Florida Department of Education
Curriculum Framework 

The standards and/or benchmarks for this program were updated for the 2026-27 academic year.

Program Title:	Commercial Pilot
Career Cluster:	Transportation, Distribution and Logistics

College Credit Certificate	
CIP Number	0649010202	
Program Type	College Credit Certificate (CCC)	
Program Length	24 credit hours	
CTSO	SkillsUSA	
SOC Codes (all applicable) 	For program SOC codes, please see the Program and Course Tables section of the CTE Program Resources page linked below.	
CTE Program Resources 	http://www.fldoe.org/academics/career-adult-edu/career-tech-edu/program-resources.stml	

Purpose

This certificate program is part of the Professional Pilot Technology AS degree program (1649010200).

A College Credit Certificate consists of a program of instruction of less than sixty (60) credits of college-level courses, which is part of an AS or AAS degree program and prepares students for entry into employment (Rule 6A-14.030, F.A.C.).

This program offers a sequence of courses that provides coherent and rigorous content aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills needed to prepare for further education and careers in the Transportation, Distribution and Logistics career cluster; provides technical skill proficiency, and includes competency-based applied learning that contributes to the academic knowledge, higher-order reasoning and problem-solving skills, work attitudes, general employability skills, technical skills, and occupation-specific skills, and knowledge of all aspects of the Transportation, Distribution and Logistics career cluster. 

The content includes but is not limited to communications skills, employability skills, safe and efficient work practices, FAA pilot certification procedures, aircraft systems and components, flight safety, and instrumentation.  This program focuses on specific, transferable skills.  It stresses understanding and demonstration of the following elements of the commercial pilot industry: flight planning, managing commercial flight operations, flight safety and environmental issues.

Additional Information relevant to this Career and Technical Education (CTE) program is provided at the end of this document.

Program Structure    

This program is a planned sequence of instruction consisting 24 credit hours.

When developing the course sequence for the local implementation of this program, select courses that:
•	Meet the skill development requirements of the standards and benchmarks of this program.
•	Where reasonable and practicable, align with programs offered by your institution or other postsecondary institutions in Florida, including: 
o	Related AS and AAS degrees.
o	Baccalaureate degrees within the same career pathway and/or Federal CIP code.

Visit FloridaShines’ Discover Programs website to identify other institutions that offer similar programs to review their course sequencing. Where appropriate, course alignment between institutions offering related programs can facilitate interagency student articulation.

Visit FloridaShines’ Common Prerequisites Manual to identify courses that are prerequisites for admission into an upper division program.  When sub-baccalaureate courses are aligned to the course admissions requirements of baccalaureate programs with the same career pathway, students can enter upper division coursework seamlessly.   

Florida’s Career Readiness Skills for CTE Programs

Employability Skills	
01.0	Apply academic skills to workplace scenarios.	
01.01	Use reading skills.	
01.02	Use writing skills.	
01.03	Use mathematical strategies and procedures.	
01.04	Use scientific principles and procedures.	
02.0	Design a solution to an industry problem.	
02.01	Use critical thinking.	
02.02	Use creativity.	
02.03	Make sound decisions.	
02.04	Solve problems.	
02.05	Reason. 	
02.06	Plan and organize.	
03.0	Manage resources within an industry project	
03.01	Manage time.	
03.02	Manage money or resources.	
03.03	Manage materials.	
03.04	Manage personnel.	
04.0	Oversee the subcomponents, operations and output of a technical or organizational system.	
04.01	Manage systems.	
04.02	Monitor systems.	
04.03	Improve systems.	
05.0	Use information for decision making.	
05.01	Locate information.	
05.02	Organize information.	
05.03	Use information.	
05.04	Analyze information.	
05.05	Communicate information.	
06.0	Apply relevant technology to workplace scenarios to aid productivity.	
06.01	Use technology.	
07.0	Interpret and express interpersonal communication.	
07.01	Communicate verbally.	
07.02	Listen actively.	
07.03	Comprehend written material.	
07.04	Convey information in writing.	
07.05	Communicate nonverbally.	
07.06	Interpret nonverbal communication.	
08.0	Interact with others to accomplish workplace goals.	
08.01	Collaborate with others in a team.	
08.02	Respond to customer needs.	
08.03	Exercise leadership.	
08.04	Negotiate to resolve conflict.	
08.05	Respect others.	
09.0	Manage personal behavior to maximize productivity and professional growth.	
09.01	Demonstrate responsibility and self-discipline.	
09.02	Adapt and show flexibility.	
09.03	Work independently.	
09.04	Demonstrate a willingness to learn.	
09.05	Demonstrate integrity.	
09.06	Demonstrate professionalism.	
09.07	Take initiative.	
09.08	Display positive attitude.	
09.09	Take responsibility for professional growth.	
Job Attainment	
10.0	Find, assess and apply to job opportunities.	
10.01	Identify online job posts relevant to his or her career aspirations.	
10.02	Compare and contrast the job posts’ required qualifications, job duties, compensation, benefits and employers. 	
10.03	Define what information, documentation and writing prompts are required for the positions.	
11.0	Communicate personal competence, character and fit for a job opportunity.	
11.01	Develop a resume.	
11.02	Write a cover letter.	
11.03	Curate a professional portfolio that includes work products.	
11.04	Prepare for and experience a mock job interview.	
12.0	Cultivate and leverage relationships to professionally advance.	
12.01	Request a signed reference letter, letter of recommendation and/or an online skill/professionalism endorsement. 	
12.02	Develop a plan to cultivate a professional digital footprint.	
12.03	Develop a networking plan for a specific industry of interest.	

Standards

After successfully completing this program, the student will be able to perform the following:

01.0	Demonstrate an understanding of safe and effective work practices.
02.0	Demonstrate an understanding of fundamentals of flight.
03.0	Understand and explain pertinent Federal Aviation Administration Regulations.
04.0	Demonstrate understanding of meteorology.
05.0	Demonstrate knowledge of aircraft communications equipment.
06.0	Demonstrate knowledge and an understanding of aircraft propulsion, and associated systems.
07.0	Demonstrate an understanding of navigation systems and procedures.
08.0	Demonstrate flight planning skills.

Florida Department of Education
Student Performance Standards

Program Title:	Commercial Pilot
CIP Number:	0649010202
Program Length:	24 credit hours

This certificate program is part of the Professional Pilot Technology AS degree program (1649010200).  At the completion of this program, the student will be able to:	
01.0	Demonstrate an understanding of safe and effective work practices.  The student will be able to:	
01.01	Demonstrate an awareness and understanding of health and safety hazards, prevention and correction of environmental problems and know the solutions unique to the industry.	
01.02	Demonstrate an awareness and understanding of fueling operations.	
01.03	Demonstrate an understanding of situational awareness related to operational hazards.	
01.04	Demonstrate an awareness of fire hazards, and awareness of proper techniques to control and extinguish fires.	
01.05	Demonstrate an awareness and understanding for the need of safety devices, controls, guards and equipment.	
02.0	Demonstrate an understanding of fundamentals of flight.  The student will be able to:	
02.01	Name and compare the four forces of flight.	
02.02	Describe an airfoil.	
02.03	Explain how lift is produced.	
02.04	Discuss how and why an airplane stalls and spins.	
02.05	Describe and explain how pitot/static, vacuum, pressure, and engine instruments work.	
02.06	Explain factors affecting aircraft design, performance, and operation.	
02.07	Describe and explain how advanced avionics systems work.	
03.0	Understand and explain Federal Aviation Administration Regulations.  The student will be able to:	
03.01	Explain relevant portions of Parts 1, 61, 91, 110, 119, 121, 135, 141 and NTSB 830 of the Federal Aviation Regulations.	
04.0	Demonstrate understanding of meteorology.  The student will be able to:	
04.01	Describe the composition, general circulation, and stability of the atmosphere.	
04.02	Demonstrate an understanding of air mass development, the movement of fronts and their effect on aviation.	
04.03	Demonstrate an awareness of weather hazards to aviation and an understanding of how to avoid them.	
04.04	Demonstrate the ability to access weather information prior to and during flights through a variety of media.	
04.05	Interpret printed reports, forecasts, and graphic weather products.	
05.0	Demonstrate knowledge of aircraft communication equipment.  The student will be able to:	
05.01	Use and explain aircraft voice communication equipment.	
05.02	Explain function and use of ELT’s, voice recorders, and other emergency communication systems.	
05.03	Demonstrate use of proper phraseology in ATC communications.	
05.04	Discuss uses and limitations of portable transceivers.	
05.05	Demonstrate use of phonetic alphabet.	
06.0	Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of aircraft propulsion and associated systems.  The student will be able to:	
06.01	Describe and identify reciprocating and turbine engine components.	
06.02	Describe a typical lubrication system.	
06.03	Describe a typical magneto ignition system, including proper magneto checks.	
06.04	Describe the difference between a normally aspirated engine and one that is supercharged or turbocharged.	
06.05	Demonstrate basic operation of an aircraft engine, including proper interpretation of instruments and use of appropriate engine controls. 	
07.0	Demonstrate an understanding of navigation systems and procedures.  The student will be able to:	
The following Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) links will be used for standard 7.	
Commercial Pilot - Airplane Airman Certification Standards (Change 1)	
Instrument Rating – Airplane ACS	
08.0	Demonstrate flight planning skills.  The student will be able to:	
The following Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) links will be used for standard 8.	
Commercial Pilot - Airplane Airman Certification Standards (Change 1)	
Instrument Rating – Airplane ACS	

Additional Information

Laboratory Activities

Laboratory investigations that include scientific inquiry, research, measurement, problem solving, emerging technologies, tools and equipment, as well as, experimental, quality, and safety procedures are an integral part of this career and technical program/course. Laboratory investigations benefit all students by developing an understanding of the complexity and ambiguity of empirical work, as well as the skills required to manage, operate, calibrate and troubleshoot equipment/tools used to make observations. Students understand measurement error; and have the skills to aggregate, interpret, and present the resulting data. Equipment and supplies should be provided to enhance hands-on experiences for students. 

Special Notes

This course provides an expedited method of transition from an academic institution into the workforce.  There are a number of students who wish to pursue their FAA licenses but do not want to seek a degree.  Formalized training in an institution leads to safer pilot practices as demonstrated by statistical data.  The Commercial Pilot Certificate supports entry level job functions in the pilot industry.  The typical length of this program for the average achieving student is nine calendar months.

Prior to beginning flight training, students will be required to obtain an FAA medical certificate and comply with the TSA requirements.  Community/State Colleges initiating this program are strongly encouraged to visit existing Florida Community/State Colleges with active programs.

Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO)

CTSOs are co-curricular career and technical student organizations providing leadership training and reinforcing specific career and technical skills. Career and Technical Student Organizations provide activities for students as an integral part of the instruction offered. Other CTSOs not listed in this curriculum framework or recognized by the Florida Department of Education are permissible provided they support student mastery over the standards and benchmarks of this curriculum framework.

Accommodations

Federal and state legislation requires the provision of accommodations for students with disabilities to meet individual needs and ensure equal access. Postsecondary students with disabilities must self-identify, present documentation, request accommodations if needed, and develop a plan with their counselor and/or instructors. Accommodations received in postsecondary education may differ from those received in secondary education. Accommodations change the way the student is instructed. Students with disabilities may need accommodations in such areas as instructional methods and materials, assignments and assessments, time demands and schedules, learning environment, assistive technology and special communication systems. Documentation of the accommodations requested and provided should be maintained in a confidential file.