Venice students, trained at SRQ
A flight school for Venice, FL students
Venice students train with us one-on-one at SRQ, a towered airport up the coast, with a fleet that grows with them.
Learning to fly from Venice
Why Venice students choose a flight school at SRQ
If you live in Venice, there's more than one place to learn to fly in Sarasota County. UFT isn't in Venice. Our students come to us at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ), and the airport is a big part of why.
SRQ has a control tower and airline traffic. You learn to work with air traffic control from your first lesson, alongside larger aircraft, and that experience follows you to every airport you fly into later.
Some students would rather start at a quieter field, and that's a fair choice. The best way to decide is to fly once at SRQ and see how it feels.
- Tower experience from day one Radio calls with SRQ tower are part of normal lessons, not a later add-on.
- Room to grow Start in a primary trainer and move up to G1000 NXi Cessnas or Cirrus SR22 G6s as you advance.
- Maintenance on the field UFT's own maintenance team looks after the training fleet at SRQ.
- Coastal training views Training flights cover the Gulf Coast you already know from the ground.
Personal training at SRQ
One instructor, one student, one plan
UFT is a founder-run school. Jose Santos started it in 2010 with one aircraft and a small office, and the school still works one-on-one. Your instructor builds each lesson around what you need next.
That flexibility helps when you're coming up from Venice. You can train part-time around work, or ask about a faster pace if you want to finish sooner.
- Hourly rates published Rental and instruction rates are listed on the fleet pages, so you can budget before you start.
- Ground school available UFT has offered in-person Private Pilot ground school at SRQ. Ask about the next start date.
- Checkride retest coverage For eligible students, UFT covers the examiner retest fee after a first-attempt checkride.
- Financing partners Stratus Financial and Flight Training Finance offer loans for flight training.
Your first flight
Fly the coast between Venice and Sarasota
Book a $299 discovery flight and take the controls with an instructor for about 30 to 40 minutes. You can request a route over Siesta Key or Downtown Sarasota when you book.
Getting to SRQ
From Venice to Universal Flight Training
Check the map for the current route from Venice to our base at SRQ. Traffic on the way can change from hour to hour, so plan a little extra time before your first lessons.
Come to UFT at 8140 15th St E. It's a separate entrance from the airport's passenger terminal.
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Our Address
8140 15th St E
Sarasota, FL 34243 -
Call Us
(941) 300-0309 -
Email Us
[email protected]
Student reviews
Reviews from UFT students
Students and renters reviewed UFT on Google. Their reviews describe training at SRQ in general, not a Venice location.
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.
Venice FAQs
Questions from Venice students
What Venice students usually want to know before they choose a flight school at SRQ.
Is Universal Flight Training located in Venice, FL?
No. UFT trains at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, 8140 15th St E, Sarasota. Students from Venice and the rest of South County come to SRQ for lessons.
Why train at SRQ instead of an airport closer to Venice?
SRQ is a towered airport with airline traffic, so you learn to work with air traffic control from the start. Some students prefer to start at a quieter field. A discovery flight at SRQ is the easiest way to see which suits you.
Can I train part-time if I work in Venice?
Yes. Lessons are one-on-one and scheduled with your instructor, so you can train part-time around work or ask about a faster pace.
What will I fly during training?
Most students start in a primary trainer such as the Piper Cherokee, Piper Archer, or Cessna 172. See the fleet pages for each aircraft's equipment and current rates.
Where do I go for my first lesson?
Come to UFT at 8140 15th St E, Sarasota, not the passenger terminal. Use the map on this page to plan the trip from Venice.
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Still have questions? Contact our team
Ask about training from Venice
Tell us what you want to fly for and which days work for you. We'll recommend a first step and help you plan lessons around the trip to SRQ.
Our team can answer questions about programs, aircraft, ground school dates, and financing.
- Address
- 8140 15th St E
Sarasota, FL 34243 - Telephone
- (941) 300-0309
- [email protected]
Start your training with a Venice-friendly plan
When you're ready to commit, enroll in a program and we'll build your schedule with you.