Young aviators cockpit training in AATD flight simulator at Solid Ground Aviation Tipton Airport MD

Young Aviators Program
Flight Training for Students Under 15

Most students can't begin flight training in an aircraft until age 15, but a love of aviation doesn't have to wait. The Young Aviators Program gives students under 15 hands-on, one-on-one instruction in our professional flight simulator, building real flying skills and confidence years before they're old enough to take the controls of an airplane.

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Program Overview

Welcome to the Young Aviators Program

Our 16-session curriculum is structured to take young enthusiasts from their first cockpit orientation to planning and flying an autonomous cross-country flight.

16 Guided Sessions

1.5 hours each, conducted 1-on-1 with a professional flight instructor.

Flexible Scheduling

Choose a once-per-month or twice-per-month cadence, whatever fits your family.

Real Aircraft Discovery Flight

Step into an actual aircraft after Lesson 8 once your student is ready.

Cross-Country Capstone

By Lesson 16, students plan, navigate, and pilot their own simulated cross-country mission.

Young student flying basic flight simulator at Solid Ground Aviation in Fort Meade MD

Phase 1: Foundations (Lessons 1–4)

Comfort with the Airplane & Cockpit Controls

Goal: comfort with the airplane, the sim environment, and basic control.

Lesson 1, Welcome to the Flight Deck
  • ● Cockpit familiarization, controls, instruments (basic six)
  • ● Sim environment orientation, view controls, checklist usage
  • ● Straight and level flight, basic trim; intro to "sight picture"
Lesson 2, Turns and Coordination
  • ● Shallow and medium turns; rudder use / coordination (ball centered)
  • ● Climbs and descents at constant airspeed
  • ● Combine: climbing turns, descending turns
Lesson 3, Slow Flight Introduction
  • ● Effects of configuration (flaps) on control
  • ● Slow flight (guided, high instructor involvement)
  • ● Intro to stalls conceptually, recognition, not full recovery yet
Lesson 4, Traffic Pattern Basics
  • ● Rectangular pattern concept, standard pattern altitude/legs
  • ● Radio calls (non-towered pattern calls)
  • ● Intro approach and landing sight picture (instructor-assisted)
Student in cockpit preparing for discovery flight at Solid Ground Aviation Tipton Airport KFME

Phase 2: Core Maneuvers (Lessons 5–8)

Core Maneuvers & Discovery Flight Prep

Goal: build the maneuver set that supports the discovery flight.

Lesson 5, Takeoffs and Landings
  • ● Normal takeoff and climb; normal approach and landing
  • ● Progressively less instructor assist; go-arounds
Lesson 6, Stalls and Slow Flight
  • ● Power-off and power-on stall recognition and recovery
  • ● Slow flight maneuvering
Lesson 7, Ground Reference & Emergency Basics
  • ● Turns around a point / S-turns (intro level)
  • ● Simulated engine-out, best glide, field selection concept
  • ● Emergency checklist familiarization
Lesson 8, Pattern Proficiency & Discovery Flight Prep
  • ● Full pattern work: takeoff, crosswind, downwind, base, final, landing
  • ● Crosswind landing concept (as sim allows)
  • ● Mock "discovery flight" briefing, what to expect in the real airplane
★ ★ MILESTONE: Schedule the Discovery Flight in the aircraft once your student is ready!
Kids reading aeronautical sectional charts at Solid Ground Aviation Fort Meade

Phase 3: Navigation & Systems (Lessons 9–12)

Navigation Building Blocks & Avionics

Goal: introduce cross-country building blocks.

Lesson 9, Post-Discovery Debrief & Instrument Scan
  • ● Debrief real-world flight experience, compare to sim
  • ● Basic instrument scan, attitude instrument flying intro
  • ● Unusual attitude recovery (light intro)
Lesson 10, Navigation Fundamentals
  • ● Sectional chart reading basics
  • ● Pilotage concepts, landmarks, checkpoints
  • ● Intro to VOR/GPS navigation display
Lesson 11, GPS & Flight Planning
  • ● Using GPS for direct-to and flight plan entry
  • ● Basic flight planning: route, checkpoints, fuel planning concept
  • ● Weather briefing basics
Lesson 12, Radio & Airspace
  • ● Airspace classes overview
  • ● Radio communication procedures, towered vs. non-towered
  • ● Simulated ATC interaction (instructor plays ATC)
Flight students reviewing flight plan after simulator session at Solid Ground Aviation Maryland

Phase 4: Cross-Country Capstone (Lessons 13–16)

Cross-Country Capstone

Goal: put it all together, the payoff lesson.

Lesson 13, Cross-Country Planning Workshop
  • ● Student plans their own short cross-country route (2–3 legs)
  • ● Checkpoints, headings, GPS waypoints entered; instructor review
Lesson 14, Cross-Country Flight, Leg 1
  • ● Fly the planned route, first leg(s)
  • ● Navigation, radio calls, airspace transitions
  • ● Handle a simulated minor deviation (weather/traffic)
Lesson 15, Cross-Country Flight, Leg 2 + Diversion
  • ● Continue/complete the route
  • ● Simulated diversion exercise (unplanned reroute, new GPS destination)
  • ● Emergency review woven in (engine trouble en route)
Lesson 16, Capstone Cross-Country
  • ● Full route flown start to finish with minimal instructor intervention
  • ● Student handles planning recap, radio calls, navigation, and landing independently
  • ● Debrief: readiness assessment, certificate of completion, next steps toward age 15½/16 flight training track

Continuing After Lesson 16

Keep Building Skills Until Age 16

Many students aren't quite old enough for the airplane by the time they finish the program, that's perfectly normal. We offer additional 4-lesson blocks to keep building skills:

Youth aviation students practicing instrument scan in AATD sim at Solid Ground Aviation Fort Meade

Instrument Awareness Block

Basic instrument flying, attitude control, and partial panel techniques.

 Student pilot studying aviation navigation charts at Solid Ground Maryland

Advanced Navigation Block

Longer cross-countries, night simulation, and diversions under pressure.

 CFI flight instructor demonstrating simulator controls to student at Solid Ground Aviation Fort Meade

Emergency Procedures Block

Deeper systems failures, engine-out scenarios, and off-airport landings.

 Young aviators studying aircraft systems and ground school at Solid Ground Tipton Airport

Checkride Prep Preview

A fun first look at the kind of questions asked on the private pilot oral exam.

Pricing & Enrollment

Transparent flight training tuition. Frequency options: once per month or twice per month, selected at enrollment.

Option Price Notes
Per-session (à la carte) $155 / session 1.5 hrs, includes simulator rental & instructor time
Full 16-lesson package $2,200 total Saves $280 vs. à la carte ($2,480)
Convert to package $2,200 (full discount honored) Must convert by the start of Lesson 3

* Frequency options: once per month or twice per month, selected at enrollment.

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Questions? We're Here to Help.

We're happy to walk through the program, scheduling, or pricing in more detail. We're looking forward to helping your student build a real foundation in aviation.

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Fill out the form below and let's start learning!
We will get in touch with you and walk you through the next steps on getting started.

Young aviator student pilot standing with aircraft at Solid Ground Aviation Fort Meade MD

Young Aviators Program

Fort Meade, MD (KFME) • (410) 705-2250

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