Certified Flight Instructor
Fundamentals of instruction, lesson planning, and right-seat flying to FAA practical test standards.
Now enrolling · Atlanta, Georgia
Earn your wings.
Then teach others to fly.
South Atlanta Flight School takes you from your very first lesson all the way to Certified Flight Instructor, with one-on-one training just minutes from the world's busiest airport.
- 1 : 1
- Instructor to student, every lesson
- 7 days
- Flexible scheduling, sunrise to sunset
- Zero → CFI
- One school, one clear path
- Year-round
- Georgia flying weather
Welcome aboard
Learn to fly beneath the busiest airspace on Earth.
Hartsfield-Jackson moves more people than any airport in the world. Learning to fly in its shadow means you'll talk to real controllers, navigate real complexity, and build the kind of confidence that only comes from training where it matters.
At South Atlanta Flight School we keep things personal: small classes, dedicated instructors, well-kept aircraft, and a training plan built around your schedule and your goals, whether that's a weekend hobby or the right seat of an airliner.
Why students choose usTraining programs
Your flight path, from first lesson to instructor.
Every certificate builds on the last. Start wherever you are today, and we'll map out the fastest, safest route to where you want to be.
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01
Discovery Flight
Take the controls with an instructor on your very first flight. No experience needed.
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02
Private Pilot
Your license to fly. Carry friends and family, and explore Georgia and beyond on your own schedule.
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03
Instrument Rating
Fly through clouds and low visibility with precision. The rating that makes you a truly capable pilot.
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04
Commercial Pilot
Get paid to fly. Advanced maneuvers, complex aircraft, and professional-level standards.
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05
Our specialty
Flight Instructor
CFI, CFII and MEI. Become the instructor, build hours fast, and launch your aviation career.
How we teach
Instructors who teach for a living, not just to build hours.
Great pilots are made by great teaching. Our instructors follow a structured, scenario-based syllabus, so every flight has a purpose and you always know where you stand on your way to the checkride.
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Structured syllabus with clear milestones and progress tracking after every lesson.
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Ground school included, in person and online, so you're ready for the FAA written exam.
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Real-world radio work in and around Atlanta's Class B airspace from day one.
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Mock checkrides before the real one, so test day feels like just another flight.
Flight Instructor Academy
The fastest way to an airline career is teaching.
Most professional pilots build the hours they need for the airlines as flight instructors. Our CFI Academy turns experienced commercial pilots into confident, polished teachers, and gives our top graduates a path to instruct right here at SAFS.
Instrument Instructor
Teach instrument flight with confidence, from approaches and holds to real IMC decision-making.
Multi-Engine Instructor
Add multi-engine teaching privileges and stand out to employers and airline recruiters.
Teach here after you graduate
Top graduates are invited to interview for instructor roles at SAFS and build hours with us.
Our fleet
Well-kept aircraft. Modern cockpits.
Trained on the most trusted airplanes in aviation, maintained to a standard we'd put our own families in.
Primary trainer
Cessna 172 Skyhawk
- Seats4
- Cruise122 kts
- AvionicsGlass cockpit
Instrument & commercial
Advanced Single-Engine
- AutopilotYes
- IFRCertified
Ground training
Flight Simulator
- ApproachesUnlimited
- WeatherAny
Why South Atlanta Flight School
Built around you, not a factory schedule.
Safety first, always
Rigorous maintenance, conservative weather minimums, and a culture where every question is a good one.
Fly on your schedule
Weekday, evening and weekend slots, booked online. Perfect if you're working or in school.
Transparent pricing
Pay as you fly with clear hourly rates. No surprise fees, and financing options for career students.
South-side convenient
Easy access from I-75, I-85 and I-675. Skip the north-side traffic and spend your time in the air.
1:1Personal instruction
5FAA certificates & ratings offered
7Days a week of flight scheduling
100%Focused on making you a great pilot
Student stories
Heard on frequency.
★★★★★
“I walked in with zero experience and walked out with my private certificate in four months. My instructor made every lesson feel like progress.”
Marcus J.Private Pilot · Fayetteville
★★★★★
“The CFI Academy was the best investment of my career. I passed my checkride first try and started instructing the next month.”
Alicia R.CFI / CFII · McDonough
★★★★★
“Flying near ATL's airspace sounded intimidating. Now talking to approach control is second nature. I feel ready for anything.”
Devon T.Instrument Rated · College Park
Good questions
Before you take off.
Can't find what you're looking for? Call us at (404) 555-0172 and we'll walk you through it.
Do I need any experience to start?
None at all. Most of our students start with a Discovery Flight, where you'll take the controls with an instructor beside you. If you love it, that flight counts toward your Private Pilot training.
How long does it take to get my Private Pilot certificate?
The FAA minimum is 40 flight hours. Students who fly two to three times a week typically finish in three to six months. We'll build a schedule that fits your life.
How old do I have to be?
You can start training at any age. You can fly solo at 16 and earn a Private Pilot certificate at 17. There's no upper age limit, as long as you can pass an FAA medical exam.
What do I need to join the CFI Academy?
You'll need a Commercial Pilot certificate with an Instrument Rating (or be close to finishing them). We'll review your logbook and goals with you to plan the right path to CFI, CFII and MEI.
Do you offer financing?
Yes. We work with aviation-focused lenders to offer financing for career-track students, and our pay-as-you-fly model means you're never asked to prepay for your whole program.
What happens if the weather is bad?
Safety comes first. If conditions aren't right for your lesson, we'll switch to ground instruction or simulator time, or reschedule at no charge.
Your first flight
Take the controls. We'll handle the rest.
A Discovery Flight is the best way to find out if flying is for you. You'll do a preflight with your instructor, take off from a real airfield, and fly over South Atlanta. Bring a friend along to share the view.
- About an hour, including about 30 minutes in the air
- You fly the airplane, with your instructor right beside you
- Counts toward your Private Pilot training