If you're searching for a flight school near Statesboro, the first question isn't which school has the longest list of courses. It's which kind of training fits your goal. Lowcountry Flight Company trains pilots at Statesboro-Bulloch County Airport (KTBR) in Statesboro, Georgia. Located just outside Savannah, we serve students across Bulloch County and Southeast Georgia.
This guide walks through the main training paths so you know what to ask for.
Start with your goal
Different goals call for different training:
- "I want to see if I like flying." Start with a discovery flight.
- "I want to earn my pilot certificate." Private pilot training is your path.
- "I'm already a pilot and want to fly in the clouds." Look at instrument training.
- "I want to fly professionally." Commercial pilot training is the next certificate after private and instrument.
- "I want to fly conventional-gear airplanes." Add a tailwheel endorsement.
Lowcountry Flight Company offers all five. Here's what each one involves.
1. Discovery flight: the easiest first step
A discovery flight is a short introductory flight with an instructor. You'll go through a preflight, take off, and get a chance to handle the controls in the air. You don't need any experience or a plan to become a pilot. It's simply the best way to find out whether flying is for you.
Discovery Flight: $125.
If you decide to keep going, your discovery flight is also a chance to meet our team, see the airport, and ask how training works. Discovery flight time is loggable toward your training.
Read what to expect on a discovery flight, or book a discovery flight.
2. Private pilot training: your first certificate
A private pilot certificate lets you fly yourself, friends, and family for fun or personal travel. Training combines ground study (weather, navigation, regulations, aircraft systems) with flight lessons, a written knowledge test, and a practical test (checkride) with an examiner.
Under FAA Part 61, the minimum is 40 hours of flight time, but that's a legal minimum, not a typical finish line. How long it takes depends on how often you fly, the weather, and how much you study between lessons.
3. Instrument rating: flying by reference to instruments
An instrument rating lets you fly in clouds and reduced visibility under instrument flight rules. It's one of the most useful ratings a private pilot can earn, both for safety and for getting where you're going on schedule.
4. Commercial pilot training: the step toward a flying career
A commercial pilot certificate lets you be paid to fly in certain operations. It's a required step for most professional flying careers. Most students earn their private certificate and instrument rating first.
5. Tailwheel endorsement
A tailwheel endorsement lets you act as pilot in command of airplanes with conventional landing gear. It's a great way to sharpen your stick-and-rudder skills.
At Lowcountry Flight Company, tailwheel training is flown in N787RH. Tailwheel package: $1,500 (before tax).
How to compare flight training options
Whichever path you choose, ask these questions before you commit:
- Location. Can you get to the airport regularly? Consistent lessons are one of the biggest factors in how quickly you progress.
- Scheduling. How are lessons and aircraft booked? What happens when weather cancels a flight?
- Instructor continuity. Will you fly with the same instructor most of the time? What happens if your instructor isn't available?
- A clear plan. Can the school explain what you'll learn next and how they'll know you're ready to move on?
- Clear explanations. Can the instructor explain things in a way that makes sense to you, even before you're a pilot?
Ask us these same questions. A good school will have clear answers.
Why train at KTBR?
Statesboro-Bulloch County Airport gives students a quieter environment to learn than busier airports, while still being close to Statesboro, Georgia Southern University, and the Savannah area. (Lowcountry Flight Company is independent and isn't affiliated with Georgia Southern.)
Frequently asked questions
Do I need any experience to take a discovery flight? No. A discovery flight is designed for people who have never flown before.
How much does a discovery flight cost? $125.
What should I train for first? If you've never flown, start with a discovery flight. If you want to earn a certificate, private pilot training is the usual first certificate.
Where are you located? We're located just outside Savannah, at Statesboro-Bulloch County Airport (KTBR) in Statesboro, Georgia.
Do you also maintain aircraft? Yes. Lowcountry Flight Company is also a general aviation maintenance shop. The same team that trains you also keeps aircraft flying, so training and maintenance are both on the field at KTBR.
Take your first step
The best way to find out if flying is for you is to try it. Book a $125 Discovery Flight, or contact us with questions about training.
