Sarasota Bradenton International Airport / SRQ
Learn how to fly in Sarasota
Every step from your first discovery flight at SRQ to your Private Pilot checkride, what shapes your cost and pace, and how to pick the right school.
Your airport is already here
Learning to fly in Sarasota starts at SRQ
If you live in Sarasota, you don't have to go far to learn to fly. UFT trains at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ), the same airport you fly out of for vacations.
Learning at SRQ means working with a control tower and sharing the airport with airline traffic from your first lesson. It feels like a lot at first. Your instructor handles the radios until you're ready, and the habits you build here work at any airport.
Florida's weather allows flying most of the year. Summer afternoons often bring thunderstorms, so many students book morning lessons in the warmer months.
This guide is the map. Each stage gets a short summary and a link to our deeper guide on that topic, so you can read only what you need right now and come back for the rest.
- Towered airport from lesson one Radio work with SRQ tower is part of normal training.
- Ground school at SRQ UFT has offered in-person Private Pilot ground school. Ask about the next class.
- Simulator on site Practice procedures in the simulator, including on stormy days.
- FAA testing on site Take your knowledge test at UFT's CATS/PSI testing center.
Why learn with UFT
Learn to fly with a Sarasota school that knows your name
Jose Santos, a retired U.S. Marine Corps Master Gunnery Sergeant, founded UFT in 2010 with one aircraft and a small office. It's still founder-run, and training is still one-on-one.
Your instructor plans each lesson around your progress. You can train part-time around work and family, or ask about a faster pace.
- A fleet that grows with you Start in a Piper Cherokee or Cessna 172, then move up to G1000 NXi aircraft or a Cirrus SR22 G6.
- Published hourly rates Rental and instruction rates are listed for each aircraft, so you can budget ahead.
- Checkride retest coverage For eligible students, UFT covers the examiner retest fee after a first-attempt checkride.
- Financing options Stratus Financial and Flight Training Finance offer loans for flight training.
How to start
How to learn to fly in Sarasota, step by step
Most students follow roughly this order. Your instructor may shift a step or two to fit your progress.
- 01 Take a discovery flight at SRQ
Fly with an instructor for about 30 to 40 minutes and take the controls yourself. It costs $299, and you can request a route over Siesta Key, Anna Maria Island, the Skyway Bridge, Egmont Key, or Downtown Sarasota. Read what to expect on a discovery flight before you book.
- 02 Enroll and start your medical and student pilot certificate
When you're ready, enroll in our Private Pilot Course. Book an FAA medical exam early: a third-class medical is enough for student and private pilots. Then apply for your student pilot certificate. You'll need both before you solo. Our guide to FAA medical certificates explains the classes.
- 03 Build your ground knowledge
Learn airspace, weather, navigation, and regulations through ground school or a home-study course. Either way, an instructor signs an endorsement before you take the FAA knowledge test. Compare formats in our guide to ground school in Sarasota.
- 04 Fly your early lessons and your first solo
Early lessons cover the controls, climbs, turns, descents, takeoffs, and landings, with your instructor on the radios until you're ready. See your first month of flying lessons in Sarasota, then what your first solo is like.
- 05 Fly cross-country, pass the knowledge test, and take your checkride
You'll plan flights to other airports, fly at night, and pass the knowledge test, which you can take at our on-site testing center. Mock checkrides then prepare you for the FAA practical test, called the checkride.
The rules
The FAA minimums every Sarasota student trains toward
The FAA sets minimum experience for a Private Pilot certificate with an airplane rating, and you must be 16 to solo and 17 to earn the certificate. Your actual hours depend on how often you fly, the weather, and how you progress. Our guide on how long a Private Pilot certificate takes walks through realistic scenarios.
- 40 hours of flight time At least 20 with an instructor and 10 solo.
- Cross-country and night 3 hours of each with an instructor, including a night cross-country over 100 nautical miles.
- Flying by instruments 3 hours by reference to the instruments alone.
- Solo cross-country 5 hours, including one 150-nautical-mile trip with full-stop landings at three airports.
- Checkride preparation 3 hours with an instructor in the two calendar months before your checkride.
- Towered-airport landings Three solo takeoffs and full-stop landings at a towered airport.
Cost and pace
What shapes your cost and pace when you learn to fly in Sarasota
Each lesson costs the aircraft's hourly rate plus your instructor's time. Our trainers start at $169 an hour wet (fuel included) for the Piper Cherokee, with instruction at $65 an hour. Rates change through the year, so give our team a call at (941) 300-0309 for today's numbers. Our breakdown of what one flying lesson costs in Sarasota shows the math.
Your total depends on the aircraft you choose, how often you fly, the weather, and how you use the simulator. We partner with Stratus Financial and Flight Training Finance, and financing options may be available to qualified applicants.
Training at SRQ
Why learning at a towered Class C airport pays off
SRQ sits inside Class C airspace, so you'll talk to air traffic control and share the airport with airline traffic from your first lesson. The FAA requires three solo takeoffs and full-stop landings at a towered airport, and at SRQ you meet that requirement at home.
For maneuvers, your instructor takes you to quieter airspace away from the airport. Our guide to routes and practice areas around Sarasota shows where lessons go, and our SRQ questions answered cover what to bring on day one.
Still deciding?
Find out if learning to fly fits your life
Take the short pilot quiz to see which path suits your goals, or look at financing before you commit to a program.
Find us
Getting to UFT from anywhere in Sarasota
UFT is on the grounds of Sarasota Bradenton International Airport at 8140 15th St E. Check the map for the current route from where you are.
Come to the UFT facility, not the passenger terminal. The flight school has its own entrance.
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Our Address
8140 15th St E
Sarasota, FL 34243 -
Call Us
(941) 300-0309 -
Email Us
[email protected]
Student reviews
What it's like to learn here
These Google reviews come from students and renters who trained or flew with UFT at SRQ.
Leave Us a Review-
Our son Christian took his very first discovery flight at the age of 13 and it was an absolutely incredible experience! That smile on his face says it all! His instructor was so good with him and gave him some great information. I would recommend this place to any future aviators, we will definitely be back!
Cori R.
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Excellent place to train! Whether it is flying or taking a written knowledge exam, I highly recommend Universal Flight Training. The staff cares about your success. During my IRA knowledge exam, there was an unexpected county-wide internet outage. Jose allowed me to wait at the location until the internet was working again, and did everything in his power to help me take the test the same day it was scheduled. True class all around!
Nick S.
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Great vibes from this place. We had a mechanical over the weekend and were grounded far from home. Jose and team went above and beyond (staying late on a Sunday!) to get us home by Sunday evening. This action speaks to the care and quality at this facility.
Seth P.
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We rented a plane for a trip. Jose was very helpful in making our trip possible. His instructor Aldo was friendly and professional and helped get the checkout done quickly. The airplane was clean and well maintained. I highly recommend UFT for rental or flight instruction.
Ryan O.
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Jose - who runs the flying school - was a fantastic instructor for my introductory lesson - very professional, talking me through everything before, during and after the flight. And it's a great location to learn to fly - spectacular views all around. Definitely recommend!
Olliver K.
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I started attending UFT for my Private Pilots License and have gone all the way through to CFI. The quality of the staff and instructors are great and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time here at UFT. I can’t thank the team enough for all of the care and support they put into my training. Great aircraft options as well. Would recommend to anyone looking to learn how to fly or rent an aircraft.
Aldo M.
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Great school with great instructors and well maintained planes. The owner Jose and all his staff are great people. One of the few places that offers a ground school course for both PPL and IFR. Ramp has easy access to taxiways for quick departures so it doesn’t run up the hobbs on you while also allowing you to gain valuable communications experience. SRQ controllers are also very accommodating and know the tail numbers and work well with you for IFR training. Overall great experience and I highly recommend them.
Eric S.
Learning to fly FAQs
Questions about learning to fly in Sarasota
Straight answers to what Sarasota students ask before their first lesson.
How long does it take to learn to fly in Sarasota?
It depends on how often you fly, the weather, and how quickly you learn. The FAA minimum for a Private Pilot certificate is 40 hours of flight time, and that number is a floor. Our guide on how long a Private Pilot certificate takes walks through realistic scenarios.
How much does it cost to learn to fly in Sarasota?
Each lesson is the aircraft rate plus instructor time, so your total depends on the aircraft you choose, your hours, and how often you fly. Start with what one flying lesson costs in Sarasota, then look at our financing options.
How old do I have to be to learn to fly?
You can take lessons before you're old enough to solo. You must be 16 to fly solo in an airplane and 17 to earn a Private Pilot certificate.
Is it harder to learn at a busy airport like SRQ?
It adds radio work early, which can feel like a lot at first. Your instructor handles the radios until you're ready, and learning with a tower from the start builds habits you'll use at any airport.
Do I need a medical before my first lesson?
No. You can fly with an instructor without a medical or a student pilot certificate. You'll need both before you solo, so book your medical early. Our guide to FAA medical certificates explains which class you need. For questions about your own health, talk with an Aviation Medical Examiner.
Can I learn to fly part-time around a full-time job?
Yes. You can train as often as your schedule allows, and your instructor plans each lesson around your progress. We recommend flying at least two to three times a week so skills stay fresh between lessons.
Does simulator time count toward my certificate?
Plan on the simulator as a place to rehearse procedures on the ground, especially when weather keeps the airplane parked. Your instructor will tell you how simulator sessions fit into your training plan. Learn more about our simulator.
What happens if I don't pass my checkride the first time?
You train some more with your instructor and take the test again. If you're an eligible student in a qualifying program, we cover the examiner's retest fee after a first-attempt checkride that doesn't go your way. It covers the examiner fee only, and training milestones and terms apply.
Where do I take the FAA knowledge test in Sarasota?
You can take it right here at UFT, in our on-site FAA testing center at SRQ. Your instructor first signs an endorsement saying you're prepared. See our testing center for details.
Does UFT offer ground school in Sarasota?
Yes. UFT has run in-person Private Pilot ground school at SRQ. Contact us for the next start date, or study on your own and use our instructors for help.
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Still have questions? Contact our team
Ask us how to get started
Tell us what you want to fly for and when you're free. We'll recommend a first step, whether that's a discovery flight, ground school, or your first lesson.
Our team is at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport and can answer questions about programs, aircraft, financing, and medical requirements.
- Address
- 8140 15th St E
Sarasota, FL 34243 - Telephone
- (941) 300-0309
- [email protected]
Your Sarasota flight training starts at SRQ
Enroll in Private Pilot training when you're ready, or call our team to talk it through first.