Flight lessons at KIPJ — Lincoln County Regional Airport
Private pilot and instrument training with a dedicated CFI/CFII, minutes from Lake Norman at quiet, easy-in-easy-out KIPJ. Your first lesson can be a discovery flight — you take the controls.
FAA CFI & CFII
Commercial pilot, certified instructor
Based at KIPJ
Lincoln County Regional Airport
English & Français
Instruction in either language
Flexible scheduling
Evenings & weekends welcome
Meet your instructor
I'm an FAA-certificated flight instructor (CFI and CFII) and commercial pilot based at Lincoln County Regional Airport (KIPJ), just northwest of Charlotte. I teach people to fly — carefully, patiently, and one student at a time.
I teach because the moment a student realizes they're truly flying the airplane — not just riding along — never gets old. My job is to get you to that moment safely, and then keep building on it until you're a confident, competent pilot. No rushing, no cutting corners, and no jargon you haven't been taught yet. Safety isn't a slogan here — it's how every lesson is planned: thorough preflight briefings, honest weather calls, and never flying a lesson you're not ready for.
Flying found me between two worlds — I grew up between the United States and Morocco, and I teach comfortably in both English and French. Whichever language you think in, that's the one we can train in.
Vous parlez français ? Je peux vous former en français, du premier vol jusqu'à votre brevet.
Training with me is one-on-one from day one. We'll build a schedule around your work and family life, fly out of a quiet, non-towered airport where you spend your paid time flying instead of waiting in line for the runway, and talk honestly about costs at every step.
Services
Flight lessons near Charlotte for every stage — your very first discovery flight, private pilot training, an instrument rating, or knocking the rust off. Every program is one-on-one and built around your schedule.
Your first lesson, not just a ride
From first flight to checkride
Fly confidently in the clouds
Knock the rust off, keep flying legal
Training aircraft
Training flights use aircraft from Premier Air, based at KIPJwith maintenance on-site — so airplanes are looked after where they fly, and you don't need to own one to train.
The most popular trainer in the world for a reason — stable, forgiving, and perfect for learning fundamentals. Most students earn their private pilot certificate in the 172.
Piper's classic low-wing trainer — smooth, stable, and the perfect complement to the 172. Flying both makes transitioning between aircraft types second nature.
A French-built touring aircraft with a wide, comfortable cabin — a distinctive option for rated pilots who want variety, and fitting for an instructor who teaches en français.
How it works
One flight, no commitment. You'll fly the airplane, ask every question you have, and find out whether this is for you. It almost always is.
I'll walk you through booking an FAA medical exam with a local examiner and applying for your student pilot certificate. Simple paperwork — most people are done within a couple of weeks.
We fly on your schedule and cover the knowledge side as we go, so ground school never feels like homework detached from flying. You'll solo when you're ready — a day you will never forget.
When you consistently fly to the standard, you'll take a practical test with an FAA examiner. Pass it, and you're a certificated private pilot. Then the real fun starts.
Pricing
Flight training has two costs: the airplane and the instructor, billed separately by the hour — you only pay for the time you actually fly and train. In our area, aircraft rental typically runs $155–$195/hour (fuel included) and instruction $55–$75/hour.
Most students complete private pilot training in the $11,000–$16,000 range, spread over the months you train — pay as you fly, no big deposit, no membership fees. Why a range and not one number? Because the biggest cost drivers are yours: how often you fly (consistency means less re-learning), weather cancellations, and how much you study between lessons. A flexible one-on-one schedule and a quiet airport are exactly what keep you at the low end of it.
Before you commit to anything, we'll sit down and map out a realistic budget for your goals. Discovery flight pricing is confirmed when you book — no obligation, no membership fees.
Want exact current rates? Rates are set by the aircraft provider and confirmed when you book — send me a note or call (704) 555-0100and I'll give you today's numbers, no runaround.
FAQ
Aircraft rental and instruction are billed separately by the hour. Locally, rental typically runs $155–$195/hour and instruction $55–$75/hour. Most students complete private pilot training in the $11,000–$16,000 range, paid as you fly — no big upfront deposit.
It depends on how often you fly. Training twice a week, many students finish in six to nine months. Once a week works too — it just takes longer because skills fade between lessons. We'll build a schedule that fits your life and keeps you progressing.
All training is based at Lincoln County Regional Airport (KIPJ) in Iron Station, NC — an easy drive from Lake Norman, Denver, Lincolnton, Hickory, and northwest Charlotte. It's a quiet, non-towered airport, which means less time waiting to take off and more of your paid hour spent actually flying.
No. Training flights use well-maintained aircraft from Premier Air based right at KIPJ — Cessna 172s, a Piper Cherokee-series single, and a Socata Tobago, with maintenance on the field.
Most people qualify. You'll need an FAA third-class medical certificate from an Aviation Medical Examiner — a straightforward exam, and there are examiners in the Charlotte area. If you have a specific medical concern, ask me before you book the exam and I'll help you understand your options.
Yes — most of my students do exactly that. Because training is one-on-one, we schedule around your job: early mornings, evenings, weekends. Consistency matters more than intensity; two well-planned lessons a week fits around most full-time jobs.
Absolutely — a discovery flight makes a memorable gift for a birthday, holiday, or anniversary. Get in touch and we'll set it up so the recipient can pick a date that works for them.
Oui ! I'm fully bilingual and can conduct your training in French or English, from the first discovery flight through your checkride prep. (The FAA written and practical tests are in English, and I'll make sure you're ready for that too.)
Contact
Book a discovery flight or ask me anything about training. I typically reply the same day.