About Parrish Aviation — Dallas Flight School at Dallas Executive Airport
Parrish Aviation is an FAA Part 141 and Part 61 flight school located at Dallas Executive Airport (KRBD) in Dallas, Texas. Founded in 2020 by fourth-generation pilot Jack Parrish, the academy has grown from one airplane and one student to a fleet of 12 training aircraft serving 100-130 active students at any given time.
We train pilots from first flight through airline career — offering Private Pilot, Instrument, Commercial, Multi-Engine, and CFI certifications, plus a structured Career Pilot Pathway that takes students from zero experience to airline-ready in approximately 36 months.
Parrish Aviation is rated 4.7 stars on Google with 56+ reviews. We serve students from across the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex, including Fort Worth, Arlington, Grand Prairie, Irving, Mansfield, and Cedar Hill.
Our Story
Jack Parrish comes from a family that has been flying for five generations. After attending a large national flight school in 2016, he saw an opportunity to build something better — a school with the operational structure of a large academy and the personal attention of a small one.
In 2020, he and his brother Michael started Parrish Aviation with a single Cessna and a single student at a small airport in the DFW area. Within the first year, the school moved to Dallas Executive Airport (KRBD) for its dual runways, controlled airspace, and better facilities. Growth came quickly.
In 2021, the school brought maintenance in-house, a critical step for any flight school that wants to control its own operations and keep aircraft available for students.
By 2022, Jack made the decision to leave his position as a First Officer flying the Embraer 175 at Envoy Air to run the school full-time. Michael, meanwhile, pursued his own airline career — he is now flying for a major airline on the Boeing 737.
Today, Parrish Aviation operates 12 aircraft — including Sling NGT’s, Cessna 172s, a Cessna 152, a Piper Twin Comanche, a Ximango motor glider, and an advanced flight training simulator — and employs a team of airline-experienced instructors and dedicated maintenance staff.
What Makes Parrish Aviation Different
There are many flight schools in Dallas. Here is what sets Parrish apart.
The Airmanship Course
Every student at Parrish Aviation — when starting at the Private Pilot level — completes our Airmanship Course at the beginning of their training. This includes glider flying, tailwheel aircraft training, and upset recovery instruction. No other flight school in Dallas, let alone the country, includes this in their standard curriculum.
The Airmanship Course goes above and beyond FAA minimum standards. It builds stick-and-rudder instincts, energy management, situational awareness, and recovery skills that serve as a safety net for the rest of a pilot's career. We don't just want to produce pilots who meet the minimum — we want to produce pilots that airlines actually want to hire.
Towered Airport, Real-World Experience
Training at Dallas Executive Airport (KRBD) means our students gain daily experience with Air Traffic Control communications, Class D controlled airspace procedures, and busy traffic patterns. This is the same type of operational environment they will encounter in professional aviation. Students who train at uncontrolled airports often struggle with the transition — our students don't, because it's all they've known.
FAA Part 141 Structure with Personal Attention
We operate under FAA Part 141 Certificate with a structured curriculum, stage checks, clear milestones, and consistent evaluation. But we are not a factory. Every student at Parrish Aviation is known by name. We hold regular airport cookouts, community events, and maintain a training culture built on discipline, leadership, and genuine care for each student's success.
Jack Parrish serves as the Part 141 Chief Instructor. He brings real-world airline experience, a NAFI Master CFI designation, and a deep personal investment in every student who walks through the door. Our instructors include airline pilots, Gold Seal CFIs, and experienced aviators who treat flight instruction as a profession — not just a stepping stone.
Financing Partnerships and Degree Pathway
Parrish Aviation maintains direct partnerships with Purdue Global, which allows students to earn a bachelor's degree online while completing their flight training. The flight training, degree, and time-building can all be accomplished within approximately three years — compared to 5–6 years at a traditional aviation university.
Additional partnerships include Wurthy Financial for flight training financing, Four Forces Aviation for supplemental training resources, and Breaking Down Barriers scholarship program for local students who need financial support.
By the Numbers
Founded: 2020
Location: 5125 Voyager Drive, Dallas, TX 75237 — Dallas Executive Airport (KRBD)
Fleet: 12 training aircraft (1 Sling NGT, Cessna 172s, Cessna 152s, Piper Twin Comanche, Ximango motor glider, flight simulator)(9 more Sling NGT’s are on the way from the Sling NGT manufacturer)
Active students: 70–120 at any given time
Rating: 4.7 stars on Google (56+ reviews)
Career program cost: $81,950–$86,500
Career program timeline: 10-16 months (zero to CFI)
Zero to airlines: Approximately 36 months
FAA approvals: Part 141 and Part 61
University partner: Purdue Global
Financing: Wurthy Financial
Hours of operation: Monday–Sunday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Phone: (469) 886-8089
Email: fly@parrishaviation.com
Meet the Founder
Jack Parrish is the founder, president, and Part 141 Chief Instructor at Parrish Aviation. He is a fourth-generation pilot, NAFI Master CFI, and former Embraer 175 and Boeing 767 pilot. Jack holds ATP, Commercial Multi-Engine, CFI, CFII, MEI, CFI-G, AGI, and Gold Seal designations, along with Commercial Seaplane and Glider certificates. Outside of the school, he flies a Pitts S-1C for aerobatics and is active with the Texas Soaring Association glider club.
Jack started Parrish Aviation in 2020 with the goal of combining the operational efficiency of a large flight academy with the personal care and community atmosphere of a small school. He has been an active flight instructor for over eight years and is personally involved in the training standards, curriculum design, and culture at Parrish Aviation.
Visit Parrish Aviation
Parrish Aviation Flight Academy is located at Dallas Executive Airport (KRBD), just minutes from downtown Dallas and Fort Worth.
Address: 5125 Voyager Drive, Dallas, TX 75237 Phone: (469) 886-8089 Email: fly@parrishaviation.com Hours: Monday–Sunday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
We serve students from across the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex, including Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington, Grand Prairie, Irving, Mansfield, Cedar Hill, and surrounding communities.
Schedule a discovery flight or campus tour to see our facilities, meet our instructors, and learn which training program fits your goals.