Flight Training for Fort Drum Soldiers & Families

Scheduling that respects military life

Military schedules change, sometimes overnight. Because we train under Part 61, there is no fixed class start date and no cohort to keep up with. Fly when you can, pause when you ship out, and pick back up when you are home. Your progress is logged, and your instructor will review where you left off before your next lesson.

Spouses and older children are welcome too. Flying can be a great shared goal for a family stationed in the North Country, and there is no FAA minimum age to start taking lessons.

Rotor to fixed wing

If you already fly Army helicopters, you bring real skills with you. CFI Dave Lorange brings more than 20 years flying Army CH-47 Chinooks and more than a decade teaching rotary wing. Talk with Dave about your rotary-wing to fixed-wing path and how your existing experience applies.

Paying for training

Our training is Part 61, which the GI Bill doesn't cover. Instead, you pay as you go at our published hourly rates, with no upfront tuition. That means you are never prepaying for lessons you might not be around to take.

Dual instruction is $240/hour in the Cessna 150 and $265/hour in the Cessna 172, including the $75/hour instructor fee. There is a 10% discount for cash purchases over $1,000, and we are happy to build a block-hour plan that fits your budget. Ask us about any military pricing.

What you can train for

• Discovery flights: try it with no experience needed
• Sport, Recreational and Private pilot certificates
• Instrument rating with our CFIIs
• Commercial pilot, CFI and CFII
• Flight reviews and aircraft rental for pilots who already hold a certificate

Getting started

1. 01

   Book a discovery flight

   Meet an instructor at KART and take the controls.

2. 02

   Share your schedule

   Tell us about upcoming field time or deployments so we can plan realistically.

3. 03

   Fly consistently when you are home

   Two or three lessons a week is ideal when your schedule allows.

The airport is in Dexter, just outside Watertown, so evening and weekend lessons can fit around duty hours. Call (315) 285-7272 or send the form, and we will get back to you within 24 hours.