Carolina Flight School

ELEVATE YOUR FLIGHT EXPERIENCE

We’re all born with it…a fascination with airplanes and flight. As children, our parents would point out objects that soared through the air, whether it be birds, planes, or balloons. Now we find ourselves doing the same as parents and grandparents. While the excitement may dwindle a smidgen as we grow into adults, a select few never lose the anticipation of climbing into the cockpit and leaving the runway to fly freely into the clouds. Robby Peed and Benji Filyaw have found a way to not only satisfy their personal thrill of flying but to also help others fulfill their dreams of getting behind the yoke of a plane. Robby has spent most of his life around planes. “As a kid, my dad would take me flying,” he said. “He and a friend of his had an old plane that they kept on a grass strip down in Salem, South Carolina. There is no doubt that my love of flying started with my dad. We would go to Salem nearly every Sunday after church and hang out with the other guys, sitting around a little old building drinking Coca-Cola out of small glass bottles. Every hour or so someone would go fly and we would hop in and take off.” Robby took flying lessons while attending Clemson University. Until he ran out of money that is. After returning to his hometown of Florence, Robby took a part-time job at the Florence Airport as a lineman to pay for lessons. “I continued learning from some amazing flight instructors right here in Florence,” he said. Benji and Robby have been friends for years. Their wives worked together so they intertwined socially. The two would exchange pleasantries and go straight into the latest news in flight activity. Living nearby the airport, Benji would watch the planes taking off and landing as they came into Florence. “I would always tell my wife that I wish I had learned to fly,” Benji said. His wife, Lache, took note and purchased him a Discovery Flight with Robby in 2013. “Robby became my instructor and taught me to fly.” At the time, Robby owned Carolina Flight with a physician in Florence who later moved out of town. When the need arose to find a new partner, the option seemed obvious. “I knew that Benji wanted to be more involved and it was a very easy decision to have him as a partner in the school,” said Robby. Together the team works with individuals on gaining their pilot certificate with personal and career goals in mind. While the idea of becoming a pilot may

seem unobtainable, Robby and Benji make the task achievable. “We have definitely grown over the years,” says Robby. “We are very excited about the partnership we have with Florence 1 Schools. We are currently instructing six fantastic high school kids who should obtain their private pilot certificates by the end of the school year.” Students can begin lessons as early as 16 to solo fly and 17 to get their actual license. The FAA mandates a minimum of 40 hours of learning time but Robby says it typically takes a little longer. Robby and Benji work around their students’ schedules. “We hold classes all of the time. There is no set schedule, we will meet whenever you can,” says Benji. Each class is individually tailored to each student. While Robby and Benji each have young children, they look forward to the day they’re able to teach them how to fly a plane. For now, they agree that the best part of this career is being able to take their families on trips. “My daughter loves it,” says Robby. Benji included, “So does mine. The first time she got on the plane she loved it and cried when it was time to get out.” A favorite trip of Benji’s is when he flew his son to Tampa, Florida, where they watched the Tampa Bay Rays play the Los Angeles Angels. If you are interested in taking flying lessons to earn your pilot's license or if you simply want an exhilarating birds-eye view of the Pee Dee, Carolina Flight School is the place for you! “With extensive experience ranging from professional flight instructors to corporate pilots, we have developed programs that allow students to learn difficult material in no time and with ease.” Also, a Discovery Flight makes a great Father’s Day gift and is only $150!

Robby Benji

Robby has been married to his wife Kim for 26 years and they have a nine year old daughter Livi. When not training others to fly, Robby’s primary job is being a corporate pilot for Pilatus PC-12. Benji is also a co-owner of Kingstree Forest Products. He is married to Lache and has two children, Briggs (10) and Luiza (5).

2100 Terminal Drive, Florence 843.319.1330 www.carolinaflightschool.com