Whether you are thinking about becoming a career pilot or flying for fun, one thing is sure, flying an airplane will be like nothing you have done before! Our flight training options are listed below. If you have any questions please give us a call or contact us — happy flying!
30 min grd/1 hr flight $249
Take your first step into aviation with our Discovery Flight lesson, designed to give you a complete, hands-on introduction to flying. The experience includes a 30-minute ground session followed by a one-hour flight lesson — and yes, you get to fly the airplane! This flight also counts toward your pilot training, making it a great first step on your journey to becoming a pilot.
During the ground session, you’ll learn about the aircraft’s instruments and controls, gaining an understanding of how each function contributes to safe and effective flight. Your certified flight instructor will guide you through a preflight checklist and prepare you for takeoff. Once in the air, you’ll experience the airplane’s maneuverability, practicing climbs, turns, and other essential flight skills under expert instruction.
This immersive lesson provides a more in-depth look at what learning to fly is all about, offering an unforgettable perspective of Lancaster County from the sky.
Book FlightEarn your Private Pilot License and unlock the freedom to fly wherever you want, bring friends and family as passengers, or even fly at night! We will guide you every step of the way, ensuring you gain the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed. While the FAA minimum requirement for a private pilot license is 40 hours, the national average needed to reach proficiency is around 77 hours. Once all requirements are satisfied, your check ride will be scheduled — and the day you pass, your Private Pilot License is granted immediately!
stage 1 will be pre-solo training. In this stage, you will learn to fly and gain all the training needed to solo the airplane safely.
stage 2 consists of cross-county training. During this time, you will gain knowledge of how to navigate long distances in your airplane. You will get the chance to fly cross-county flights with your instructor along with completing cross country flight solo.
stage 3 checks ride preparation. To obtain your private airplane license, you must pass a check ride with a designated pilot examiner (DPE). In stage 3, you will train towards meeting the published FAA standards that must be demonstrated on your official check ride.
If you’re training to become a professional pilot, obtaining an Instrument Rating is often the next step after your Private Pilot License. This rating allows you to develop advanced skills while progressing toward your Commercial Pilot License. It’s also an excellent option for private pilots who want to expand their abilities, safely fly in adverse weather, and gain greater flexibility in planning flights.
Your instrument training begins with learning to fly the airplane solely by reference to the instruments — a challenging but highly rewarding skill. From there, you will master navigation under instrument conditions, culminating in learning instrument approaches, preparing you to operate safely and confidently in all weather situations.
Earning your Commercial Pilot License allows you to work for hire as an airplane pilot. With this license, you can fly missions such as tours, aerial photography, banner towing, skydiving flights, and aerial surveys — all while getting paid for your services.
During training, you’ll refine the skills you developed while earning your Private Pilot License, bringing your maneuvers to a higher standard. You’ll also learn new, more advanced techniques required for commercial operations. In addition, the course prepares you with the essential ground knowledge of commercial regulations and safety standards that all professional pilots must follow.
For those on the path to becoming an airline pilot, the Commercial Pilot License is an important milestone and serves as a key step toward earning your Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) rating, where you can continue building hours and experience toward your airline career.
After obtaining your Commercial Pilot License, earning your Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) rating is a smart next step. To qualify for entry-level pilot positions, you need to build flight hours — airlines typically require 1,500 total hours, while smaller commercial opportunities may require around 1,000 hours.
Becoming a flight instructor is the most practical and effective way to build the hours required for a professional pilot career. While teaching students, you’ll log valuable flight time, earn income, and continue sharpening your skills as both a pilot and an educator.
At Smoketown Flight Center, one of the greatest advantages we offer is the ability to step directly into an instructor role after earning your CFI. Unlike many larger schools that rarely hire their graduates — or only in very limited numbers — we prioritize our own students when filling instructor positions. This means you can move seamlessly from training into paid instructing, allowing you to efficiently build the 1,000–1,500 hours required by airlines and other commercial operators.
This clear pathway saves you time, provides financial stability, and ensures consistent flying in a supportive environment that already knows your training history. For aspiring airline pilots, the chance to secure an instructor position immediately after training is one of the most valuable advantages Smoketown Flight Center provides.
After earning your CFI rating, obtaining your Certified Flight Instructor Instrument (CFII) rating is a valuable next step. This advanced qualification allows you to teach students in instrument flying, giving you even more opportunities to log hours while strengthening your skills as both a pilot and instructor. By training students in real-world instrument conditions, you’ll naturally build additional cross-country, night, and simulated or actual instrument time — the kind of diverse flight experience that airlines and commercial operators highly value.
In addition to broadening your teaching abilities, holding a CFII makes you significantly more marketable as an instructor and accelerates your progress toward the 1,000–1,500 hours required for professional pilot careers. At Smoketown Flight Center, this pathway ensures you’re not only building hours quickly but also gaining the well-rounded experience that sets you apart when stepping into the airlines.
There has never been a better time to start your journey. Airlines are actively hiring, and the long-term growth potential in aviation remains strong. Our Professional Pilot Program is designed to guide you from zero flight experience all the way to earning your CFI and CFII ratings, preparing you to begin working and earning as a flight instructor.
While individual training paths can vary, the price outlined provides a clear estimate for getting started and progressing through the steps needed to achieve your airline career goals efficiently and affordably.
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