Based in Ozark · Serving the Wiregrass — Dothan · Enterprise · Daleville
You want to fly.
We'll teach you.
ACOM Aviation Academy trains pilots from their very first discovery flight through their commercial and CFI certificates. Based at Ozark-Blackwell (71J) in southeast Alabama, with a modern fleet and instructors who fly with you.
Or call (334) 443-3784— you'll reach a real instructor, not a scheduler.
Army CA Approved
Army Credentialing Assistance — soldiers train at no out-of-pocket cost.
Honest, written pricing
Hourly rates spelled out. No surprises.
Fly six days a week
Around your job and family schedule.
Real instructors
FAA Part 61 CFIs — and we've hired our own students.
Aircraft that fly when scheduled
Modern Piper Cherokee fleet + Twin Comanche on the line.
Why most people never start
Anyone with the dream and the discipline should be able to learn to fly.
Most don't. Confusing pricing. Broken airplanes. Instructors who cancel. We've been the guy who researched flight schools for two years before pulling the trigger — and we've watched students walk away from this dream because their first school made it impossible.
We started ACOM to fix that. Honest pricing. Aircraft that fly when you scheduled them. Instructors who teach because they love teaching.
Three steps to your certificate
- 1
Book a Discovery Flight
30 minutes in the air. Hands on the controls. Real logbook entry. No commitment beyond the flight.
- 2
Map your training
We'll plan a realistic timeline and budget — written, honest numbers — so you know exactly what's ahead.
- 3
Earn your certificate
Train on a modern fleet with instructors who fly with you. Walk out a certificated pilot.
- No surprise feesHourly rates are written, not negotiated.
- Real instructorsYou reach a CFI, not a call center.
- No contractPay as you fly. Stop anytime.
What we teach
From your first flight to your Commercial Multi-Engine certificate.
Discovery flights, private pilot, instrument, Commercial Multi-Engine, and CFI ratings — all on a modern fleet of Pipers, with instructors who fly with you.
Discovery Flight
A 30-minute introductory flight where you fly the airplane — not just ride along.
Private Pilot Training
The full Part 61 path from zero hours to your private pilot certificate.
Instrument Rating
Add an instrument rating and fly safely through clouds, weather, and night.
Commercial Multi-Engine Certificate
The certificate every working pilot wants — Commercial Multi-Engine on our Twin Comanche.
CFI / Flight Instructor Training
Earn your CFI ratings and start logging hours by teaching.
Aircraft Rental & Flight Reviews
Already a pilot? Rent our fleet, knock out your BFR, or run an IPC with us.
Your path
From your first flight to your certificate.
The journey from "I've never flown" to "I'm a certificated pilot" takes most students 6–9 months. Here's what it looks like.
- 01
Discovery Flight
30 minutes in the air with an instructor. Hands on the controls. Your first logbook entry.
02First Solo
After your pre-solo training, you take off, fly the pattern, and land — alone. The day every pilot remembers.
- 03
Cross-Country
Navigation, radio work, longer flights. This is when it starts feeling less like training and more like flying.
04Checkride
Oral exam and practical test with a Designated Pilot Examiner. You walk away with your certificate.
05You're a Pilot
Saturday morning $200 hamburgers. A Sunday afternoon over the Gulf. Family trips that used to be 8-hour drives, done in 90 minutes. That's what your certificate gets you.
What students say
Real students. Real flights. Real reviews.
Quotes from students, renters, and families who've flown with us. All from public Google reviews.
The flight school is the best you can get in South AL and Northern FL. The aircraft are really well maintained and well equipped, and the owner makes time to get to know every customer. The flight instructors take pride in the students they fly.
William Troutman
Student pilot · via Google
Dwayne is such an awesome instructor and chief pilot. ACOM has the best Pipers in the area and everyone there is super helpful and friendly. If I'm ever in Southern Alabama again, this is the spot I will go to rent.
Kevin Chambers
Renter pilot · time-building · via Google
Wonderful experience for my son. He got to take a ride and fly a Piper Cherokee. Friendly staff and instructor. Looking forward to our next flight with our other son.
Kenneth Muna
Discovery Flight · via Google
For military students
Train on Army Credentialing Assistance.
ACOM Aviation Academy is an approved provider for Army Credentialing Assistance (CA) through the ignited platform. If you're an eligible soldier, the Army covers your flight training — and a lot of our students use that to pay for the whole certificate.
- Pay for flight training with Army Credentialing Assistance (CA) — no out-of-pocket cost for eligible soldiers
- Covers Private, Instrument, Commercial Multi-Engine, and CFI ratings
- We handle the paperwork on the ignited platform with you
- Active-duty, Reserve, and National Guard soldiers welcome
- Many of our students are stationed at or affiliated with Fort Novosel
Not sure if you qualify? Talk to us about your training goals — we'll walk through eligibility and the CA application before you commit a dollar.
FAQs
Common questions before your first flight.
Costs, timelines, aircraft, and what the path from discovery flight to Commercial Multi-Engine certificate actually looks like.
I've never flown before — what's the best way to start?+
Book a discovery flight. Thirty minutes, your hands on the controls, your first logbook entry. Most students who do one decide within a week whether to keep going. Call (334) 443-3784 and we can usually have you in the air within a few days.
How long does it take to get a private pilot certificate?+
Most students at ACOM finish in 6–9 months flying once or twice a week. The FAA Part 61 minimum is 40 hours, but the national average is closer to 60–75 hours, so we plan for that and quote you honestly up front. Flying more often shortens the calendar significantly.
What aircraft will I train in?+
Primarily our Piper Cherokee fleet — they're forgiving, easy to fly, and built for training. We also operate a Twin Comanche for multi-engine and advanced training. You'll see the full lineup on the ramp at 71J.
Do you train students who want to fly for the airlines?+
Yes. We can take you from zero hours through your private, instrument, Commercial Multi-Engine, and CFI/CFII/MEI ratings — the standard 1500-hour ATP path. Our newest CFI started here as a student. Talk to us early so we can map the full timeline.
Can I use Army Credentialing Assistance (CA) to pay for training?+
Yes — ACOM Aviation Academy is an approved Army CA provider on the ignited platform. Eligible active-duty, Reserve, and National Guard soldiers can use CA to cover Private, Instrument, Commercial Multi-Engine, and CFI training. Call (334) 443-3784 and we'll walk you through the application before you commit a dollar.
Ready when you are
Don't let another year go by on the ground.
Five years from now, you can be the person who flew their family to the beach last weekend — or the person still talking about it.
Most people who say they'll learn to fly never do, because they never take the first step. Book a discovery flight today and we'll be in the air this week.