SARASOTA AERO
Soar with Experts
941-681-0009
Learn To FLY Here!
Becoming A Pilot
Sarasota Aero Club offers top notch flight instruction to help you achieve all of your aviation goals. The most common pilot licenses sought are Sport Pilot, Private Pilot, Instrument Rating and Commercial Pilot.
Beyond these licenses, we offer training for Flight Instructor Licenses (CFI, CFI-I and MEI) as well as advanced instruction for tailwheel, complex, and high performance aircraft.
Below is some information about each, as well as the basic requirements. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions at all!
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Sport Pilot
Learn to fly with a sport pilot training.
Sarasota Aero offers the best sport pilot training in the Sarasota and Tampa Bay area. Our sport pilot training can help you earn your sport pilot certification in Light Sport Aircraft, which earns you the privilege to fly some of the most fun, most versatile aircraft in the sky. And the best part is, you typically achieve this license in less time than a Private License.
Learning to fly is one of the most rewarding and enjoyable things you’ll ever do. To get started, you can take a Discovery Flight, where you’ll go up with one of Sarasota Aero’s fine instructors and see what it’s like to fly a plane for yourself. Our Sport Pilot Training Kits contain a full system curriculum to ensure that you learn everything that you need to know to be a safe, confident pilot.
Private Pilot
Learning to fly is one of the most rewarding achievements of your life—and the best part is that once you earn your Private Pilot License (PPL), it never expires. At Sarasota Aero Club, we provide some of the best private pilot training in the area, offering a comprehensive program designed to help you become a safe, confident, and highly capable aviator.
Our private pilot training program prepares students to earn their FAA Private Pilot Certificate in single-engine aircraft. With your PPL, you’ll gain the freedom to take friends flying, plan weekend trips to the Florida Keys or Bahamas, explore destinations across the country, fly at night, and choose from hundreds of aircraft types you may wish to operate. It’s the first major step toward a lifetime of aviation adventure—or even a future professional pilot career.
To support your success, Sarasota Aero Club offers Private Pilot Training Kits that include a complete, structured learning curriculum covering everything you need to know for real-world flying. These training materials are designed to help you build the knowledge, skills, and confidence required to fly safely and efficiently under a variety of conditions.
If you're looking for affordable, high-quality private pilot training in Sarasota, our flight school provides the ideal combination of expert instruction, modern curriculum, and a welcoming learning environment to help you earn your wings.
What Can You Do With a Private Pilot's License?
You can:
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Fly aircraft up to 200hp (literally hundreds of different types of aircraft, with speeds ranging from 75mph to over 200mph)
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Fly with passengers
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Fly at night
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Fly just about anywhere throughout the United States, Canada, Bahamas, Carribean, Etc.
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Fly up to 18,000ft high
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Contiue training for aerobatics, poor weather flying, multiengine training, or commercial pilot training.
Instrument Training
At Sarasota Aero Club, we provide professional instrument rating training for pilots looking to advance their skills under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR). Whether you're pursuing a commercial pilot career or simply want to become a safer, more capable aviator, our instrument training program in Sarasota is designed to take your flying to the next level.
Our comprehensive IFR training curriculum gives pilots the experience and proficiency needed to operate confidently in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). We offer structured ground and flight instruction that covers every aspect of instrument flying—from fundamental instrument scan and IFR navigation to advanced procedures such as precision and non-precision approaches, holding patterns, departure and arrival procedures, and modern advanced flight deck management.
Sarasota Aero Club’s highly experienced CFIs are committed to delivering exceptional pilot training in Southwest Florida, ensuring each student receives personalized instruction tailored to their goals. With well-maintained aircraft and a safety-focused training environment, you can be confident that you're earning your instrument rating with one of the region’s most trusted flight schools.
Commercial Pilot Training
Earning your Commercial Pilot Certificate is the gateway to flying for hire and the essential next step for anyone pursuing a professional pilot career, including future airline pilots. Our commercial pilot training program in Sarasota is designed to refine your skills, elevate your precision, and prepare you for real-world aviation opportunities across Florida and beyond.
Training at the commercial level is one of the most rewarding phases of your aviation journey. You’ll learn advanced maneuvers, develop professional-grade flying techniques, and gain the confidence expected of a commercial pilot operating in today’s aviation industry. These skills place you among an elite group—fewer than 0.1% of people in the United States hold the qualifications to fly professionally.
With expert instruction, a supportive training environment, and well-maintained aircraft, becoming a commercial pilot is more achievable than many aspiring aviators realize. Whether you're training for airlines, charter operations, or other commercial flying opportunities, Sarasota Aero Club provides a clear, affordable path to your next aviation milestone.
