Why Solid Ground
Why Greenbelt Pilots Train at Solid Ground Aviation
20 Minutes on the BW Parkway
From Greenbelt, take the Baltimore-Washington Parkway (I-295) North to MD-175 West — you're at Tipton Airport in about 20 minutes, bypassing the Beltway entirely.
Escape the D.C. Airspace Maze
College Park Airport (KCGS) sits inside the DC SFRA, adding TSA requirements and airspace complexity. Our simulator at KFME sits outside the SFRA — train any procedure without restrictions.
Half the Cost of Local Aircraft Rental
Aircraft rental near the Beltway runs $200–$300/hr. Our FAA-approved simulator starts at $65/hr with instruction at $60/hr — the same FAA credit at a fraction of the cost.
Airline & Military Instructors
Every session is led by career-level pilots — former Navy aviators, airline captains, and professional CFIIs with real cockpit experience behind every lesson.
FAA Credit Toward Your Certificate
Log 2.5 hours toward your Private Pilot Certificate, up to 20 hours toward an Instrument Rating, and up to 50 hours toward a Commercial Pilot Certificate on our FAA-approved SG-2 AATD.
More Approaches Per Hour Than Any Aircraft
Reset, reposition, replay — in a single session you'll shoot 15–20 instrument approaches. In a real aircraft in the DC SFRA, you'd be lucky to get 4.
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 for Greenbelt, MD Pilots
20 minutes from Greenbelt — full FAA-approved simulator training from first flight to IPC, instrument rating, and airline interview prep.
New Pilot Accelerator
Take your first steps in a safe, structured environment before ever entering a real aircraft.
Investment
$125/hr
Private Pilot Accelerator
Supplement your PPL training and cut expensive aircraft rental hours significantly.
Investment
$125/hr
Instrument Rating Accelerator
Log up to 20 FAA-creditable hours toward your Instrument Rating on our approved AATD.
Investment
$125/hr
Rusty Pilot Refresh
Get current again with FAA WINGS credit — no aircraft rental or weather delays.
Investment
$125/hr
IPC Accelerator
Renew your Instrument Proficiency Check efficiently in the sim 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 your first airline job with simulator-based interview and jet-profile training.
Investment
$125/hr
Youth Discovery Session
A 1.5-hour intro for teens and parents exploring aviation careers — mentoring included.
Investment
$99/session
Instrument Currency
Stay legally current on instruments at the most accessible rate in the region.
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
Instructors With Real Airline and Military Flight Backgrounds
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
Serving Pilots Across Greenbelt and the Inner Beltway 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
- KCGS College Park Airport 10 mi
- KW00 Freeway Airport 8 mi
- KFME Tipton Airport (SGA Location) 16 mi
- KBWI Baltimore/Washington International 14 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 Greenbelt-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 Greenbelt?
Why not just fly out of College Park Airport?
Is College Park the closest flight training option to Greenbelt?
How much does simulator training cost?
Can I log FAA hours from a simulator outside D.C.?
Are METRO-accessible options available?
Are evening and weekend sessions available?
Ready to Fly?
Greenbelt Pilots: 20 Minutes to Unrestricted Sim Training
No SFRA. No TSA requirements. No weather holds. Open 7 AM to 10 PM, 7 days a week — FAA-approved sim training just off the BW Parkway.