Located in Blountville, at the Tri-Cities airport in northeast Tennessee, Advanced Flight uses Cessnas and Pipers as their training aircraft. You can use more sophisticated airplanes, but you have to provide them. Ground school training covers the theory of flight, plus the rules and regulations of flying. Passing a written exam is necessary to advance to in-flight training. Approximately 70 hours of air time, including flying with an instructor and flying solo, will give a student the skills needed to pass the FAA exam, which is administered in-flight by an FAA examiner. In 2011, costs range from $6,000 to $8,000 for the full course, depending on the amount of air time the student requires.
On the grounds of Nashville International Airport, beginning pilots and those studying for advanced licensing can train at Nashville Flight Training. FAA-certified instructors use Cessnas as their training aircraft, and students are given thorough ground and air instruction leading to the FAA exam. Course duration is dependent of the ability of the student. NFT requires all students to be at least 17 years old, and they must be able to read, write and speak fluent English. They must also pass an FAA-mandated medical exam. The basic flight school package includes 10 hours of ground school, 30 hours in the air with an instructor, and 10 hours of solo flying prior to sitting for the FAA exams. DVDs are also issued, containing further ground-school information. Additional ground and air training is available for a supplemental fee. Financing is available to cover the cost of training.
Downtown Aviation is located on the grounds of the DeWitt Spain Airport in Memphis. FAA-approved instructors offer courses in preparation for the intensive Part 141 FAA exam, and the less intense Part 61. Although the FAA requires a minimum of 40 hours flight time, the school suggests 65 to 70 hours to become proficient and to be able to pass the in-flight exam. A ground school examination must be passed before the FAA in-flight exam. All training is done in Cessna aircraft. Financing is available.
Located at the Murfreesboro Municipal Airport southeast of Nashville, Murfreesboro Aviation offers every level of flight training. Their private pilot's license course covers both ground school and in-flight training. While 40 hours is suggested to complete the course, the school estimates that at least 50 hours is needed for full proficiency. Diamond trainers with glass cockpits and Aspen avionics are available, as are less costly 2- and 4-seater Cessna aircraft. All training segments, including exams, are charged for separately. Financing for the lessons can be obtained through membership in the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.