Win Air is a full-service fixed base operator at the Winona Airport. An FBO offers fuel and other ground services to individuals and corporations owning private planes. Win Air also offers both in-flight training and ground school to aspiring pilots. Certification programs are available for private pilots, commercial pilots, flight instructors and airline transport pilots. Win Air is licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Winona State University offers an FAA-approved airway science certification program. Required courses include Fundamentals of Aviation, Air Traffic Control, Flight Safety, Airspace Communications and Regulations, and Legislative and Legal Aspects of Aviation. Students who complete the program earn a minor in airway science and a certificate from the FAA. The program is designed for students who are also seeking undergraduate bachelor's degrees from Winona State. By completing additional core courses and upper-level elective classes, students pursuing airway science certification may also receive a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science or a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.
Located 34 miles from the Winona Airport, the Houston County Airport offers lessons through the Red Barron Flyers Club. The club has existed since 1968, and offers aircraft rentals and flight services to members at discounted rates. It also has annual fundraisers that feature airplane rides and aircraft displays. The estimated maximum cost of ground school and related materials is $350. Club members may also purchase ground school lessons in conjunction with in-flight lessons and licensing tests to be completed at the Houston County Airport.
Completing ground school learning requirements online is another option for students based in Winona. The Gold Seal Online Ground School is a member of the National Association of Flight Instructors, and the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators. Students may register year-round and can complete one-third of the program for free. The entire course of study take around one year to complete. After finishing the program, students receive an official signed endorsement from a certified instructor. They can then use this endorsement to register for the FAA knowledge test required for a pilot's license. In order to receive the license, students must also complete in-flight training and be evaluated in action by a certified instructor.