Flight Training Near
Greenbelt, Maryland

Just 20 minutes up the BW Parkway, learn to fly in our Cessna 172s with the simulator built into every program, and keep training when the weather turns.

❮
❯

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.

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.

Not sure which program fits your goals?

Call (410) 705-2250

Our 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.

Meet the Full Team
Todd O'Brien, Founder, Chief Instructor at Solid Ground Aviation

Todd O'Brien

Founder, Chief Instructor
CFICFIIMEIATP

Todd 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, Instructor at Solid Ground Aviation

Marty Sacks

Instructor
CFICFII

Marty 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, Instructor at Solid Ground Aviation

Todd Breese

Instructor
CFICFIIMEIATP

Todd 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, Instructor at Solid Ground Aviation

Mike Allen

Instructor
CFICFII

Mike 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, Instructor at Solid Ground Aviation

Jeff Barnett

Instructor
CFICFIIMEIATPFE

Jeff 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

Greenbelt 20 min drive
College Park 22 min drive
Laurel 10 min drive Bowie 20 min drive
Hyattsville 25 min drive
Silver Spring 28 min drive
Washington 35 min drive
Odenton 10 min drive
Flight Training Guide Ebook

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.

Call Us
How do I get to Solid Ground Aviation from Greenbelt?
From Greenbelt, take the Baltimore-Washington Parkway (I-295) North to Exit 15 (MD-175 West). Follow MD-175 approximately 2 miles to General Aviation Drive, Fort Meade. The drive takes about 20 minutes and avoids the Beltway entirely.
Why not just fly out of College Park Airport?
College Park (KCGS) requires TSA registration for all pilots under the DC SFRA, adds Mode C transponder requirements, and limits the airspace you can train in. Our simulator at KFME is outside the SFRA — no extra requirements, no airspace restrictions, and far more training value per hour.
Is College Park the closest flight training option to Greenbelt?
For basic aircraft training, KCGS is close. But for dedicated FAA-certified simulator training, Solid Ground Aviation at KFME is the closest AATD facility — and 20 minutes is a reasonable trade for the quality difference.
How much does simulator training cost?
Simulator rental is $65/hr and instruction is $60/hr. Most programs are $125/hr combined. The New Pilot Accelerator is a flat $460 package with no hidden fees.
Can I log FAA hours from a simulator outside D.C.?
Absolutely. FAA credit is nationally valid. Our SG-2 AATD allows you to log 2.5 hours toward a Private Pilot Certificate, up to 20 hours toward an Instrument Rating, and up to 50 hours toward a Commercial Pilot Certificate under Part 61.
Are METRO-accessible options available?
The Greenbelt Metro station (Green Line) is the closest transit point. From there, a rideshare to KFME takes about 15 minutes. We're primarily car-accessible but rideshare works well for the short distance.
Are evening and weekend sessions available?
Yes — open 7 AM to 10 PM, 7 days a week. Greenbelt residents working in D.C. can easily train on weeknights or weekend mornings before the afternoon winds up.

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.

Hours

Monday–Sunday, 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Base Airport

Tipton Airport (KFME)