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FAQ

Questions pilots and owners ask

Flight training

How long does it take to get a private pilot license in Charlotte?
The FAA minimum is 40 flight hours, but most students need more. The biggest factor is how often you fly: students who fly two or three times a week finish fastest, while flying less often stretches training out and raises the cost.
How much does a private pilot license cost in Charlotte?
Total cost depends on aircraft rental, instruction, ground study materials, the written test, and the checkride fee. Contact Ryan Park Aviation for a current estimate based on the aircraft you train in and how often you can fly.
Do you offer commercial pilot training?
Yes. Ryan Park Aviation offers commercial pilot training at Concord-Padgett Regional Airport (KJQF), including the commercial maneuvers and complex aircraft training in a Cessna 172RG.
Where do you train?
Ryan Park Aviation serves Concord-Padgett Regional Airport (KJQF), where Ryan teaches in Cessna 172s, a 172RG, and Cirrus SR22s, and Lake Norman Airpark (14A). Have your own aircraft at a nearby airport? Ryan is more than willing to travel to surrounding airports to train with you.
How often do I need a flight review?
Every 24 calendar months. A flight review includes at least one hour of ground instruction and one hour of flight instruction with a CFI, covering the regulations and the maneuvers and procedures the instructor decides are needed.
What is a high-performance endorsement?
It's a one-time logbook endorsement required to act as pilot in command of an airplane with an engine of more than 200 horsepower. You get it through ground and flight training with an authorized instructor.
Do you offer instrument training?
Not directly. Ryan Park Aviation focuses on private pilot training, flight reviews, endorsements, and Cirrus VFR training.

Cirrus owner services

Will my insurance require training before I fly my new Cirrus?
Often, yes. Requirements vary by underwriter and by your experience, and commonly include a set amount of dual instruction in the airplane. Ryan Park Aviation provides Cirrus transition training built around what your policy requires.
Can someone fly my airplane to maintenance or reposition it for me?
Yes. Ryan Park Aviation offers contract flying for owners in the Charlotte area, including maintenance runs, repositioning, and ferry flights, conducted under Part 91 for the aircraft owner.

Aircraft sales

Who sells Cirrus aircraft near Charlotte, NC?
Ryan Park Aviation offers Cirrus and high-performance owner-flown aircraft sales in the Southeast. Ryan Park is a Charlotte-based pilot and CFI who instructs in the Cirrus SR22 and flies the demo flights for the aircraft he represents.
What does an aircraft broker do for a seller?
A broker values the aircraft against recent comparable sales, prepares the listing, markets it to qualified buyers, handles demo flights and inquiries, and coordinates the pre-buy inspection, escrow, and title so the sale closes cleanly.
How much does an aircraft broker charge?
Most brokers charge the seller a percentage of the sale price, paid at closing. The percentage varies with the aircraft's value and the services involved, and lower-priced aircraft usually carry a higher percentage. Ryan Park Aviation quotes its fee upfront, before you sign a listing agreement.
Do I need a pre-buy inspection when buying a used airplane?
Yes. A pre-buy inspection by an independent shop that knows the type is the best protection a buyer has. It should be done by a shop chosen by the buyer, not the seller, and paired with a review of the logbooks and damage history.
What's included when I buy an aircraft through Ryan Park Aviation?
Help defining the right airplane, an on- and off-market search, logbook review, pre-buy coordination, and negotiation. Transition training and the delivery flight are available as separate add-on services.
What areas do you serve?
Ryan Park Aviation is based in Charlotte, NC, and works with buyers and sellers across the Southeast.

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