn about the day-to-day operations of the business and get a good idea of the paperwork that comes with it, including that all-important tax paperwork so that you don’t fall foul of the IRS.

The best part about this course is that it will give you a realistic picture of what running a drone business looks like. Pilot Institute is not interested in giving you unrealistic expectations but instead teaches you what to expect in your first year of business, how to plan for the first five years, and beyond.

Since so many businesses fail in their first year, it’s essential to make sure you have all the information you may need to make your business successful.

  • Commercial Drone Pilot Bundle: Part 107 + Drone Business

Commercial Drone Pilot Bundle: Part 107 + Drone Business
Commercial Drone Pilot Bundle: Part 107 + Drone Business
Commercial Drone Pilot Bundle: Part 107 + Drone Business
Our Score

Most of the people willing to spend the money to get their Part 107 drone flying license are looking to make a career as a professional drone pilot.

If that's the case, it's also helpful to know how to run your own drone business. Once you're licensed to fly your drone commercially, you'll still need to know how to get insured, find clients, keep accounts, and everything else that goes into running a business.

Buying these courses as a bundle helps you save money on acquiring the knowledge you would need sooner or later anyway. Buying the courses as a bundle will only cost $299 while buying them separately costs $449.

Keeping costs down is one of the most important lessons of running a business, so you can start by taking advantage of this affordable bundle to learn everything you need to know about making a living by flying.

You can probably guess what this course involves. Well, if you think it’s a bundle of the previous two courses, you’re right. This $299 course will get you licensed to fly a drone commercially and also teach you the basics of running a drone business so that you’ll be ready to hit the ground running.

With 20 hours of videos, along with the practice exams and quizzes, you’ll learn everything you need to know to make money with a drone.

  • Drone Flying 101

Drone Flying 101
Drone Flying 101
Drone Flying 101
Our Score

If you're more of a hobbyist and are not looking to make a living by flying a drone, this is a great course to take. It's more affordable than the more in-depth courses, but it still provides a solid foundation of everything you need to fly a drone.

You'll learn about the all-important legalities of flying, including areas where you shouldn't fly. You'll also learn skills to keep your drone out of trouble, avoiding costly mistakes. And perhaps best of all, you'll learn how to take stunning photos and videos from the unique vantage point a drone offers.

More than 1800 students have taken this course to improve their flying skills and get more out of their drone flying hobby. Having a grounding in the skills needed to successfully pilot a drone will help you get much more out of the hobby, even if you're not trying to make money with it.

This is more of a beginner’s course for those who want to fly a drone for fun. With more than four hours of video content, it will teach you all the basics you need to know to start flying your drone.

That includes pre-flight inspection, what type of weather to look out for, where you can legally fly, how high and far you can fly, how to get great photos and videos, and basic flight maneuvers.

If you want to make flying drones your business, you’ll need more than this course offers. But if you just want to improve your skills and knowledge for your hobby without going as far as getting an actual drone license, this is a great place to start, and at only $99 for lifetime access, it’s a real bargain.

Read more: Drone Stuck on a Tall Tree, What Now?

  • Drone Maneuvers Mastery

Drone Maneuvers Mastery
Drone Maneuvers Mastery
Drone Maneuvers Mastery
Our Score

There's never a bad time to improve your skills. If you're flying drones as a hobby, you'll get much more out of it by learning advanced maneuvers that can help keep you out of trouble and capture amazing photos and videos from your drone.

But even if you are looking to fly a drone professionally, the more skilled a pilot you become, the more you can charge for your services. Plus, mastering these advanced maneuvers will help keep your drone out of trouble and help you avoid damage, hurting the bottom line of your business.

Offering 80 short videos that are fun to watch, this advanced course will take your drone flying skills to a whole new level. Whether you're looking to create stunning videos for clients or just want to impress your friends with your drone pilot skills, this course is designed to take you to the next level of drone flying expertise.

If you’ve mastered the basics and want to take your skills a little further, this is a great course to take. It will teach you 50 different flight maneuvers that can improve your skills and help you capture much better photos and videos.

Along with nearly four hours of standard educational video instructions, you’ll also get a PDF guide that you can take with you onto the field so that you’re never at a loss for what to do. This is a considerable course not only for those who want to develop their hobby but also for aspiring commercial drone pilots.

At only $99 for lifetime access, this is a great course to learn how to create appealing content from your drone using advanced maneuvers. It will also help you learn more about several different components of the drone and how they affect its motion aerodynamically to ensure you capture the best footage on your first attempt.

Additionally, there are several levels of instruction so that as your skills advance, you’re always learning something new and perfecting your drone flying abilities.

In-depth Review of Pilot Institute

In-depth Review of Pilot Institute

There’s lots to like about the various courses offered by Pilot Institute. Let’s get into the features that make their training courses some of the very best in the industry.

Some of these features are unique to the Part 107 Drone Pilot course, but others – expert instructors, stellar reviews, lifetime access, and excellent support, for example – apply to all the courses offered by Pilot Institute.

What We Like?

  • Instructors’ Expertise

The instructors at Pilot Institute are not only proven educators who make learning enjoyable, interesting, and informative, but also all are certified professionals, including either current or former Federal Aviation Administration commercial pilots, highly experienced flight instructors, and remote pilots.

This means you can be sure you’re always learning from the very best as they have real-world experience and know what it takes to be a successful pilot.

As mentioned above, Greg has more than two decades of experience flying both manned and unmanned vehicles. In addition, he has worked for two of the most prominent aeronautical universities in the United States and in teaching roles as an adjunct professor.

  • Stellar Reviews

Pilot Institute has impressive reviews. Check out their website, and you’ll see nothing but 5-star reviews after 5-star reviews. You’ll see the same on third-party review sites like Trustpilot. People love their courses, and it’s easy to see why.

Trustpilot is one of the most trusted business review sites on the Internet, and Pilot Institute has over 23,000 reviews on the site, with an average rating of 4.9 stars out of five. That’s an impressive achievement and one most other businesses can’t come anywhere near.

There’s no way for Pilot Institute to affect their reviews on Trustpilot, so you can be confident that these great reviews are an accurate reflection of how happy previous customers are with the courses they took.

  • Practice Tests and Quizzes

You’ll have access to unlimited practice tests, so you can be confident you’ll be prepared for the Part 107 examination.

The practice tests use questions lifted from actual FAA exams, so they are the best way to prepare yourself before you take the final exam and will give you incredible confidence since you’ll know exactly what to expect.

Additionally, Pilot Institute courses make good use of chapter quizzes. Taking place throughout different chapters, these quizzes will help you understand how well you absorbed the particular topic. Once you’ve taken the quiz, you’ll be given the correct answers so you can see where you went wrong and what parts of the chapter you need to go back over to make sure you get them right.

  • Lesson Notes and Cheat Sheets

Suppose you want to take notes or have a reference to look back on; no problem. The Part 107 Made Easy course comes with lesson notes and cheat sheets that you can use to supplement your learning.

The illustrated cheat sheet is also accessible on your mobile device and can be downloaded so that it works offline. It will help ensure that you have a firm grasp on the critical concepts tested by the part 107 aeronautical knowledge examination and helps to break down the information into a much more easily remembered form so that you won’t be at a loss when you take this important exam.

The lesson notes are also a great way to help you remember everything that you’ve learned. Going back over what you just did in the lesson a day or two later is a fantastic way to cement everything in your mind so that you don’t forget when it’s time to take the actual exam.

  • Study Groups

If you are someone who enjoys learning in a group setting, as it boosts your productivity, creativity, study flow, and communication skills and enhances the overall learning experience, worry not; Pilot Institute has you covered.

They have an active community of students who are all working towards their Part 107 license. You can join in the discussions and get help from your fellow classmates.

Students are encouraged to interact with one another through the lively Facebook group and other social network communities Pilot Institute has created. You can also interact with classmates and instructors through the comments below the video lessons.

So, no matter where in the world you’re taking a Pilot Institute course, you never need to feel like you’re on your own.

Editors Choice
Don't Just Fly Drone - Get the License 19,382 Reviews
Don't miss out on the opportunity for a $100,000+ career! We know obtaining a drone license is challenging, and most people take several hundred hours of study time to prepare, only to end up failing the examination. Besides this, the whole process is expensive and time-consuming, and the standard course material the FAA provides is hard to understand. But worry not; this industry-leading course by Pilot Institute will help you pass the FAA Part 107 test on your first try (Guaranteed!) to fly commercially and make some serious money. So don't wait any longer to step up your drone game. Enroll today and get a $100 discount.
  • Flashcard App

Pilot Institute offers a flashcard app with their drone pilot license course that you can use to study on the go. This is a great way to ensure you are prepared for your final examination, no matter where you are.

Pilot Institute is the only flight school that provides a flashcard app, and the 110 cards that make up the app are an excellent way to help you memorize important concepts you have studied in your lessons.

In addition, because you can access the app with your mobile device, you can take it with you anywhere and brush up on your studying anytime you have a few free moments, making this a highly effective part of their training course.

  • Lifetime Access

As with all of Pilot Institute’s aviation courses, when you purchase the course, you will have lifetime access. This means you can go at your own pace and take as long as you need to complete the course.

Pilot Institute regularly updates its course materials in line with its commitment to staying current. In the case of the Part 107 test, even once you have successfully passed the examination, you may well find new things to learn when you go back over the course materials later on.

Additionally, you have to retake the Part 107 Exam every two years to maintain your license, so it’s always helpful to have the study materials available to you so that you can brush up on your knowledge.

This lifetime access is part of what makes the Pilot Institute courses such good value for money.

For a one-time fee, you’ll always have access to everything you need to keep your drone pilot license current and make sure you know everything there is to know about not just flying a drone but the always-changing regulations surrounding aviation.

  • Excellent Support

If you have any questions or need help, the support team at Pilot Institute is always available. They are quick to respond and will help you with anything you need.

You get unlimited support provided with your course, so you can call, email, or reach out via live chat anytime to clarify anything about your lessons that you need help understanding. Not every aviation school offers such in-depth support, so it’s good to know that Pilot Institute will support you every step of the way.

  • Affordability

Pilot Institute is one of the most affordable online aviation schools out there, which offers so much more for your money.

Because Pilot Institute has such experienced and highly qualified instructors, it’s one of the best online flight schools out there in terms of price. As a result, you get access to an incredible wealth of aviation experience for a fraction of the cost when compared to courses available elsewhere.

The courses on offer from Pilot Institute can help you build an entire business in aviation, and a few hundred dollars is a very small price to pay for that kind of expertise and confidence.

Additionally, Pilot Institute also offers lots of freebies that help make the course a better value. For example, when you take the Part 107 course, you also get access to the Drone Maneuvers Mastery course at no additional charge.

Combined with the lifetime access the purchase of the course will get you, this makes Pilot Institute an incredible bargain for anyone interested in learning more about drones.

Although the courses offered by Pilot Institute provide excellent value for money, even at the regular price, you can save even more money by keeping an eye on the Pilot Institute website since they often have sales at different times of the year.

  • Money Back (and Passing) Guarantee

If you are not satisfied with the course, you can get your money back within 30 days. This is a risk-free way to try out the course and see if it’s right for you.

In fact, Pilot Institute is so confident in what they offer that, as well as the 30-day satisfaction guarantee, they will refund the full course fee plus the $175 test fee for the Part 107 examination if you fail on the first try.

Pilot Institute has a 99.8% success rate, so the chances of you ever having to use this guarantee are very small, which is probably why they feel so confident in offering it. The only condition you need to meet to get this guarantee is that you should have gone over all course materials before attempting your exam, and you must have gotten at least 80% on two of their practice exams.

What We Don’t Like?

A balanced review requires both positive and negative. But honestly, it was a bit of a struggle to come up with negative aspects of Pilot Institute’s drone flying courses.

So here are a couple of things that weren’t as great as they could’ve been:

  • No Option for In-Person Classes

Pilot Institute may not be the best choice for you if you’re the type of person who likes to learn in person rather than online.

They only offer online flight situations, with no training facility that you can go to physically and learn in person. If you’re okay with learning online through videos and other digital resources, it’s not a problem.

In fact, having this training available wherever in the world you are is one of the main selling features of Pilot Institute. But you should be aware that you can’t take private classes beginning with a handshake with your instructor if that’s something you’re looking to do.

Of course, in-person flight schools also cost much more than Pilot Institute charges, so once you see the cost, you may not mind so much about not being able to train in person.

  • No Ability to Flag Sections

It’s not possible to flag parts of the chapter that you had trouble with to go back and study them later. So, this would be a nice feature to have so that you can go back over the parts you’re confused about, especially when it comes to studying for the part 107 exam, to pass with flying colors.

Fortunately, the quizzes and practice tests Pilot Institute provides can help you pinpoint where your knowledge isn’t what it could be so that you can make sure you fully understand everything you need to know.

Read more: Drone Buying Guide: How to Choose the Right Drone for You

  • No Randomized Quizzes

The quizzes provided by Pilot Institute are very helpful not only in reviewing what you’ve learned but also in helping you see what areas you need to work on a little more.

However, the questions and the quizzes aren’t randomized, so once you take a specific quiz for a particular section, you’ll know the answers. It would be nice if there were more or rotating quizzes available for every chapter so that you could test your knowledge over and over again.

Is Pilot Institute Worth It?

Is Pilot Institute Worth It - Final Verdict

Ultimately, a review like this exists to answer one simple question: Is Pilot Institute a good online drone flight school and worth the money?

If you’re looking to fly a drone on a regular basis, whether commercially or for fun, the answer is undoubtedly yes, it is. We highly recommend the Pilot Institute. It’s an excellent drone flight school for anyone looking for online aviation training.

With courses led by expert instructors and packed with comprehensive training materials, they provide incredible value for a relatively low price. Anyone who wants to take flying a drone seriously should absolutely consider taking advantage of what they offer.

Here’s why:

If you’re planning to use your drone for commercial purposes, getting licensed is an essential part of the process. In this situation, it’s best to think of the drone training offered by Pilot Institute as an investment in your business.

Being accredited by a reputable aviation school like Pilot Institute can help you get work since it shows you know what you’re doing. It may even help you negotiate cheap insurance rates for your business.

But even if you’re not using your drone commercially, it’s well worth taking a look at what Pilot Institute has to offer.

Their in-depth courses will make you a better pilot, meaning you’ll be able to have more fun flying your drone and are less likely to damage your equipment. And because you have a lifetime membership, you’ll always be able to go back and brush up on your skills anytime you want to.

The most popular course at Pilot Institute is the Part 107 Commercial Drone License Course, which goes far beyond the information you need to merely pass the test. Instead, this course aims to teach you everything you need to know to be a successful and competent drone pilot.

And because you can revisit the course materials whenever you like, this course helps you achieve lifelong learning so that you can stay at the top of your game.

Additionally, the educational videos are fun to take, and their short length helps keep you engaged as you learn. They provide real-world examples of problems you may encounter, and their advice and techniques are sure to make you a better drone pilot.

Plus, being able to download lessons for offline access means you can consult the course material whenever you like.

Furthermore, their 14-day challenge helps to keep you motivated and gives you extra incentive to finish the course. Staying motivated is often hard when you’re studying remotely, so the 14-day challenge provides a great way to keep you on track and make sure you finish the course in a timely fashion.

Combine all that with a money-back guarantee, and it’s hard to see any downside to taking this course. Getting licensed to fly your drone has never been easier, so there’s really no reason not to take advantage of what Pilot Institute has to offer.

Editors Choice
90,000+ Students Can't Be Wrong 19,382 Reviews
See why more than 90,000 students have mastered the art of commercial drone flying with this online-only course. With industry-leading training by accredited experts, Pilot Institute's part 107 made easy is the best course for wannabe commercial drone pilots that money can buy. Pass your remote pilot test on your first attempt — or get your money back. So what are you waiting for? Get started today to learn everything you need to know to safely pilot your drone for fun and for profit and take your unmanned aircraft flying skills to the next level!

Read more: Best Follow Me Drones for Tracking Sports

Pilot Institute Coupon Code

The cost of everything seems to be going up these days, so it’s not surprising that lots of us have to look for ways to save money anywhere we can.

We often get questions from our readers wondering if there’s a way to use a discount code to make the Pilot Institute course more affordable.

Well, luckily, there is!

We have reached out to Pilot Institute, and they have offered a generous discount for Travel By Drone readers. You can get a whopping $100 off the price of their courses by applying this code in the coupon field at checkout:

TRAVELBYDRONE

Note that you can’t use two discounts at the same time.

If the course you are buying is already discounted, the coupon code may not work. But still, you can try replacing the default applied coupon with our coupon code to check if it offers more money off your course; if not, you can simply proceed with the previously applied discount code.

All in all, our main aim is to ensure that the Travel By Drone readers get the best possible discount on their Pilot Institute’s courses.

Pilot Institute also offers discounts for anyone who wants to take the course as a group. There are special rates for this that depend on how many people you will bring with you, so reach out to us at [email protected], and we will help you get the best discount possible on your group drone pilot course.

Conclusion

With comprehensive courses taught by experienced FAA-licensed instructors, Pilot Institute will give you the skills you need to fly your drone with confidence.

The courses offered by Pilot Institute make it easy to learn how to fly your drone properly. And if you want to make money as a drone pilot or photographer, there’s really no substitute for the courses offered by Pilot Institute.

Their training courses will open doors for you that you might otherwise never get through, and being licensed by the FAA shows that you take your business seriously, which can help you land those high-paying clients.

Plus, Pilot Institute can help keep you compliant. The lifetime access means you can always go back and brush up on your skills, and because they’re constantly updating their courses to reflect changes in regulations, you can make sure a change in the law never catches you out.

No other aviation school offers the wealth of training resources that Pilot Institute does. And very few other schools have instructors with the same level of experience and expertise. That’s why Pilot Institute comes out on top of our study of drone schools.

It’s not a coincidence that Pilot Institute is so confident in their training that they will offer to refund not only the cost of doing the course but also your FAA exam fees should you fail. They have helped more than 200,000 students to get qualified to fly drones, and they know exactly what it takes to pass the Part 107 examination.

That’s why their courses are such a good deal. It’s a small price to pay to get the best training in the industry to make sure you pass your Part 107 exam on the first try.

The 30-day satisfaction guarantee Pilot Institute offers means you have nothing to lose by trying out their course. So, take a few lessons to see what they offer and become the best pilot you can with help from the experts at Pilot Institute.

Tell US About Your Experience

We’re all better together.

We can help each other out by sharing information on our experiences of drone flying schools. If you’ve taken the Pilot Institute courses, especially the Part 107 course, we love to hear more about your experience.

  • Was it worth the money?
  • Did you pass the test for the first time?
  • Any great piece of advice for wannabe commercial drone pilots?

If not yet, then once you’ve taken the test and gotten your license, don’t forget to come back And share your experience with other people contemplating doing the same.

We could all help each other out by providing up-to-date and useful information.

Frequently Asked Questions

There’s a lot of information to consider when looking for a drone school. If you still have questions after reading our review, don’t worry.

Take a look at our frequently asked questions, and hopefully, you’ll get all the answers you need to make an informed decision about whether Pilot Institute is for you.

Do I Need a License if I'm Only Flying Drones Recreationally or for Fun?

You need to be licensed by the FAA in order to fly a drone commercially. It’s important to remember that the FAA has a fairly broad definition of what counts as commercial use of a drone.

For instance, if you make YouTube videos with your drone and your YouTube account is monetized, that’s commercial usage that requires a license.

The same goes for real estate professionals, mappers, roofers, influencers, and anyone who might possibly make money using their drone. Even if the drone footage doesn’t directly make you money but only serves as advertising for your company, that’s still commercial use.

But even if you only intend to fly recreationally, you must obtain a TRUST certificate from the FAA. This ensures that you have the basic skills and legal knowledge necessary to fly a drone without harming yourself or others or damaging property.

Pilot Institute offers comprehensive courses that cover everything you need to know about flying drones, regardless of whether you’re doing it for fun or for commercial purposes.

How Much Does It Cost to Get an FAA Part 107 Drone Pilot License?

It costs $180 to take the FAA Part 107 Drone Pilot license test, including the $5 drone registration fee. Assuming the study course that will help you pass the test costs another $149.

If that seems expensive, you’ll be glad to know that once you have your license, there are no additional fees to keep it, and you can renew your license every two years absolutely free.

The best way to keep your expenses to a minimum is to ensure you pass the Part 107 test the first time (Only in case the drone flight training school you opt for doesn’t offer any money-back guarantees) since it will cost you an additional $175 exam fee every time you retake the test, which goes to CATS and is non-refundable.

On the whole, the exam and registration fees, along with the Pilot Institute course, will cost a little over $300 to get you licensed to fly. This is actually quite reasonable, given that many competitor drone courses can cost $500 or more.

Don’t forget that Pilot Institute offers a refund of your test and course fee if you don’t pass the first time. That means if you’re in the 0.2% of people who don’t pass on the first attempt after taking the course, you get to take another shot at the test for free.

Also, don’t forget that there are additional costs if you intend to start a drone business. For one, you’ll want to establish an LLC or other limited company, and that involves costs that vary from one jurisdiction to the next.

You’ll also need drone insurance, which can also vary according to the type of drone you have and what you’ll be using it for, along with your location.

What Are Drone Flight Schools?

Drone flight schools are aviation training facilities where people can go to learn how to fly drones. These schools typically offer courses that cover everything from the basics of drone operation to more advanced topics like aerial photography, videography, thermal scanning, mapping, etc.

A good drone school will teach you everything you need to know about flying a drone. You’ll learn how to operate your aircraft safely so that you don’t damage what can be a very expensive investment.

You’ll also learn more about the laws governing drone flying in your jurisdiction to ensure you don’t get in trouble with the authorities.

Suppose you want to take your drone flying to the next level and make a living from it.

In that case, many drone schools can also teach you about the information required to get your remote pilot certificate, along with everything you need to know about building a drone flying business, from the legal requirements to the business practices to the flying skills you’ll need to be a success.

Why Should I Enroll in a Drone Flight School?

Enrolling in a drone flight school is a great way to learn everything you need to know about flying drones safely and legally.

These schools typically offer comprehensive courses that are taught by experienced, FAA-licensed instructors. Plus, they usually have state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, which can give you a real-world experience.

Many drone schools, including Pilot Institute, give you a wealth of course materials, especially when it comes to preparing you for the part 107 exam – which includes written lessons, video lessons, cheat sheets, and a flashcard app.

These materials will help you learn what you need to know about flying a drone much faster. And, if you retain access to the course materials, you can consult them at any time. That way, even after you get your drone flying license, you can continue to improve your skills and stay current with any regulations you might need to know.

A good drone flight school does much more than just helping you get certified to fly. Instead, they offer comprehensive training that will not only make you a better pilot but can also make you a better business person and help you stay compliant with the law. The cost of the course is a small price to pay for all that.

How Long Does It Take To Finish the Entire Part 107 Made Easy Course?

It takes 15 to 20 hours to complete the Pilot Institute Part 107 Made Easy course – but you’re not going to be able to do that all in one sitting!

It is recommended that you take between two and three weeks to finish the entire course. That will help you memorize what you need to know and give you enough time to make sure you understand the core concepts for long-term knowledge retention.

One of the best things about the course is that you get lifetime access to all course materials. So while it’s recommended you complete the course in 2 to 3 weeks, you don’t have to do it that quickly.

If you’re a busy or slow learner, you can take your time to make sure you understand everything clearly. Studying at your room pace will give you the best chance of passing the exam when you come to take it.

Can I Take the Part 107 Test Online?

No, you cannot take the Part 107 test online.

Instead, you must go to an authorized testing center to take the examination in person. This is how the FAA ensures that the test is fairly administered and that you don’t get any additional help. You can find a list of authorized testing centers online.

When it comes to taking your test, it’s up to you to make all the necessary arrangements and schedule your exam at a test center for a specific date of the year. However, Pilot Institute will be with you every step of the way when it comes to preparing for the test and ensuring you know everything you need to know.

How Long Does It Take To Get a Part 107 License (Become a Commercial Drone Pilot)?

On average, it takes around 20 to 30 days to get your Part 107 license.

That’s from setting the appointment to take your test to getting your temporary license that will allow you to operate until you get your permanent license shortly afterward. However, remember that that’s the quickest you can possibly do it.

A lot of that time will be spent preparing for the test and studying everything you need to know. The FAA estimates that you should spend about 20 hours studying. However, that number will change depending on how good you are at learning new information.

Of course, if you fail your test, you’re going to need to book a new appointment and start the process again.

You can book your test online, and there are 700 different testing centers throughout the US, which helps to keep the wait time down. Two weeks is a fairly average amount of time to spend studying and learning the knowledge you need for the test itself. That’s based on spending 60 to 75 minutes studying the course materials every day for 14 days.

The test itself takes two hours. Then, the results of the test are supposed to be issued within 48 to 72 hours. However, you may also get your results within the first 24 hours after taking your test.

Once you have your results, you can request your certificate through the IACRA Website. This is a quick process that just requires you to enter some personal details, including an address for your certificate to be mailed to.

Remember also that before you can become a fully-fledged drone pilot, the TSA will run a background check on you. The time this takes varies a lot, but two weeks is fairly average.

Assuming you pass the background check, you will be granted a temporary license that will be emailed to you. This temporary license is valid for 120 days, and you can use it to fly your drone while you wait for your permanent license to arrive by mail. Mail times vary, but typically, you’ll have your actual license within a month. However, some people have had to wait 6 to 8 weeks for their permanent license.

If you’re really lucky, it’s possible to get your temporary license in about 25 days. That’s assuming you book and pass the knowledge test today.

Are There Alternatives to Drone Flight Schools?

Yes, there are alternatives to drone flight schools. For example, you can find many free online courses that cover the same topics. In addition, there are YouTube videos out there that will teach you some of what you need to know to fly a drone successfully, and you can also find podcasts and reading materials that can give you some information.

However, it’s hard to know who to trust online, and it’s even harder to find a free course that gives you everything you need to know. You can easily spend hours going through different training resources, trying to discover what you need.

Plus, part of the problem is that you don’t know what you need to know when you’re not an expert. That’s why an FAA-licensed aviation instructor is so valuable. They have taken these tests before and know exactly what you need to know and what you don’t so that you’ll get all the information you need and won’t waste time learning useless things.

If money is an issue, you can learn a lot about what you need to fly a drone successfully for free. But remember that it costs money to take the FAA exam, and you can’t get a license to fly a drone without it.

Just one failed exam will cost you as much as a course from Pilot Institute, and since they guarantee that you’ll pass and will refund the test and course fee if you don’t, it’s easy to see how you can actually save money by hiring a licensed and experienced drone school to teach you what you need to know.

View Comments (8)
  • I took this course earlier this year and passed my 107 exam with a 98%. I only missed one question. I knew the answer to that one question, but I read it wrong in the first place. I highly recommend the pilot institute course. This course is perfectly structured and paced in a way that makes it easy to learn complicated topics like sectional charts, airspace, radio communication procedures, and the effects of weather on UAVs. Totally worth the money

  • Hello, I am a small business owner. I own a shop selling drones, and last month, I thought of providing drone-related services for additional income, so I took the Part 107 test without proper preparation and the latest airspace knowledge. Unfortunately, I could not qualify for my drone pilot license as I passed with 54%, whereas the minimum passing score is 70%. My friend has recommended the Drone Pilot Ground School Part 107 course for exam preparation this time. Does this course prepare one well enough to pass the Part 107 exam, or are any other supplemental materials also required?

    • Hey Mike, first of all, numerous FAA Part 107 training courses are available online, and every course is good in itself. We at TravelByDrone always recommend Pilot Institute over Drone Pilot Ground School if you ask for our opinion. The reason? The Pilot Institute Course contains everything offered by the Drone Pilot Ground School, and it is usually available for sale at a discounted price of $159, which is nearly half the cost compared to the Drone Pilot Ground School Course, which is available at $299 plus tax. Besides this, the Pilot Institute course contains everything you need to know to pass the 107 examination; no other study materials will be required.

  • To everyone reading this, I purchased the pilot institute part 107 training course a week back. All I can say is it’s worth the money. Greg is an amazing teacher who does a great job teaching everything one needs to know to be a safe, competent pilot. I have just finished the course and scored 83, 87, and 90 on the practice tests. The actual exam is scheduled for Thursday. I will update you when I pass

  • Just like me, if you plan on preparing for the part 107 examination using the free info available on YouTube and across the web. Stop right away. I have been in your shoes. I thought of doing that initially, but after two days of trying, I stopped and bought the pilot institute course that helped me pass with 88% easily. IMO, it takes too much effort to search for free videos and study material related to different topics, and there’s no use in studying the answers to the test instead of knowing what they actually mean. Additionally, with a thorough and structured course, you have everything laid out in front of you in an organized way that makes it easier to absorb information, and it’s better than paying $180 twice if you fail due to self-studying.

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