Flight Schools: Spread Your Wings

“WHEN ONCE YOU HAVE TASTED FLIGHT, YOU WILL FOREVER WALK THE EARTH WITH YOUR EYES TURNED SKYWARD, FOR THERE YOU HAVE BEEN, AND THERE YOU WILL ALWAYS LONG TO RETURN.” -LEONARDO DA VINCI

There’s nothing else quite like soaring above the clouds or in an endless Carolina blue sky. No, we’re not talking virtual reality, but the real thing. Cabarrus County wanna-be pilots are fortunate enough to have Concord-Padgett Regional Airport close by and home to a number of flight schools.

So, what does it take to learn to fly? Besides nationally accredited pilot training institutions (for those pursuing a professional flying career), there are Part 61 and Part 141 certified flight programs. With each, Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) dictate levels/hours of training in earning a pilot certificate.

Part 61 flight schools offer local instruction one on one with a more customized approach – great for part-time students and those probably not looking to learn to fly larger, commercial aircraft. A minimum flight time of 40 hours is required.

Victory Lane Aviation is a Part 61 flight school – great for those not likely to want to fly large, commercial aircraft.

Photo Courtesy: Victory Lane Aviation

Part 141 schools are geared toward professional pilot training. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspects Part 141 schools and must okay the curriculum, as well as the school’s instructors and training facility. They require a minimum of 35 hours flight time.

So, if you’re 16 years old – the minimum age required to fly an aircraft solo – or you’re 17 and can qualify for a Private Pilot Certificate, get your third-class medical certificate (pilot’s physical) through an aviation medical examiner. Besides these prerequisites, students must have a valid driver’s license or government-issued identification, and a birth certificate with a raised seal, or a passport.

“A third-class medical certificate is appropriate for student pilots, recreational pilot, and private pilots who fly for pleasure or personal business (but not for hire). It’s valid for 60 months for pilots under age 40, and 24 months for applicants who are age 40 or older,” Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) explains.

Victory Lane Aviation is one of the Part 61 flight schools at Concord- Padgett Regional; Matt Rutland is assistant flight school manager. Having served in the U.S. Navy as an avionics technical supervisor during the first Gulf War, he sailed on five different aircraft carriers during his enlistment. “My love of aviation started very young, laying in the yard watching jets fly over me on a 10-mile final to land,” Rutland shares. “Victory Lane Aviation (VLA) was established in 2015, the merging of Concord Flight Center and a large group of dedicated mechanics from a local maintenance facility. VLA was opened to cater to the needs of aspiring pilots and long-term pilots on the flight training side, but also to provide top-tier aviation maintenance for aircraft owners.”

VLA works with beginners to experienced students in developing a lesson plan. Its website explains, “Once endorsed by our instructors, you may begin soloing. Once you have amassed 10 hours of solo flight time and 40 hours total hours of flight time, you must pass a written examination as well as fulfill all flight requirements. Finally, you must pass a check ride with a designated examiner.”

“We use computers and modern technology for our ground school training,” Rutland explains. “We have three excellent training aircraft that provide excellent primary and instrument rating training. These include two Cessna 172s – one older and traditional – and the other with a glass panel for more modern flight decks. We also offer a Piper PA-28-180 (low-wing). These two aircraft types represent a huge majority of general aviation aircraft in this category.

“Our flight school focuses mainly on Single-Engine Land aircraft primary and instrument rating training, currently. We have also just become an ICON A5 (American amphibious light-sport aircraft) service center,” he adds.

An Airplane, Single Engine, Land certificate (ASEL) is part of the Federal

Aviation Administration (FAA) testing and certification standard: within a privilege level, it is a class rating as part of pilot certification in the United States. An ASEL identifies that the pilot in question holds a pilot license for a fixed-wing aircraft that has a single engine and only lands on land – not a seaplane,” wikipedia explains.

“We can recommend several reputable online ground courses, complemented by formal ground instruction from our instructors. A written knowledge test must be passed before the check ride (flight with designated pilot examiner representing the FAA),” VLA’s website notes.

“Today’s technology has made the written test prep and ground school instruction much more versatile for the aspiring pilot to find what fits them best. Course material covers many subjects, including fundamentals of aerodynamics, weather, airspace and FAA regulations, to name a few. The question pool is over 900 questions on all the required subjects.”

Victory Lane Aviation is also a service center.

Photo Courtesy: Victory Lane Aviation

There are several tests in aspiring pilots’ journeys to a private pilot license. The first is a pre-solo written test created by the local flight school or

instructor; this focuses on the aircraft you’re flying, such as important speeds, and local airport information,” Rutland adds.

A month or more of preparation for the FAA test – an oral exam followed by a flying test that averages four hours total – is recommended. A student must score at least a 70 percent on the test to earn a check ride; a passing grade is good for two years.

“Your Private Pilot Certificate will never expire. In order to keep current, you must complete a flight review every 24 calendar months. Our flight instructors can provide this service as well,” VLA’s website says.

I’ve had so many experiences over my six-plus years of being a licensed pilot,” Rutland shares. “Every sunrise or sunset I’ve experienced has been its own story that is best observed from blue skies above. I feel aviation and its community represent the good in people and are very inclusive to everyone. Seeing a younger child go up and totally thrilled is always a great experience.”

To start training at Victory Lane Aviation, send an email to info@ victorylaneaviation.com, call 704- 784-0297 or stop by 9200-B Aviation Boulevard.

Alpha One Air Service is another Part 61 flight school located at the airport. Originating in Rowan County, Randy Fleming bought the school in 2012 and completed his instructor ratings to pursue the role of flight instructor. While Fleming is in the air, Leigh Anne Holman is grounded – as operations manager.

“We moved the base of operations to the Concord Airport in 2014 with a single Diamond DA20 aircraft and now use Piper single-engine aircraft and Diamond single- and multi-engine

Alpha One Air Service students work one on one with instructors, integrating the ground training curriculum with the flight lesson.

Photo Courtesy: Alpha One Air Service

aircraft, as well as a static simulator out of our Concord location,” Holman says.

Wikipedia says, “A flight simulator is a device that artificially re-creates aircraft flight and the environment in which it flies, for pilot training, design or other purposes. It includes replicating the equations that govern how aircraft fly, how they react to applications of flight controls, the effects of other aircraft systems, and how the aircraft reacts to external factors such as air density, turbulence, wind shear, cloud, precipitation, etc.”

“Alpha One offers sport and private pilot instruction through commercial ratings using Alpha One aircraft or instruction and pilot services for privately-owned aircraft,” Holman explains. “It all starts with an intro flight…an hour in the plane with the guidance of the instructor will give you a good indication if this is a path you want to continue or at least an opportunity for a birds-eye view of the area we call home.

“Intro flights also make for a great gift for the aviation enthusiast or bucket-lister, even if they have no other goals in aviation.”

When students earn their Private Pilot Certificate, they can fly passengers in a single-engine plane day or night. Alpha One recommends students stay dedicated to their training with at least one lesson per week; this keeps knowledge and experiences fresh. Those who want to earn their certificate

quickly can participate in accelerated training. This means several lessons per week.

“You will work one on one with your instructor, integrating the ground training curriculum with the flight lesson,” Alpha One’s website says. “The ground school material will not only help to prepare you for each flight training session, but also with the knowledge needed to pass the FAA Knowledge Test.

“While the national average runs around 70-plus hours, many student pilots at Alpha One have completed their training in 55 hours or less. Optimum flight training can be achieved with as little as two lessons a week, putting you on track to achieve your goal of private pilot in as little as four to six months.”

For more information about Alpha One Air Service, call 704-633-0021 or visit 9301 Aviation Boulevard N.W.

What flight school you ultimately choose depends on the quality flight training you desire in a method convenient to your schedule,” AOPA says. “In earning your Private Pilot’s Certificate, you will have achieved a ‘license’ to learn. Aviation is an everchanging activity, and good pilots are always learning.”

Learning to fly isn’t the cheapest hobby or step to a career. Expect to pay $10,000 to $12,000 for your Private Pilot Certificate. But if the passion is there, soar!

Flight Schools

The flight schools currently in operation at Concord-Padgett Regional Airport are listed below. Each training center is open to the public and more information can be obtained at concordnc.gov.

Alpha One Air Service 704-633-0021 la.alphaone@gmail.com

ATP Flight School 800-255-2877 info@allatps.com

Fly Carolina 704-400-0945 patricia@flycarolina.com

Helventures (helicopters) 704-207-0169 kevin.knotts@helivision.com

Tarheel Aero Tech 704-786-6880 QBAV8R@earthlink.com

Victory Lane Aviation 704-784-0297 ryan@victorylaneaviation.com

FlyRight (flight simulator training) 800-596-3054 mhapgood@flyrightinc.com

Flight training coming in 2019: Aerowood Aviation 980-263-9025 brandon@aerowoodaviation.com

Source: Rob Walter Aviation Safety & Security Coordinator Concord-Padgett Regional Airport