Being a pilot is a childhood dream for many—sitting in a cockpit full of gadgets, wearing a stylish cap, soaring through the skies, and traveling to exciting places sounds like a dream job. If you ask a current pilot, many will say they’ve envisioned this career for a long time.
However, there are significant barriers between aspiring pilots and their wings. The largest of these is the cost of flight school. Training and licensing costs for commercial pilot certification can exceed $90,000, making it unattainable for most from working- and middle-class backgrounds. Meanwhile, the demand for commercial pilots is soaring, with airlines offering signing bonuses and other perks to recruit and retain personnel, a need amplified by a pilot shortage exacerbated by the COVID pandemic.
Although there is no shortage of people dreaming of becoming pilots, the persistent shortage of qualified pilots highlights a critical issue. The problem can only be addressed by enabling more aspiring pilots to afford training and licensing. Solving this financial bottleneck will undoubtedly lead to a rapid increase in the number of student pilots.
Recognizing this opportunity, Brandon Martini and Anthony Geraci—both certified pilots and flight instructors—founded Stratus Financial in 2020. This pioneering lending firm addresses the financial challenges faced by aspiring aviators, enabling them to achieve their goals through tailored funding solutions, including a pilot student loan program.
Brandon holds a Commercial Pilot Certification with Multi-Engine Land and Sea, Single-Engine Land and Sea, and Instrument Rating. He is also a Flight Instructor qualified to teach Single and Multi-Engine Instruments. Anthony is a Commercial Pilot certified in Multi-Engine, Single-Engine, and Instrument, as well as a Ground Instructor for Advanced Ground and Instrument courses. Their extensive experience positions Stratus Financial to understand the unique needs of aviation students.
Stratus Financial began operations during the COVID pandemic, a time when aviation had come to a halt. Planes were retired en masse, and thousands of pilots were furloughed, retired, or let go. Despite these challenges, Stratus Financial thrived by helping student pilots access funding for training and forming strong partnerships with flight schools.
The company’s pilot student loan program offers fast approvals—typically within 14 days—transparent terms, and flexible repayment options. It’s also the first private lender in aviation to provide near-instant credit approval, resulting in a 616% year-over-year increase in applications. With no down payment required, borrowers can use a co-borrower’s credit profile for approval, making the process more accessible.
Unlike other loan programs that require flight schools to bear the risk of loan defaults, Stratus Financial’s no-shared-risk model transforms how schools approach funding. This innovative approach has led to partnerships with over 200 flight schools across 35 U.S. states and territories, including Puerto Rico.
“Many people dream of a fulfilling career as a pilot, but the sky-high training costs have placed it out of reach for those without wealthy families,” Brandon says. “We know what it’s like to struggle to finance your passion. Stratus Financial’s pilot student loan programs make flight school attainable, offering a diverse range of financial products to meet unique needs. We’re not just a lending company—we’re a dream facilitator, helping people fund their dreams of taking flight.”
Stratus Financial’s commitment to making aviation careers achievable has positioned it as a leader in addressing the pilot shortage. By removing financial obstacles, they’re ensuring that aspiring pilots can transform their dreams into reality—one flight at a time.
By William Mullane by USA Today