Educational only. Confirm this with your CFI (certified flight instructor), an AME (aviation medical examiner), and each program. We are not the FAA, a flight school, or an airline. Full disclaimer

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State guide · Kentucky

Learn to Fly in Kentucky

Schools, clubs, and instructors. Educational only. Confirm each step with your CFI.

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Not financial, tax, or legal advice

This is general educational information, not financial, tax, or legal advice. Grease the Journey does not endorse or broker loans. Rates, terms, and benefit rules come from the lender, the school, or the VA, and they can change. Consult the lender, the VA, or a licensed financial professional before you borrow or use benefits. Nothing here promises earnings, a job offer, or any other outcome.

Never rush a badge. Fly only what you're trained and ready for, and plan it with your instructor. Safety first. Last checked October 2026.

Flight training in Kentucky

Kentucky's AERO Act funds aviation training scholarships, including for FAA certificates, funded by employer contributions matched 1:1 by the state, with a o…

  • Flying clubs

    3 listed in this file.

  • Flight schools

    2 rows in this file.

  • Airline base

    Delta · CVG

Flying Clubs

  • Community

    Thoroughbred Flying Club

    Louisville (Bowman Field / Clark Regional)

    Dry, tach: Aerotrek $60, RV-12 $65-$80, C172 $75, C182 $125, SR22 $160-$180

    View (opens in a new tab)
View all 3 clubs

Never affected by sponsorship. Free flying club listings and the A–Z school list are never reordered or affected by sponsors.

Flying clubs are member-run groups that share the cost of aircraft. Because there's no profit markup, hourly rates are often lower than at a flight school, which makes a club one of the cheapest ways to build hours after your private certificate. You also get a community: mentors, safety pilots, fly-outs, and people who know the local examiners and instructors. The trade-offs are monthly dues, a buy-in or initiation fee at many clubs, waitlists, and the fact that not every club offers instruction or accepts student pilots. Rates move with fuel prices, so confirm current costs with the club before you join.

Clubs last checked 2026-10. The file counts 3: 3 community, 0 military, 0 university, 0 school-run. Data quality in the file: partial.

Showing 3 of 3. Clubs without a published hourly rate stay at the bottom of the rate sort.

Flight Schools

Never affected by sponsorship. Free flying club listings and the A–Z school list are never reordered or affected by sponsors.

School details

University programs

Eastern Kentucky University (opens in a new tab)

Active

B.S. Aviation, Professional Flight

City and airport
Richmond · Verify
Part 141
Yes (per EKU)
Restricted ATP
1,000. Bachelor's on FAA list (incl. Professional Flight–MEL, rev. 8/21/2026)
Published flight cost
Not found on an official page; older third-party estimate about $55k flightNot foundVerify
Aid and GI Bill
Not foundNot found
Airline partners
Not found

Sources

Other

ATP Flight School (opens in a new tab)

Locations
Louisville (JVY)
Part 61 or 141
Verify
Published cost
$123,995 from zero; $90,995 with private

Scope: fixed tuition; ~$10.5k–$12k exam fees and up to $5k location premium extra

Source year: 2026

VA approved
Verify

ATP lists JVY under Kentucky; Clark Regional is across the river in Indiana (verify)

Sources

Cadet Programs

View all

  • Delta Air Lines

    Propel Pilot Career Path (Collegiate & CFI path)

    Open

    View

  • JetBlue

    Gateway Select

    Open

    View

  • Envoy Air (American)

    Envoy Cadet Program

    Rolling

    View

Costs, hubs, notes, and sources

Data quality in the file: partial. Kentucky's AERO Act funds aviation training scholarships, including for FAA certificates, funded by employer contributions matched 1:1 by the state, with a one-year Kentucky work commitment. EKU is the only R-ATP school, and CVG (a Delta and Endeavor hub) sits in Kentucky.

All Kentucky flight schools, A–Z

  • ATP Flight School

State money

AERO Act – Aviation Training Scholarships

Active

Workforce program

Administrator
KY Council on Postsecondary Education
Who receives it
students (via program + industry partner)
Amount
Varies; employer contributions matched 1:1 (subject to appropriation)
Eligibility
FAA certificates, B.S. Aviation, etc.; must work in Kentucky 1+ year; up to 2 years of funding
Covers flight fees
Yes

Sources

AERO Act – Aviation Equipment Grants

Active

Workforce program

Administrator
KY Council on Postsecondary Education
Who receives it
institutions
Amount
35% of fund
Eligibility
Kentucky high school vocational programs and public postsecondary institutions
Covers flight fees
n/a

Sources

Airline hubs and bases

Regional and other carriers

Notes

Examiners and medical examiners

Sources for Kentucky

Kentucky FAQ

How do I become an airline pilot in Kentucky?

Kentucky's AERO Act funds aviation training scholarships, including for FAA certificates, funded by employer contributions matched 1:1 by the state, with a one-year Kentucky work commitment. Last checked 2026-10. Confirm it with a CFI and each school.

What flight schools are listed for Kentucky?

The file lists 2 schools. Names are in Flight Schools on this page.

What published flight costs are listed for Kentucky?

Published costs are on each school row. Prices can change. Check the school for the current figure.

Safety is the most important badge

Never rush a badge. Fly only what you're trained and ready for, and plan it with your instructor. Safety first.

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