About OCFC

ORANGE COUNTY FLIGHT CENTER · SINCE 1981. A premier FAA Part 141 and Part 61 flight school at John Wayne Airport — where excellence is the standard and flight safety comes first.

OUR MISSION. Orange County Flight Center's mission is to provide safe, high-quality FAA-approved flight training through experienced instructors, well-maintained aircraft, and a strong culture of aviation excellence. OCFC fosters a supportive and collaborative learning environment while adapting to the evolving training needs of future pilots.

Established in 1981, Orange County Flight Center is a women-owned FAA Part 141 flight school located at John Wayne Airport in Southern California. For more than four decades, OCFC has trained and inspired the next generation of aviation professionals through structured, safety-focused flight education in a real airport environment. Since inception, more than 12,000 students have trained at OCFC, building careers in commercial aviation, corporate aviation, and private flying. In 2019 the company expanded under new ownership and continued growing its national and international training initiatives.

OCFC gives students direct exposure to a busy Class C airport environment — high-performance runway operations, airline traffic, structured ATC communication — developing real-world communication, decision-making, and operational skills from the first lesson. The school offers FAA-approved Part 141 and Part 61 programs, professional pilot pathways, ground school, veteran support programs, and international student enrollment.

THE OCFC ADVANTAGE — WHY PART 141.
Safer operations: earning and keeping FAA approval requires exceptional performance at every level of the school, from leadership to dispatch, against FAA-approved procedures that exceed the basic rules.
Quicker completion: the FAA recognizes that the process produces superior pilots with less total flight time, and lowers the minimum requirements for each approved program.
Lower expenses: completing a Commercial certificate in 182 flight hours instead of the 250 required under Part 61 saves a considerable amount of money.
Tuition assistance: Part 141 programs are eligible for scholarships, loans, and VA benefits.
College credit: Part 141 programs combine with collegiate programs — OCFC is the official Flight Lab for Orange Coast College — to earn credit and, in some cases, reduce the Restricted ATP minimums.
Greater efficiency: tighter course structure and a specific plan for every lesson means no wasted flight time; end-of-stage and end-of-course checks show you exactly how you are progressing.
Greater employability: flight operations appreciate the discipline and rigor of a Part 141 background, giving OCFC graduates a competitive edge.

A LETTER FROM OUR LEADERSHIP. Dear Students — welcome to Orange County Flight Center, a premier FAA-approved Part 141 flight training institution established in 1981 at John Wayne Airport. For more than four decades OCFC has trained aspiring aviators in a professional real-airport environment while fostering excellence, leadership, discipline, and safety. As a women-owned aviation enterprise, we are proud to support students from around the world. Warm regards — Adina Zaharescu, President · Niki Alexander Shetty, Managing Director.

CAREERS. OCFC is always looking for passionate, professional, and motivated people — flight instructors, dispatchers, maintenance technicians, and administrative specialists committed to safety and aviation excellence. Send your resume to info@ocfc.com.