Future pilots spread their wings at State College of Florida

The State College of Florida’s Lakewood Ranch campus is taking flight.

After successfully introducing a ground school program at the Venice campus, SCF is bringing its private pilot ground school course to Lakewood Ranch.

SCF is partnering with the Sarasota Aero Club, a flight instruction organization, to host the program.

The three-week class meets twice weekly and is open to the community — it’s not restricted to SCF students. Enrolled students learn different components of flying a private plane, including navigation principles, Federal Aviation Association regulations and aerodynamics, according to a press release. Upon completion, the students can receive an endorsement that allows them to take a knowledge test, part of obtaining a pilot's license. Similar to the procedure to get a driver’s license, potential pilots have to take a test on knowledge-based flight skills, then log at least 40 hours of flying time and pass a flying test with an instructor, said Jonathan Kotwicki, the ground school instructor and Sarasota Aero Club member.

The class costs $299 plus $65 for course materials, and class size caps at 10.

“There’s not a lot that equates to flying in every day life,” Kotwicki said. “It helps to have a smaller class to talk with students and answer questions.”

The class in Venice, which launched in May, was almost full with nine students. Although the flying industry, especially smaller airports, faced slow business and closures during the recession, Kotwicki said that’s changed now.

“The airports around Florida are busy,” he said. “It’s hard to even find space to rent in a hangar.”

Kotwicki said airlines have been facing attrition as older pilots retire, so companies are looking at smaller airport pilots and young pilots early in their career to step aboard the airlines.

And for those who just want something fun to do, there’s room for that, too.

“It’s a great hobby,” he said. “You can fly to St. Pete for lunch, Key West for dinner.”