Flight Training
Private Pilot
At Whiskey Foxtrot we try and preserve that natural and welcoming feeling that comes from general aviation. A couple of enthusiastic instructors who love hanging around the airport and talking about airplanes. When starting the school, we were not satisfied with commercially available training syllabi and curriculum so we made our own.
While some schools follow their syllabus line by line, ours serves as a rough guide that the instructor can use and adjust to the individual's way of learning and to the training environment.
Students get a copy of this syllabus and are able to track their own progress as well. Compared to other flight schools, we provide flight training while also trying to keep things interesting and fun. Grass runways, $100 hamburger runs, and more.
As a Part 61 flight school there isn't really a limit on what we can do. Already have a license and haven't flown in a while and just want a CFI to tag along? Or maybe you are the spouse of a pilot who wants to take a few lessons and get the basics to help out. We can accommodate a variety of training needs.
The majority of our community at the flight school are those who are looking to fly for recreational purposes. They choose Sky Acres due to the relaxed and go at your own pace style of training.
Private Pilot License
Students can expect to spend anywhere from 60 to 80 hours in the air to obtain a Private Pilots License. In addition to the the flying, students will have to spend time at home studying and preparing before coming out to the airport.
We recommend a variety of home ground school courses to supplement in classroom learning. This allows one to study at their own pace and save money.
Although completion time to obtain a pilots license can vary, its not unreasonable to expect 4-6 months to finish the license. Certain uncontrollable factors such as weather and aircraft maintenance can all slow progress. We recommend trying to make it out to the airport at least twice a week to maintain steady progress.
Instrument Training
After earning their private pilot certificate students can expect at least 50 hours in the airplane and a good majority of that flight time “under the hood” which means only flying by reference to instruments by using a view limiting device. Instrument Flight Rules implies that the flight may operate in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC, meaning cloudy or otherwise adverse weather conditions). However, many aircraft may operate under IFR while completing the entirety of the flight in Visual Meteorological Conditions due to the efficiency provided by IFR flying as well as the safety of continuing to avoid bad weather. Just because you can fly in the clouds or less than acceptable weather under IFR doesn’t mean you should. Obtaining an instrument rating is paramount to rounding off a pilot's knowledge to ensure safety of flight in all possible scenarios.
In addition to flight training, at home studying will be required using study courses and the help from an instructor. Instrument flying poses a very high risk to inexperienced pilots, 62% of aviation related deaths are attributed to pilots who are not instrument rated entering into instrument meteorological conditions. All of our instructors at Whiskey Foxtrot have gone through extensive training and real world experience to teach in the clouds with safety being the number one priority. Whether you are a freshly minted Private Pilot or an experienced Commercial Pilot, come join us for some time in the clouds!IFR training rates: Dual $230 per hour with airplane included
Discovery flights
If you are interested in airplanes but not sure if flying is the thing for you, then come out for a discovery flight and give it a try. We currently offer two discovery flight options.
Discovery Flight: $200
This is for those who want to see if flying is right for them. Includes 30 minutes of flight time with you at the controls.
1 Hour Discovery Flight: $250
For those who want a more in depth taste of flying, we offer the 1 Hour Discovery Flight option. This includes a half hour on the ground covering how to preflight the aircraft as well as an hour of flight time with you at the controls. A logbook is included at the completion of the flight and your instructor will guide you on how to enter your first hour of flying.
Sky Acres Airport
Sky Acres Airport's (Lagrangeville, NY) beginnings can be traced back to 1956, when Doug Cochran bought his first plane, a Cessna 172, and needed a place to land it. For the next 8 years much hard work ensued, with countless sacrifices from his wife and 6 children. He converted his farm and barn into a runway and facilities with the vision of aviation enthusiasts one day coming together to share his love of flight. In 1964, the initial seed that was sown and diligently cultivated finally bore fruit and his dream was realized: Sky Acres Airport. As legend has it, Herb Styles was the first aviator to land a plane at the airport. He christened Runway 35 with his single-engine Piper Comanche. He and his family purchased Sky Acres Airport in 1976 and they've owned it ever since. In 1995, the runway underwent an overhaul and was improved to FAA standards under the Airport Improvement Program (AIP). The runway was enlarged and resurfaced to its current 60' by 3,828' dimensions. The parallel taxiway, and runway 17, were also extended. There are now 3 secondary parking ramps that can accommodate turbine and jet aircraft.
On-site services include a 24/7 self-service fueling station, aircraft maintenance and repairs, hangar leasing and sales as well as a café that serves breakfast and lunch.