Is there a flight school in Fort Lauderdale itself?

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL) is a major commercial airport, which makes it a poor fit for primary flight training. Sun City Aviation Academy trains at North Perry Airport (KHWO) in Pembroke Pines, roughly 14 to 15 miles from downtown Fort Lauderdale and typically under 30 minutes by car. You get a towered training environment without competing with airline traffic for every takeoff clearance.

How far is North Perry Airport from Fort Lauderdale?

Approximately 14 to 15 miles from downtown Fort Lauderdale, accessible from both I-95 and the Florida Turnpike. Most students report the drive taking under 30 minutes outside of peak traffic.

How much does flight training cost near Fort Lauderdale?

A private pilot certificate typically runs $12,300 to $15,000 under Part 61, or $10,700 to $12,700 under Part 141. FAA fees vary and additional training may be required depending on how often you fly. Contact us for a breakdown specific to your goals, or review financing options through Stratus Financial.

Is Sun City Aviation Academy Part 141 or Part 61?

Both. We hold FAA Part 141 certification and also train under Part 61. Part 141 follows an FAA-approved syllabus and can reduce the minimum hours required, which suits students training consistently. Part 61 offers more scheduling flexibility, which suits students fitting training around full-time work.

What is the first step if I have never flown before?

Book a discovery flight. You will handle the controls with an instructor beside you and see South Florida from the air. It is the cheapest way to answer the only question that matters before you enroll: do you actually want to do this?

How long does it take to become a pilot?

It depends far more on how often you fly than on which school you choose. Students flying two to three times per week progress substantially faster than students flying once every other week, because less time is spent relearning. We will build a realistic timeline with you based on your actual availability.

Do you offer training beyond the private pilot certificate?

Yes. Instrument rating, commercial, multi-engine in our Beechcraft Duchess, CFI, ATP, seaplane, flight reviews, and instrument proficiency checks are all available. Many Fort Lauderdale students continue straight through to a professional track.

Can I train while working full time?

Yes, and most of our students do. Part 61 training exists precisely for this. Early morning slots before work are popular with Fort Lauderdale students because the air is smooth and the drive is faster.

Fort Lauderdale
Flight School

Train where the pattern is yours, not the airlines'. Sun City Aviation Academy is an FAA Part 141 and Part 61 certified flight school at North Perry Airport (KHWO), under 30 minutes from downtown Fort Lauderdale.

Book a Discovery Flight Read the Fort Lauderdale FAQ

Flight Training
Near Fort Lauderdale

If you live in Fort Lauderdale, the flight school you pick decides how fast you actually fly. Train out of a commercial hub and you will spend paid Hobbs time holding short behind heavy jets. Train at North Perry Airport (KHWO) and that same money goes into maneuvers, landings, and progress.

Sun City Aviation Academy sits roughly 14 to 15 miles from downtown Fort Lauderdale, just off I-95 and the Florida Turnpike. Most students make the drive in under 30 minutes, then step into a towered airport built around training traffic instead of airline schedules.

We are an FAA Part 141 and Part 61 certified flight school, which means you can pick the structured syllabus or the flexible one depending on your schedule, your funding, and how fast you want to move.

Private Pilot Certificate — typical range

Part 61: $12,300 – $15,000*

*FAA fees vary and additional training costs may be required

Part 141: $10,700 – $12,700*

*FAA fees vary and additional training costs may be required

Why KHWO, Not FLL

The Airport You Train At Changes What You Pay

At Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International, air traffic control has to prioritize commercial traffic. A student in a Cessna 172 can sit through long delays before a single takeoff clearance. North Perry Airport is a towered, training-focused field, so your lesson starts when you start the engine. You still get real controller communication and you are still minutes from Class B airspace when it is time to learn it. Read the full comparison in our KHWO advantage breakdown, or see how lessons fit a working week.

Part 141 and Part 61 Certified

An FAA-approved Part 141 syllabus when you want structure and efficiency, or Part 61 when your schedule needs flexibility. You choose the track that fits your life.

AOPA Flight Training Experience Award recognition for Sun City Aviation Academy

Fort Lauderdale Pilot Training

Your Path From First Flight to Career

Every Fort Lauderdale student starts somewhere different. Here is what the next step looks like depending on where you are right now.

Discovery flight student flying over South Florida

Still Deciding

Start With a Discovery Flight

You should not commit thousands of dollars to a decision you have never tested. A discovery flight puts you in the left seat with an instructor beside you, hands on the controls, flying the South Florida coastline. You will know within the hour whether this is for you. Most Fort Lauderdale students book this first.

Book a Discovery Flight

Private pilot student in training at Sun City Aviation Academy

Ready to Train

Earn Your Private Pilot Certificate

This is the certificate that makes you a pilot. You will train in our Cessna 172s, prep for the written exam through our ground school, and work toward the checkride with an instructor who knows your file. Part 141 and Part 61 options are both available.

Private Pilot Training

Beechcraft Duchess multi-engine trainer at Sun City Aviation Academy

Building Skills

Add Instrument, Multi-Engine, and More

South Florida weather makes instrument training genuinely useful, not just a checkbox. Move into your instrument rating, then multi-engine time in our Beechcraft Duchess. Our Redbird simulator lets you drill procedures without burning Hobbs time.

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Professional pilot career training at Sun City Aviation Academy

Going Professional

Train for the Airlines

If the goal is a flight deck, the path runs through commercial, CFI, and eventually ATP. Many of our students instruct here while building hours toward the airlines. We will map the timeline with you before you spend a dollar.

Professional Pilot Course

South Florida coastline viewed from a Sun City Aviation Academy training flight

The Commute, Honestly

Getting to KHWO From Fort Lauderdale

The honest answer: it is a drive. North Perry Airport is about 14 to 15 miles from downtown Fort Lauderdale, reachable off I-95 or the Florida Turnpike, and it typically takes under 30 minutes depending on traffic.

Most students schedule morning slots, when South Florida air is smoothest and the afternoon thunderstorms have not built yet. A typical lesson runs about two hours door to door including the preflight brief and debrief, so a single Fort Lauderdale trip covers the whole block.

If you want the full week-by-week picture before you commit, we broke it down in our guide to flight lessons from Fort Lauderdale. Planning around budget instead? See the 2026 cost and timeline breakdown.

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Our Programs

Your aviation dreams take center stage here. Whether pursuing a professional career, building flight hours, or seeking leisurely adventure, we have the perfect path for you.

Professional Pilot Course

Comprehensive program covering private, instrument, commercial, and multi-engine flight training.

sun city aviation academy airline plane landing view from below

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Private Pilot

Your passport to the skies! Learn to pilot your dreams with our Private Pilot Course.

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Instrument Rating

Navigate through clouds and the skies with precision through our Instrument Rating course.

sun city aviation academy student in a cockpit of a cessna airplane

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Commercial Pilot

Start your pilot career with our Commercial Pilot Course. Your path to the captain's seat is here.

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Multi-Engine Rating

Master the art of multi engine flying and unlock new horizons in your aviation career.

sun city aviation student and flight instructor in front of a multi-engine airplane

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Certified Flight Instructor

Become a trusted guide in the world of aviation. Become a CFI and teach others to fly.

sun city aviation student and flight instructor shaking hands

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Airline Transport Pilot

For many this is their goal. The ATP certificate is a minimum requirement to join the airlines.

sun city aviation instruments panel of a commercial airline airplane cockpit

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Flight Review

Recurrent training requirement for pilots to ensure they maintain proficiency and safety standards.

sun city aviation cessna airplane on a runway

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Instrument Proficiency Check

Stay current with our Instrument Proficiency Check (IPC) to ensure your instrument flying skills are up to date.

sun city aviation academy cockpit instruments

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Seaplane Safari

Seaplane flying opens up an extraordinary new world for pilots. Start SES training here.

sun city aviation seaplane floating on the water

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Wingman Course

Equip your loved ones with essential aviation safety skills through our Wingman Course.

sun city aviation pilot's family in the flight simulator

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Fort Lauderdale Flight School Questions

Get answers to the most common questions about flight training.

Sun City Aviation Academy training flight over the South Florida coastline

See It Before You Commit
Book a Discovery Flight

You are 30 minutes from a flight deck. Take one flight, fly the South Florida coastline with an instructor, and decide with real information instead of a brochure.

Schedule Today

Fort Lauderdale
Flight School

Train where the pattern is yours, not the airlines'. Sun City Aviation Academy is an FAA Part 141 and Part 61 certified flight school at North Perry Airport (KHWO), under 30 minutes from downtown Fort Lauderdale.