Why Solid Ground
Why Baltimore Pilots Train at Solid Ground Aviation
Our Fleet of Cessna 172s
Fly our Cessna 172s with G5 instruments and Garmin GPS, from the same building at Tipton Airport as our simulator. Your airplane, your simulator and your instructor are in one place.
25 Minutes From Baltimore
From the Inner Harbor, take I-97 South to MD-100 West and you're at Tipton Airport in under 30 minutes. Less time commuting, more time flying.
Chesapeake Bay Weather Won't Cancel Your Lesson
The Bay brings fog, low ceilings and coastal weather that ground a lot of training flights. We don't cancel lessons: when the weather or an airplane says no, your lesson moves to the simulator or ground instruction.
Airplane Money Where It Counts
Our FAA-approved simulator starts at $65/hr, and our Cessna 172s are $185/hr with instruction at $70/hr. We move the repeatable work into the simulator, so you spend airplane money on what only an airplane can teach.
Airline & Military Instructors
Learn from instructors with airline, military, corporate and decades of teaching experience, led by our founder and chief instructor, an airline pilot and ATP.
An FAA-Approved Simulator We Built
We designed and built the SG-2 ourselves and can set it up to match the aircraft you fly. Depending on the rating and the device, some simulator time can count toward FAA requirements when you train with an authorized instructor.
Student Reviews
What Pilots Say
About Training Here
Real reviews from student and licensed pilots who train with us at Tipton Airport.
Training Programs
Training Programs Available to Baltimore Pilots
Drive 25 minutes from Baltimore for every step of your flying, from a first lesson in a Cessna 172 to jet interview prep, with the simulator built into each program.
Private Pilot License
Learn to fly in our Cessna 172s, with the simulator built in so every airplane hour goes further.
Investment
$185/hr aircraft + $70/hr instruction
Instrument Rating
Fly approaches in the Cessna 172 and repeat them in the simulator until they feel routine.
Investment
$185/hr aircraft + $70/hr instruction
Commercial Pilot License
Build the precision a flying job asks for, in the airplane and the simulator.
Investment
$185/hr aircraft + $70/hr instruction
New Pilot Accelerator
Learn the basics in the simulator so your first airplane lessons start ahead.
Investment
$125/hr
Private Pilot Accelerator
Sharpen your PPL skills in the simulator so your airplane hours go further.
Investment
$125/hr
Instrument Rating Accelerator
Build instrument skills in our FAA-approved simulator, where some time can count toward your rating with an authorized instructor.
Investment
$125/hr
Rusty Pilot Refresh
Get current again with FAA WINGS credit, on your schedule and in any weather.
Investment
$125/hr
IPC Accelerator
Prepare for your Instrument Proficiency Check in the simulator with an experienced CFII.
Investment
$125/hr
IMC Emergencies
Practice IFR emergency scenarios in realistic, repeatable, and completely safe conditions.
Investment
$172 (1.5 hrs)
Jet Transition / Interview Prep
Prepare for jet interviews and simulator evaluations with jet-profile training.
Investment
$125/hr
Youth Discovery Session
A 1.5-hour intro for teens and parents exploring aviation careers, with mentoring included.
Investment
$99/session
Instrument Currency
Log the approaches and holds you need for currency in our FAA-approved simulator.
Investment
$65/hr
CFI/CFII Accelerator
Prepare to pass the checkride and become an instructor people can actually learn from.
Investment
$125/hr
Not sure which program fits your goals?
Call (410) 705-2250Our Instructors
Learn From Airline, Military and Career Instructors
Our certificated flight instructors bring airline, Navy, Civil Air Patrol and decades of teaching experience to every lesson, with the simulator built into how they teach.

Todd O'Brien
Founder, Chief InstructorTodd loves aviation and has been flying since 2007. In nearly 5,000 hours of flight time he has flown a wide variety of general aviation, military and corporate aircraft, and he currently flies for a major airline when he is not instructing at Solid Ground Aviation. He has landed in over 60 countries in nearly every weather condition imaginable. His passion for flight instruction led him to found Solid Ground Aviation, now a Flight Training Center at Tipton Airport, to share that experience with pilots of all experience levels.

Marty Sacks
InstructorMarty loves teaching aviation. His more than 40 years of flying began with his father, when he first caught the flying bug. After years of flying on his own, he developed a passion for flight instruction and has been teaching ever since. Marty devotes much of his time and instruction to the Civil Air Patrol, where he gets to fly state-of-the-art avionics, and he is no stranger to the variety of equipment in the general aviation fleet.

Todd Breese
InstructorTodd has been flying professionally for over 41 years. He started his career as an active duty Naval aviator, flying and instructing in the S-3 Viking, T-2 Buckeye and C-130 Hercules, and held numerous duty assignments, including chief evaluator and commander of two Navy squadrons. After retiring from the Navy, Todd flew as an international captain and test pilot for FedEx on the Airbus A300. Since retiring, he has returned to general aviation, bringing a wealth of experience and a passion for teaching.

Mike Allen
InstructorMike started his flying career in gliders in England over 60 years ago. After moving to the U.S. and converting his UK licenses to FAA ones, he began a long career of flight instruction in all kinds of light aircraft, including his favorite J-3 Cub, and has given an impressive 7,000 hours of flight instruction. When he is not teaching the next generation of aviators, Mike enjoys flying Angel Flights for patients who need transportation.

Jeff Barnett
InstructorJeff brings a variety of experience as a professional flight instructor and former charter and airline pilot. After nearly a decade of instructing, he spent time flying Learjets and turboprop commuter aircraft for USAir Express. He then returned to flight instruction and has since passed 4,000 hours of instruction given. He especially enjoys teaching instrument students in a variety of avionics, and when he is not teaching, Jeff takes his Cessna 182 on family trips all over the country.
Service Area
Convenient for Pilots Across the Baltimore Region
Within 50 miles of our Flight Training Center at Tipton Airport, you can fly our Cessna 172s and train in our FAA-approved simulator without a long drive.
Nearby Airports
- KBWI Baltimore/Washington International 8 mi
- KMTN Martin State Airport 20 mi
- W00 Freeway Airport 10 mi
- KCGS College Park Airport 16 mi
Drive Times to Tipton Airport
New to Flight Training?
Get Our Free Guide
Confused by FAA requirements? Want to master the basics before investing? Our free roadmap simplifies the flight training process, answers the most common student pilot questions, and shows you exactly how starting in a simulator can save you over $3,000 on your license.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions From Baltimore-Area Pilots
Have a question that isn't answered here? Give us a call and our team will be happy to help.
How do I get to Solid Ground Aviation from Baltimore?
Do you train in airplanes or only in simulators?
Do I need a pilot certificate to train here?
How much does training cost?
Will bad weather cancel my lesson?
Are sessions available on weekends and evenings?
Can simulator time count toward my FAA certificate?
Can Baltimore-based CFIs bring their students to your simulator?
Ready to Fly?
Your Flight School Is 25 Minutes From Baltimore
Open 7 AM to 10 PM, 7 days a week. Your flight school has a weather problem. Solid Ground doesn't. Book a Discovery Session and meet our team at Tipton Airport.