10 Years of Serving the Community at the

Tri-Cities Airport  - The Southern Tier's Flight Training Capital
Call us at 607-785-8353  Click here for directions.

Our Goals at Goodrich Pilot Training Center
We believe that learning to fly should be a fun and rewarding experience. We also want to make it affordable to you, our customer. By combining a quality flight and ground training program with reasonable prices, we are trying to meet these two very important goals. We are always open to feedback from our customers. Next time you stop by, please let us know how we are doing.
 

How do I get started?
Enjoy a discovery flight with Goodrich Pilot Training Center (GPTC) for only $75. The lesson includes a ½ hour flight with a certified flight instructor. During the lesson, you will learn how to control the airplane. Then you will have the opportunity to fly the airplane yourself!
 

Private Pilot Course
The minimum requirement to obtain a private pilot’s license is 40 hours of flight time. An estimated summary of minimum flight training costs excluding sales tax is provided in the table below:
 

Although the FAA requires a minimum of 40 hours of flight time, most students require slightly more — usually around 50 to 60 hours. This figure is dependent on learning aptitude and how frequently you fly. By flying on a consistent basis, it is possible to reduce total training time because your retention of skills will be higher. A conservative estimate for obtaining a private pilot’s license is $8,500 in our Skyhawk.

Quality Training Materials
Goodrich Pilot Training Center offers the new Cessna computer-based syllabus called Computer Based Instruction (CBI). This exciting new system is a  multimedia computer-based program using full-motion and full-screen video on 27 CD ROMs to teach you the concepts of flight. After each ground lesson there is a corresponding flight lesson using full motion video that allows you to know what to expect from your next actual flight lesson. All lessons can be studied in the comfort of your own home or in our flight instruction facilities. You can even take it with you on business trips.
                          

Payments
Goodrich Pilot Training Center has two payment plans:
1. Pay as you fly
2. Draw down account (lump sum contributions)
The table below shows how block time works:
 

For example, if you contribute $1,000 to a draw down account, Goodrich Pilot Training Center will credit your account for $50 (5.0% of $1,000), for a total initial balance of $1,050. As you train, your balance draws down with each flight. You also get a monthly statement of your account activity. Should you decide to withdraw your balance, we will refund your remaining balance less GPTC’s total contribution. We accept cash, personal check, MasterCard® and Visa®.

How to Save 10% on Your Flight Training or Rental
Yes you can save 10% off your flight training. The Goodrich Pilot Training Center is a AOPA qualified FBO (fixed base operator), therefore any purchases made at our facility using an AOPA credit card will automatically earn you a rebate of 5%.  By using the AOPA credit card to fund your GPTC draw down account which also saves you 5%, you can save 10% on your flight training or rental. We actually have many of our students and renters using this system because it is such a good deal. We have AOPA credit card applications in our lobby or click on the link to apply online.

Financing Your Flight Training
Need financing?  GPTC students are eligible for Sallie Mae financing, the same financing used for college student loans. You may choose the term (from 1 to 15 years) that best suits you. Depending on your credit profile, interest rates may be as low as prime +1% with a 2% origination fee. Loans may be obtained for Private and/or advanced ratings.  Click here for a Sallie Mae application and instruction.
 

Pursuing Advanced Ratings?
Goodrich Pilot Training Center can help you with advanced ratings as well. Please contact us for more details on instrument, commercial, CFI, or CFII pilot certificates. We also provide flight reviews and instrument proficiency checks.
 

FAA-Approved Instrument Trainer
Goodrich Pilot Training Center’s PC trainer has been FAA-approved for up to 10 of the 40 hours required for an instrument rating. It also makes a useful training device for pilots wishing to brush-up on their instrument skills on the ground. Stop by and we’ll give you a demonstration.
 

Summary of Costs
Below are rental costs for our airplanes and some of our popular products. If there is a pilot supply that you are interested in which is not shown below, give us a call and we can probably order it for you.
 

Dispelling Aviation Myths
Okay, let’s unravel two common myths that keep many potential pilots grounded—
Myth #1 - Pilots must have perfect vision
Wrong! Civilian pilots can correct many vision imperfections by wearing glasses or contact lenses.
Myth #2 - Learning to fly takes years
Not so. The time required to learn to fly is dependent on how frequently you train. Most people earn their wings in less than one year. With hard work, it’s quite possible to become a certificated pilot in a few months.

... ready, set, go!  
We invite you to talk with one of our flight instructors and set up an appointment to go over our program and take your own discovery flight. You may contact us by email, or by writing or calling us.