New to Flying? Start Here

Getting Started With Flying Lessons at High Flight Academy

Flying might be a new hobby or the start of a career. Either way, it begins the same simple way: a Discovery Flight at the Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport. From there, our instructors help you move at your own pace toward a Private, Recreational, or Commercial certificate, with no previous experience required.

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What to Expect

Your first flight sets the tone for everything after it, so the right school matters. We pair the latest simulator technology with traditional flight training to keep every lesson efficient, educational, and genuinely fun.

Here is what makes getting started at High Flight straightforward:

Start With a Discovery Flight

Fly a Cessna 172 or Piper Warrior, or try our Redbird full-motion simulator, with an FAA-certified instructor. You will handle the controls and finish with a real sense of what training is like.

No Experience Needed

Discovery Flights start at $99 in the simulator and $149 in the air. No previous experience is required, and flights are available for US and non-US citizens.

Train at Your Own Pace

After your first flight, enroll in our Private Pilot course and build from there. We fly seven days a week, so lessons fit your schedule.

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Your First Steps

Here is how new students typically begin.

Discovery Flight

See What Flying Is Like

An instructor guides you through a preflight inspection, then you fly and try basic maneuvers, followed by a question-and-answer session.

Private Pilot Course

Earn Your First Certificate

Enroll and work toward your Private Pilot certificate, which lets you fly and carry passengers.

Keep Going

Recreational, Commercial, and Beyond

Continue toward the certificate and ratings that match your goals, whether you fly for fun or aim for a career.

Not sure where to start? Call 724-481-1359 and we will help you plan your first flight.

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Ready for Your First Flight?

Book a Discovery Flight and experience it for yourself, or reach out with any questions about getting started. Call 724-481-1359.

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