Training programs

Licenses, ratings & endorsements

Name: Core Aviator Training
Address: 607 Danley Dr, Fort Myers, FL, 33907, US
Telephone: 239-722-6751
Rating: 5.0

Core Aviator Training is a boutique Part 61 flight school at Page Field (KFMY) in Fort Myers, Florida — one instructor, one student, one meticulously kept Piper Cherokee 140, with a 95% first-time PPL checkride pass rate.

01 / 06
▸ Start here

Private Pilot License

The FAA minimum is 40 flight hours; students who study their ground material typically reach proficiency around 65 hours, and consistent flyers are checkride-ready in a few months.
You train at towered Page Field, so ATC communication and real airspace discipline are built in from lesson one — flying the Gulf coast, the Caloosahatchee, and the barrier islands.
Start with a $175 Discovery Flight: it is a real lesson, it goes in your logbook, and it counts toward your 40 hours.

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02 / 06 All-weather precision

Instrument Rating (IFR)

Dual instruction at KFMY with the same one-on-one model as every CORE program: your instructor, your pace, your plan.
Precision approaches, IFR navigation, and the weather decision-making that Southwest Florida’s sea-breeze patterns teach better than any textbook.
Visiting pilots working on an instrument rating are welcome — plenty of seasonal residents fly with us while they are in town.

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03 / 06 Fly for a career

Commercial Pilot License (CPL)

Commercial maneuvers demand exactness; a one-on-one instructor who knows your flying is the fastest way to reach it.
Training continues in the Cherokee 140 you already know, so every hour goes into skill, not re-familiarization.
We map the full path with you — hours, ratings, and the sequence that fits your goals and budget.

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04 / 06 Teach what you fly

Flight Instructor (CFI)

Learn instruction the CORE way: brief thoroughly, teach one-on-one, debrief honestly.
Right-seat proficiency, lesson planning, and the FAA fundamentals of instruction, tailored to your timeline.
Time building continues in the Cherokee 140 at pay-as-you-go rates — no package commitments.

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05 / 06 The knowledge half

Ground School

Private sit-down sessions cover aerodynamics, regulations, weather, and everything the FAA written exam demands.
Your first ground sessions also set up your student paperwork, profile, and digital logbook correctly from day one.
Studying ground material before and during flight training is the single biggest accelerator — it is how students pass near the 40-hour minimum.

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06 / 06 Sharpen between flights

Simulator Training

Simulator practice between lessons keeps procedures sharp — many of our fastest finishers pair weekly flights with sim work.
Ideal for instrument procedures, radio flow, and chair-flying maneuvers before you fly them for real.
Ask us how to structure sim practice around your flight blocks; it is the cheapest hour in aviation.

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From first flight to a professional career — we train the whole path.

How it works

Training built around you

CORE is pay-per-session: the Cherokee 140 rents at $170/hr wet (fuel and maintenance included) and instruction is $55/hr — how often you fly is the biggest driver of your total.

See how pricing works → Meet the instructors who teach it →

Training questions, answered

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.

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.

How long does it take to get my license?

Most consistent students are checkride-ready in roughly 2–4 months. Accelerated schedules are possible with 3+ flights per week — and with 300+ flyable days a year in Southwest Florida, weather rarely slows you down.

Do I need a medical certificate?

Yes — you need an FAA medical certificate before you can solo (not before a Discovery Flight). We point you to local Aviation Medical Examiners and help you time it correctly in your training.

What aircraft will I train in?

Every lesson flies in N6145W, our Piper Cherokee 140 — a stable, forgiving low-wing trainer with a 150-HP Lycoming upgrade, kept immaculate. One airplane means zero re-learning between lessons.

Are you a Part 61 or Part 141 school?

Part 61 — the FAA framework built for individualized instruction. It gives maximum flexibility for students with busy schedules, and it is what makes the one-on-one, same-instructor model possible.

What is your cancellation policy?

We ask for at least 24 hours’ notice to cancel or reschedule. No-shows (excluding genuine emergencies) carry a fee of two hours at the standard instructor rate; weather cancellations are always understood and never charged.

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.