Flight Instruction

Begin Your Flying Journey
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Crystal Air's Certified Flight Instructors have more than 50,000 hours of combined flight training experience.
We pair our students with expert instructors who understand any tensions that can arise in training situations. Your comfort and confidence is our top priority.
As Chattanooga’s highest-rated flight school, we are ready and waiting to help you start your flying journey. Live the life you’ve been dreaming of with hands on the controls and clear blue on the horizon.

How To Get Started

01

Contact Us

Contact us to set up a Discovery Flight, your chance to sit in the pilot seat.
02

Discovery Flight

Experience a 30-minute discovery flight around the Chattanooga area with a Certified Flight Instructor.
03

Start Your Training

Get started on your journey to becoming a licensed pilot.
Book A Discovery Flight

Meet Our Pilots and Instructors

Taylor Newman
President, Director of Operations
Taylor Newman is a certified pilot with 32 years of experience and 10,000+ hours in the air. When he’s not flying, Taylor enjoys being outdoors fishing, backpacking, and hiking.
Certifications:
ATP-ASEL, Commercial AMEL, CFI, CFII, MEI (Gold Seal), AGI, IGI, sUAS, with CE-525S, CE-560XL & SF-50 Type Ratings
Tony Walker
Chief Pilot, DPE
Tony Walker has logged 12,000+ flight hours, with 38 years of experience as a pilot. Tony enjoys showing people the joys of flying an airplane and what flying has to offer them and their families.
Certifications:
ATP-ASMEL, Commercial ASMES, CFI, CFII, MEI (Gold Seal), AGI, IGI, sUAS, with CE-525S, CE-560XL and CL-65 Type Ratings
Chase Prime
Lead Flight Instructor, Line Pilot
Chase Prime is a certified pilot and an outdoor enthusiast. “My wife and I love everything about the outdoors. From hiking to trail running/races, summers on the lake, skiing in the winter, exotic fishing excursions to being beach bums, we enjoy it all. If it's outside, I'm there.”
Certifications:
Commercial Instrument ASMEL CFI, CFII (Gold Seal), SF-50, AGI, IGI with CE-525S Type Rating
Blake Church
Flight Instructor
Blake Church is an avid pilot who loves the Aviation Community. His fascination with operating vehicles and heavy machinery led him to view piloting as the ultimate test of skill and an immensely enjoyable experience. The genuine joy he witnesses on a student's face during their first discovery flight in a small plane fuels his passion for teaching, as he aims to share the thrill of flying with his students.
Certifications:
Commercial Instrument ASEL, CFI, AGI, IGI
Connor Underwood
Flight Instructor/Line Pilot
Connor Underwood is a certified flight instructor who has been captivated by aviation since his early days. He loves helping his students succeed at something they're passionate about. When he's not at Crystal Air, you can usually find him enjoying any sport that involves the outdoors: mountain biking, fishing, boating, and snowboarding.
Certifications:
Commercial Instrument/Multi, ASEL, CFI, CFII
David Ramsey
Flight Instructor
David Ramsey is an air traffic controller with 18 years of experience as a pilot. David enjoys flying because of the freedom and travel opportunities it provides.
Certifications:
Commercial Instrument ASEL, CFI
Dylan Plaster
Flight Instructor
Dylan Plaster has been flying since he was a teen. With nearly 800 hours in the air, Dylan enjoys the Crystal Air community and the ability to make a living doing what he loves.
Certifications:
Commercial Instrument ASMEL, CFI
Marty Galyon
Flight Instructor, Line Pilot
Marty Gaylon has logged 14,000+ flight hours, with 47 years of experience as a pilot. He enjoys his time on the farm and teaching others to fly.
Certifications:
ATP-ASEL, Commercial AMEL, CFI, CFII, MEI
Paul Wooten
Flight Instructor
Paul Wooten has wanted to fly since he was 5 years old, and now with 4 years of experience as a pilot, he’s living out his dream at Crystal Air. Paul enjoys sharing his passion for flying with others.
Certifications:
Commercial Instrument ASMEL, CFI, CFII
Scott Orthner
Flight Instructor
Scott Orthner has over 3 years of experience as a flight instructor. Flying isn't just a job for Scott – it's freedom. When he's not up in the air, you'll probably find him on the golf course, living life to the fullest.
Certifications:
Commercial Instrument ASMEL, CFI, CFII
Sherilyn Johnson
Flight Instructor
Sherilyn Johnson is a certified pilot with 43 years of experience. Sherilyn grew up flying, “My dad was an instructor. I would sit in the backseat while he was teaching.” When she’s not flying, Sherilyn enjoys volunteering for the Chattanooga Track Club and her local church.
Certifications:
Commercial Instrument ASEL, CFI, AGI, IGI
Tyler Marlow
Flight Instructor
Tyler Marlow is a certified flight instructor, has 15 years of experience as a pilot, and has a background in chemical engineering. Flying, for him, encapsulates the thrill of speed and the "time machine" quality — "It's about getting somewhere fast!" His passion for aviation started at 6 years. Beyond flying, Tyler enjoys being outdoors with his family enjoying mountain biking, overlanding, kayaking, and hiking.
Certifications:
Commercial Instrument ASEL, CFI
Will Tomlinson
Flight Instructor, Line Pilot
Will Tomlinson has logged 4,500 flight hours, with 32 years of experience as a pilot. Will dreamt of being an astronaut as a kid, but when that didn’t work out he settled for the best office view in the world.
Certifications:
ATP-ASMEL, CFI, CFII, MEI, with SF-50 Type Rating
Nathan Recchia
Flight Instructor
Nathan has been fascinated by all things aviation since attending his first air show at the age of 5. He believes that the cockpit beats any office view and enjoys that no two flights are ever the same. His favorite parts of being a flight instructor are watching the progression of knowledge of knowing nothing about aviation to becoming a full fledged pilot and being part of a dream coming true.
Certifications:
ASEL, AMEL, AGI, CFI, CFII
Jackson Wallace
Flight Instructor
Jackson knew he wanted to be a pilot from an early age because he enjoyed traveling with his family. He started working on his pilot's license straight out of high school and never looked back. He currently has over 1,000 flight hours and is passionate about teaching other young people like himself to fly.
Certifications:
ASEL, AMEL, CFI, CFII
Cooper Shull
Flight Instructor
Cooper loves the fact that he can take a piece of metal into the sky, maneuver it wherever he likes, and end up somewhere he may never have had the opportunity to see. As an instructor he believes it is unique experience to watch someone progress an eventually achieve their dream of becoming a pilot.
Certifications:
ASMEL, CMEL, CFI, CFII, AGI
Avery Beacham
Flight Instructor
Certifications:
CFI, CFII
Jesyca Dennis
Flight Instructor
Jesyca wanted to become a flight instructor to become a better pilot herself by introducing aviation to others. Outside of the airport she enjoys playing with her dogs, doing outdoor adventures and spending time on the lake.
Certifications:
ASMEL, CFI, CFII
Chris Hornady
Flight Instructor/Line Pilot/Office Staff
Chris has always been interested in aviation because both of his grandfathers were pilots. He has been a pilot for over 9 years and his favorite airplanes to fly are aerobatic. In his spare time he enjoys building airplanes.
Certifications:
ATP, CFI, CFII, MEI, Tailwheel Instructor

The Fleet

Cessna 182

Uses
Training, Rental
Seats
4 Seats
Range
1050 Nautical Miles
Price
$330/Hour

Cessna 172

Uses
Training, Rental
Seats
4 Seats
Range
740 Nautical Miles
Price
$185-$275/Hour

Vans RV-12

Uses
Training, Rental
Seats
2 Seats
Range
500 Nautical Miles
Price
$128/Hour

Cessna 162

Uses
Training, Rental
Seats
2 Seats
Range
540 Nautical Miles
Price
$128/Hour

Tecnam P2006T

Uses
Flight Instruction
Seats
4 Seats
Range
850 Nautical Miles
Price
$345/Hour
Learn To FlyCharter A Flight

Get Started with a Discovery Flight

Literally get your future of flying off-the-ground by taking the first step – a Discovery Flight. Here's what the discovery flight experience will be like so you can know what to expect when you arrive at Crystal Air and how to prepare!

Get started

Book a Discovery Flight to get started on your journey to becoming a pilot today.

Contact Us

Hear From Our Customers

Myche Barrett

Flight Instruction
Crystal Air goes above and beyond to make sure that you are taken care of. You might find instruction and rentals cheaper somewhere else, but "cheaper" doesn't equal better, especially in this case. These airplanes are well-maintained, and the avionics are modern and up-to-date. When it comes to passing FAA Written exams and check rides, these guys will work with you to get prepared, whatever it takes.

Clark Campbell

Flight Instruction
Before starting my private pilot training, I visited two other options in the area, and it only took one visit to Crystal Air (my third stop) to realize how much Crystal Air stood out compared to the other options. I couldn’t be happier with my investment and couldn’t be more confident in my training thanks to the safety and technology Crystal Air brings to students like me in Southeast Tennessee.

Martin Ing

Aircraft Management, Maintenance
We've worked with Crystal Air for over three years, and they manage two aircraft for our company. They're knowledgeable, reliable, and great folks to work with. From ownership to maintenance to the pro-pilots, we couldn't recommend them more highly.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get started with flight instruction?

Call us to schedule a Discovery Flight! Your instructor will show you the basics of flight and let you get a feel for the controls. We will discuss all your options and pricing and answer any questions.

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How much does flight instruction cost?

We offer several training aircraft with various pricing. Our instructor fees are $65/hour. Every individual is different, and total costs will vary depending on how often a person flies and how quickly they can retain and execute information! Contact us HERE or give us a call at 423-236-5100 for more information.

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Do you offer financing?

We do not offer financing but do have loyalty programs. Some of our customers do seek out loans through private banking institutions.

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What hours can I fly?

Our instructors have flexible schedules to meet you at a time that works best for you.

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Will I always have the same instructor?

Consistency is key, but occasionally we like to have other instructors fly with someone to check on proficiency of learning. If you feel like you need to make a change we have several instructors for you to find the right fit!

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How many and what kind of planes do you have for training?

We have 6 training aircraft equipped with glass cockpit instrumentation. Please see our Flight Instruction page for a complete description of our fleet.

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Learn To Fly Today

Stop just dreaming about flying, and take the first step to become a licensed pilot.

Contact Us
Book A Discovery Flight
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Crystal Air Logo | Part 61 Flight Instruction School and Charter Flight Services in Chattanooga, Tennessee
Contact Us
423-236-5100info@flycrystalair.com
Main Office
104 Nowlin Lane Hangar 19
Chattanooga, TN 37421
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