The newest FBO / Flight Center  in Wisconsin!

Quality service, flight instruction and aircraft rental at affordable prices.

Owned by pilots, for pilots.

Manitowoc County Airport
1815 Freedom Way
Manitowoc, WI  54220
Phone: 920.682.0043
Fax: 920.682.0044

Private Pilot

Green Bay resident Dan Ariens, Jr. taking a lesson in our 172 on a sunny afternoon.

The Private Pilot's license has been the traditional entry into flying for many years. It allows you to fly a wide variety of aircraft almost anywhere in the world. You can fly day or night, you can bring your friends or family along, and a world of over 3,000 airports in the US alone awaits you. Many people use their planes not only for fun, but for business, too. Within certain FAA guidelines, you can be reimbursed for your airplane travel expenses just like getting mileage in your car.

You don't have to own your own plane, either...almost every airport in the country rents them. If you really "get the bug", you can join a flying club or partner with a friend to share the expenses of ownership.

What's more, you don't have to have all your flight training costs up front. You can either "pay as you go", paying for each lesson, one at a time, or take advantage of the special Pilot Flight Training Financing that we offer.

The basic Private Pilot license includes a number of different training elements including classroom and book work, flight training with your instructor and solo flight. You don't have to be a "rocket scientist" to figure things out, most aviation education is common sense. And flying is fun for all ages. You might want to begin in high school, or you might be a senior citizen.  Men and women of all ages come through our doors.

Following are the basic requirements:

1. Be at least 17 years of age.
2. Be able to read, speak and understand the English language.
3. Obtain at least a current third-class FAA medical certificate.
4. Pass the FAA Private Pilot Written Test as well as the FAA practical flight test.

Flight Requirements:

Minimum of 40 hours of flight which must include the following:

1. Minimum of 20 hours of flight instruction, which includes:

3 hours of cross country;
3 hours of instrument flight;
3 hours of night flying to include:

2. Minimum of 10 hours solo flight, which includes:

5 hours solo country
Three take-off's and landings at an airport with an operating control tower

3. The balance of 10 hours may be with a flight instructor or solo.

Note: 40 hours in the minimum set by the Federal Aviation Administration.  Most pilots will require more flight time to be prepared for the practical test.  The normal average is 55-60 hours.