Kenai Aviation Training Academy

The Joy of Flight

The first time you step into an airplane, seated in the left seat, hands on the yoke and feet on the rudder, you’ll get it.

“The feeling of the plane speeding up on the runway and lifting into the air for the first time was exhilarating. Pure freedom.”

There is no way around it, getting your pilot’s license can be tough. It’s a little less tough with a team of dedicated instructors guiding you on the journey. After learning the fundamentals and armed with an understanding of aeronautical knowledge, you will be ready to “solo” in no time.

“As I came in for my final landing on my first solo flight, the tower radioed me to congratulate me, for I was ‘now an aviator’. Seconds later, planes that I couldn’t see started welcoming me to the exclusive club of flight. As I taxied back, all of my instructors and my wife were there to greet me. I couldn’t help but feel I just accomplished the most important thing in my life.”

-Jon Taylor, Student 2020

If you have the itch to fly or want to take your life to new heights, it all starts with a discovery flight. Let’s take off.

From first flight to advanced ratings

As all pilots know, the pilots license is a “License to Learn”. If you already have your Private Pilot License and want to progress, we have the highly rated CFIs ready to take you there.

Flight School

Private Pilots License

As a FAA Part 141 Pilot School, we are able to move pilots through the program efficiently and for less money by adhering to the FAA approved syllabus.

Read and interpret weather briefings

Preflight your aircraft

Airport operations, taxiing, and radio procedures

Takeoff, landing, and the fundamentals of flight

Slow flights, turns, and stalls

Steep turns and ground reference maneuvers

Airport pattern work

Basic instrument flying

Night flying

Landings

Emergency procedures

Cross country planning

Advanced landings and takeoffs

Check Ride Prep

Instrument Rating

Specific preflight procedures

Attitude instrument flying

Unusual flight attitudes

Reading magnetic compasses

Timed and compass turns

Instrument Procedures

VOR and ILS approaches

Holding patterns

Missed approaches 

Partial instrument panel flying

IFR Aeromedical factors

Glass Panel Procedures

Commercial Pilot License

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Privileges and limitations

Advanced weather

Complex aircraft operation

Aeromedical Factors

Advanced cross country planning

Approach and landings in power off 180s

Steep turns and spirals

Chandelles, lazy eights, and eights on pylons

Accelerated stalls

Advanced emergency procedures

Multi-Engine Training

Commercial Multi-Engine Add-On

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Multi preflight procedures

VMC demos

Drag Demos

Approaches on one engine

Performance maneuvers

High altitude operations

Air Transport Pilot Checkride Prep

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Requirements and expectations from the checkride

Ground prep of required systems

Required flight time

Float Training

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  • – Castoff and Taxiing
  • – Reading Wind and Water
  • – Glassy/Rough Water Landings
  • – Sailing, Docking, Beaching, Ramping, and Mooring
  • – Confined area Takeoff and Landings

Mountain Flying

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Short field/Soft field take off and landing 

Reading natural wind indicators

Canyon turns 

Mountain weather

Canyon flight procedures

Instructor Ratings (CFI, CFII, and MEI)

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Fundamentals of instruction
Right seat flying
Lesson planning
Practical ins and outs of instructing

Our Training Fleet

Piper Tripacer (PA-22)

A classic plane known for inherent stability, easy takeoff and landing performance, and simplistic controls. It’s an iconic plane that’s virtually made for students. As the old saying goes, “Your dog could fly a pacer”. We have both glass panel and classic round gauge equipped aircraft.

Tri Pacer 3263Z

N3263Z

Piper Tri Pacer 5913D

N5913D

N8119D

Piper Apache Geronimo (PA-23)

For students seeking the next level, our Geronimo is our twin engine trainer. Certified for instrument, multi, complex, and commercial training, as well as a blast to fly. The Geronimo features a classic round gauge panel with a Garmin 430W GPS, an autopilot system, and electronic engine monitoring equipment.

Piper Aztec Geronimo

N4429P

Our Chief Instructors

Keith Ham (Chief Instructor)

With his 25 year history in Alaskan bush aviation, as well as his tendency to “mentor the mentors” from his over 15,000 flight hours; Keith keeps our instructors on their toes. With over 5000 hours of instruction given since 1997, with much of that as a trainer in the demanding commercial environment, Keith is a deep well of knowledge. Every student performs stage checks with him and benefits from everything that Keith brings to the table.

Keith Ham
Matt

Gabe Aburto - Assistant Chief Flight Instructor