Learn to fly
in Fort Myers.
One instructor, one student, one meticulously kept Piper Cherokee 140. Lessons run in three-hour blocks with a real brief and a real debrief. No shared cockpits, and nothing that feels like a pilot mill.
No experience needed. A Discovery Flight is one flight with one instructor, and nothing to commit to after it.
CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF ▾
Your Discovery Flight is confirmed for Saturday, 9:00 AM. Meet at Page Field and ask for Cristian. Reply C to change it.
Can’t wait.
DeliveredThe numbers we fly by.
You’ll learn to fly by your instruments. These are ours.
Take a Discovery Flight
This is not a tour. It is a real first lesson: you take the controls of the Cherokee 140 over the Gulf coast, with a certified instructor beside you the whole time.
Cristian Duran
Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) · FAA Part 61 instruction
You’ll fly with a person, not a company.
- :01Before you fly — A real briefing — aerodynamics, controls, the plan.
- :02In the air — You take the controls over the Gulf coast.
- :03Back on the ramp — Your first logbook entry — it counts.
Fly with full attention.
Core Aviator Training is the small flight school for Fort Myers, built around one promise. When you show up, it is just you and your instructor. Everything else follows from that.
One-on-one, every time
Every lesson is private. One instructor, one student, no shared cockpits. You keep the same instructor from your first flight to your checkride, so nobody ever has to re-teach you.
Three-hour blocks
Lessons run in three-hour blocks with a real pre-flight brief and post-flight debrief. You leave every session knowing exactly what you did and what comes next.
A towered field, from day one
Page Field (KFMY) is towered and professionally run. You learn real radio work and airspace discipline from your very first hour, instead of bolting it on later.
Real pilots, not a pilot mill
We train you to be a good pilot, not just to pass a test. A 99% first-time pass rate and a lot of happy students back that up.
“Started flight training at a different school, and switched to Core Aviator after 7 months not making any progress. In less than two months, I was able to get my private pilot license with Cristian. Great instructing, flexible scheduling, and very affordable prices”
Every rating is a higher altitude.
Start with a Discovery Flight. Every rating after it is flown from the one before — the same field, a higher floor each time.
- 01 · KFMYFort MyersPrivate Pilot License
- 02 · KPGDPunta GordaInstrument Rating (IFR)
- 03 · KVNCVeniceCommercial Pilot License (CPL)
- 04 · KSRQSarasotaFlight Instructor (CFI)
- 05 · KSPGSt PetersburgGround School
- 06 · KCLWClearwaterSimulator Training
One airplane, kept immaculate
Every CORE lesson flies in N6145W, our Piper Cherokee 140 — the legendary low-wing trainer that launched a million pilot careers. One airplane means one set of habits, one panel layout, and zero re-learning between lessons.
- Inspected every flight
- Routine maintenance every 2 months
- Low-wing visibility in the turn
- Wide-stance gear, stable in crosswinds
- Kept meticulously clean and maintained
It adds up one hour at a time.
CORE is pay-per-session: the Cherokee 140 rents at $175/hr wet (fuel and maintenance included) and instruction is $60/hr. How often you fly is the biggest driver of your total.
Financing available — details on the pricing page.
Call 239-722-6751Example at published rates · $235/hr all-in · your total depends on how often you fly
Common first questions
The questions every first-time student asks before they book.
01 Do I need any previous experience to start?
No. The Discovery Flight is designed for complete beginners — you take the controls on your very first visit, with a certified instructor beside you the whole time.
02 What is a Discovery Flight?
A real first flying lesson, not a tour: a pre-flight briefing, then you fly the Cherokee 140 over the Southwest Florida coast from the pilot’s seat. It costs $175 and you receive an official logbook entry that counts toward your license.
03 Is it safe?
Yes — safety is the whole CORE model. You fly a meticulously maintained trainer with dual controls and a CFI beside you at every moment, from a towered airport with professional ATC. Weather cancellations are standard practice and never charged.
04 How much does it cost to earn a Private Pilot License?
You pay per session: the Cherokee 140 is $175/hr wet and instruction is $60/hr, with no big upfront packages. The FAA minimum is 40 flight hours; most students reach proficiency around 65, so frequency and ground study are the biggest levers on your total.
05 How do I get started?
Book a $175 Discovery Flight. It is a real lesson with logbook credit, it answers the “is this for me?” question in one morning, and it is the first entry in your path to a Private Pilot License.
Morning — N6145W is fueled and on the ramp. Winds are calm. See you at 9:00. — Cristian
This field was dark when you left it.
Ready to get in the air?
Call and I'll talk you through where to start. I answer my own phone, and five minutes is usually enough to know.
Talk to the instructor
Call 239-722-6751
You’re back over Cape Coral · Naples · Estero · Punta Gorda · Bonita Springs · Fort Myers Beach · Lehigh Acres · Immokalee