Fixed Wing
About Our Fixed-Wing Program
Our FAA Part 61 training program offers the following ratings: Private Pilot, Instrument, Commercial, Multi-engine (add-on), CFI, CFII, MEI. Our FAA Part 141 offers the following ratings: Private and Instrument.
Most of our primary training is done in the Cessna 172 and the Piper Pilot100i, reliable time-tested workhorses for any flight school. For instrument and commercial ratings, we recommend one of our Technically Advanced Aircraft. Our multi-engine trainer is the renowned Piper Seminole!
Our instructors follow a Jeppesen-based syllabus, including a combination of ground and in-flight lessons, with periodic stage checks to ensure you are on track.
Our Aircraft
2002 Cessna 172R, N51827
KLN 94 GPS IFR Approved
2004 Cessna 172R, N28811
Garmin GNC355 GPS
2014 Cessna 172S, N5520N
Garmin G1000 GPS IFR Approved
2021 Piper Pilot 100I, N151DL
Garmin G3X Touch IFR Approved
2021 Piper Pilot 100I, N892DL
Garmin G3X Touch IFR Approved
2004 Piper Seminole PA-44-180, N30608
Garmin 430 GPS IFR Approved
2008 Cirrus SR - 22, N777AJ
Call to Join our Cirrus Share Plan
Garmin G1000 GPS IFR Approved
Redbird TD Simulator
Garmin G1000 GPS IFR Approved
Our Fixed Wing CFIs
Jim Moseley
Jim graduated Magna-Cum-Laude from Saint Louis University with a B.S. in Flight Science. He is a CFI and CFII and was awarded the 2018 Flight Instructor of the year In the St. Louis area. He also instructs in Southwestern Illinois College’s Aviation program. Jim has been instructing with Ideal since January 2018.
Bruno Stopka
Bruno is a BSEE graduate from the Missouri University of Science and Technology and earned his MBA at Saint Louis University. He is CFI, CFII, and MEI with several decades of experience. He has been instructing with Ideal Aviation since July of 2017.
Brian VanHorn
Brian is a 20+ year Air Force veteran and a graduate of Saint Louis University. He is a CFI, Advanced Ground Instructor, and Dispatcher with over 5,000 flight hours. Brian has been instructing with Ideal Aviation since June 2019.
James Lovinggood
James Lovinggood is from Saint Louis, with a B.A. in Political Science from Miami of the University of Ohio. He served 4 years with the Army National Guard, and currently has his CFI and CFII with 1000 hours. He has been instructing with Ideal Aviation since October of 2020.
Steven Solloway
Steve is a senior aerospace engineering student at Saint Louis University. He was first introduced to flying at the age of 8 by his dad and later completed his training at J.A. Air Center (KARR) and SLU. He’s had a lifelong passion for aviation and hopes to become an airline pilot. Steve is a CFI and CFII with 700 hours. He has been instructing with Ideal Aviation since February 2021.
Andre Santa Maria
Andre is a Saint Louis native who has always had a passion for aviation. He completed the entirety of his flight training at Saint Louis University as a college student, and one day hopes to fly for the U.S. Armed forces.
Andre is a CFI and has been instructing with Ideal since October 2021.
James Braithwaite
James served for 10 years in the British Royal Air Force and met his wife, Auburn, while working with the USAF in Germany. They now live in O’Fallon, IL, with their daughter Julia and two dogs Ollie and Kevin.
He is a fixed wing CFI, CFII and MEI and trained at a Part 141 flight school near San Antonio, Texas.
Raegan McLaren
Raegan is originally from Gilbert, AZ, and is a graduate of Arizona State University School of Business. She completed her flight training with ATP in Phoenix, AZ. She is a CFI, CFII, MEI, and a Check Instructor, as well as the Ideal Aviation Social Media Coordinator. Raegan has been instructing with Ideal since June of 2021.
Brett Korte
Brett is from Highland, IL. He pursued his aviation dream at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, IL up to Commercial Multi-Engine. After graduating in May of 2021 with a Bachelor’s degree of Applied Science in Aviation Management and an Associate’s degree of Science in Aviation Flight, he received his CFI training from Midwest Aviation in Marion, IL while attending SIU. Brett has been instructing with Ideal since January of 2022.
FAQ's
Operations FAQ's about how we run our flight training
Our fixed-wing training is Part 61 and Part 141 Certificated.
Our primary fixed-wing flight training is accomplished in Cessna 172’s and Piper Pilot100i’s. For instrument and Technically Advanced Aircraft time, training is done in our G1000 Cessna 172 and Piper Pilot100i’s. For multi-engine ratings, training is done in a Piper Seminole.
Our training follows the Jeppesen syllabus and uses Jeppesen textbooks. Other flight training study materials can be found for free at the FAA website here.
We are open 7 days a week. Flight lessons can be scheduled at any time of day.
No, you are covered by our insurance policy. More information regarding the coverage can be provided upon request.
All of our rental rates include fuel, oil, and insurance.
Student Pilot Training FAQ's for new pilots
While the FAA requires a minimum of 40 flight hours, studies show an average of 60-75 flight hours to get your Private Pilot rating.
The speed at which you get your rating depends on many factors but mainly on how often you fly. Pilots who fly several times a week usually can get their rating in a couple of months to a year.
If you have never flown in a small aircraft before and are considering becoming a pilot, we recommend booking a Discovery Flight to determine if flying is something you want to do.
Our current Discovery Flight promotion is 1 hour, all-inclusive flight in an airplane for $195.00.
We match instructors to students based on the rating sought, availability, and schedule compatibility.
We recommend working with one instructor for the duration of your training to avoid overlap of training.
Once we have your information set up in our system, you are placed with an instructor and can immediately begin training.
If you are not a US citizen, you can still learn to fly with us. You will have to go through TSA background checks via the Flight Training Security Program. This process can take anywhere from two weeks to two months.
Ground school courses are a great way to expedite your ground training and familiarize yourself with the subjects in your flight training. However, you will still need some ground training so that your instructor can ensure that there are no gaps in your training.
No, you do not need either of these documents until your first solo flight.
Flight Training Costs FAQ's about the price of training
Because there are so many variables (weather, maintenance, unexpected life events), it is impossible to predict how much flight training will cost.
We estimate that it will cost around $16,000 to get your fixed-wing PPL.
Flight lessons usually range from 1 -1.5 hour flights. The average cost for a fixed-wing lesson is $270-$320.
For financial help with fixed-wing training, there are multitudes of flight training scholarship opportunities through organizations such as AOPA or Women in Aviation.