High Flight Academy

High Flight Academy is a flight school at Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport in Butler, Pennsylvania. It offers FAA Part 141 certified flight training. The school was founded in 2017 at the airport. The site says students can go from zero experience to all required certificates and ratings in as little as 12 months.

The school's main program is the High Gear Accelerated Program. It pairs FAA Part 141 training with a Sallie Mae Airline Career Loan. Other programs include college degree programs, recreational flight training, instrument rating, multi-engine rating, an accelerated certified flight instructor course and discovery flights. The school says it is the only non-accredited flight school in the region approved for these loans.

The school says it has more than 25 instructors and a fleet of 16 or more aircraft. Training runs seven days a week. The site also mentions a Redbird simulator. The academy lists partnerships with eight colleges and universities. These include Slippery Rock University and Liberty University.

The site says the school was named an AOPA Distinguished Flight School in 2026. It first earned that honor in 2018. The site describes the academy as one of the largest flight training centers in western Pennsylvania. Other funding options listed include Stratus Financial, AOPA scholarships, Pennsylvania state grants and VA benefits.

The school is at 475 Airport Road, Butler, PA 16002. The phone number is (724) 481-1359. The site says the team responds to all inquiries within one business day. The contact form lists subjects including the High Gear Accelerated Program. Students on the site describe one-on-one attention from their instructors. Social channels include Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube. The site also lists discovery flights for people who want to try flying first. Its financing pages cover VA and GI Bill options and the cost of training. The site also has a blog and a news page.