Private Pilot Ground School

We're a Flight Training Center at Tipton Airport (KFME) in Fort Meade, Maryland. We teach Private Pilot, Instrument Rating and Commercial Pilot programs in our fleet of Cessna 172s, with our FAA-approved simulator built into every program. Licensed pilots train here too, for instrument currency, IPCs, proficiency and jet interview prep. See our programs.

When the weather or an airplane says no, your lesson moves to the simulator or ground instruction, so your training keeps moving. You keep your lesson time and work on what your syllabus needs next instead of losing the day.

It's hands-on flight practice in a high-fidelity simulator that replicates the controls, instruments, and visuals of an airplane. You can take off, navigate, and land without leaving the ground, practicing at your own pace and retrying maneuvers as needed. This allows for safe, realistic training, even in challenging conditions like crosswinds or low visibility. Learn more about our simulators.

Yes, in two ways. Some simulator time can count toward FAA requirements when you fly it with an authorized instructor. Under our FAA approvals, the SG-2 can credit up to 2.5 hours toward the Private Pilot certificate and up to 20 hours toward the Instrument Rating (up to 10 hours in the SG-2B configuration).

The bigger benefit is what the simulator does for your airplane time. Most students need more than the FAA minimum hours before the checkride, and practicing those extra hours in the simulator, where an hour costs less, keeps your training on track and your budget in check. See how the savings add up.

Our simulator rents for $65/hr, and simulator instruction is $60/hr.

Compare that with $185/hr for one of our Cessna 172s, plus $70/hr for flight instruction, and you can see why we move repeatable work into the simulator. You get more learning per dollar, and your airplane money goes to what only an airplane can teach. Compare the costs side-by-side.

Simulators save you time by eliminating travel to practice areas, weather cancellations, and other ground-based delays. Every hour in the sim is dedicated to learning, which means you can master procedures faster and make your time in the aircraft more efficient. See a detailed time and cost breakdown.

Yes. Our SG-2 is FAA-approved for instrument currency, so you can log the approaches, holding procedures and course intercepting and tracking that 14 CFR 61.57(c) asks for, with or without an instructor as your situation requires. Bring your logbook and we'll help you record the session. You can also read our simulator's FAA approval letter here.

Pilots of all levels, from brand-new enthusiasts to experienced professionals. It's great for prospective pilots, student pilots, licensed pilots looking to stay sharp, and those practicing advanced or emergency procedures.

No prior flying experience is required. Beginners can start with an intro course, and experienced pilots can jump into advanced sessions. Solo use requires a pilot certificate and a short orientation. Check out our New Pilot Accelerator Course

Absolutely. Many students use our simulator to reinforce skills learned elsewhere. You can train with your current instructor in our simulator or with one of our instructors to get a fresh perspective!

Yes. You fly with us in our fleet of Cessna 172s, equipped with G5 instruments and Garmin GPS. Aircraft rental is $185/hr and flight instruction is $70/hr, and the simulator is built into every program so each flight lesson goes further. Meet our fleet.

Our instructors can also provide training in your personally owned aircraft, ensuring seamless continuity between your simulator sessions and in-aircraft experience.

Most training sessions last between 1-3 hours. We can train longer, but we focus on quality training and find that this timeframe produces the best results.

Our training center is open from 7AM-10pm 7 days a week. We link you with an instructor that matches your availability to maximize convenience.