American Flyers is 85
Training pilots since 1939
When World War II broke out in Europe, airplane manufacturers began producing more airplanes with better avionics, increasing the demand for well-trained pilots to fly them. American Flyers played a crucial role in the war effort.
Soon after the war, Monty Montgomery established Aviation Training Enterprises (ATE) across from Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW). Montgomery had been a simulator instructor in the Army Air Corps, where he met fellow simulator instructor Rudy Frasca. When Frasca started designing simulators for civilian use, no schools wanted to buy simulators. So, he approached Montgomery. Montgomery borrowed money from his in-laws and purchased the first Frasca simulator, serial number 001. Armed with new simulators and former military instructors, Montgomery established the world’s first instrument training school.
In 1980, ATE acquired American Flyers, creating one of the nation’s largest flight schools. Through this merger, the company expanded with locations in Houston and Dallas; Scottsdale, Arizona; Morristown, New Jersey; and Pompano Beach, Florida. By the late 1980s, American Flyers had more than 20 locations.
American Flyers was the first flight school to develop online training programs. These included the first online flight instructor refresher course (FIRC), as well as courses for private, instrument, commercial, CFI, and ATP certifications.
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