Independent flight instruction · since 1988

Learn to fly with me —
not a flight school.

I'm Mike Leighton, a 3-time Master CFI. Your plane or mine, your schedule, your home field — one student at a time. From your very first lesson to your Private Pilot certificate in as few as 14 days.

Start with a call How the 14 days work

That’s my cell — (561) 704-2008. Call or text any time.

N813SS — my Piper Cherokee. You might just solo in this airplane.

Michael Leighton at the controls of a King Air, glass cockpit panel on the runway — Right seat — where we’ll spend our time together

Meet your instructor

Hi, I’m Mike.

“One size does not fit all.”

I'm Michael Leighton, a 3-time Master CFI with an in-depth training approach designed to elevate your journey in aviation. Born out of a personal struggle with traditional flight school training, I've used my 40+ years of experience to transform those early challenges into a more personalized, comprehensive kind of flight training — built around you.

I'm dedicated to preparing you not only for your certifications, but for confidently navigating real-world aviation challenges. With over 10,000 hours of dual given, I've instructed in everything from a Piper Cub to a Citation jet. Instruction is available in my plane or yours, in any location, at any time.

Flight instructor since 1988 · 3-time Master CFI · 10,000+ hours teaching everything from a Piper Cub to a Citation jet.

Mike Leighton Read my full story →

Why I teach this way

“I promised myself that as soon as I could afford to, I'd earn my instructor's rating and teach the way I wished I'd been taught.”

My own path into aviation almost ended before it began. I learned to fly at a local flight school where the instructors were mostly there to log time before moving on to better-paying jobs. Running a business at the same time, I couldn't get the consistency I needed, and I very nearly walked away from flying for good.

What saved it was a mentor — a business associate and Naval Aviator who'd flown in combat in Vietnam. He took me under his wing, guided me through my training, and convinced me to buy my own aircraft. That relationship changed everything.

A King Air banking over the clouds at altitude

What I offer

Pick where you are. I’ll fly you to where you’re going.

One instructor, start to finish — no rotating CFIs, no waitlists, no bottlenecks.

★ most chosen

Private Pilot — in 14 days

Zero to your Private Pilot certificate on an accelerated, immersive timeline. Arrive with your written exam passed and your medical in hand, and I take care of the rest.

As few as 14 days

Instrument Rating

The most demanding — and most rewarding — rating there is. Flown in real weather and complex airspace, with every failure scenario we can safely explore.

10 days or less*

Commercial Rating

Stick-and-rudder flying at its most fun. Polish your precision and step toward getting paid to fly.

250 hrs total time

Multi-Engine Rating

Learn to safely operate twin-engine aircraft, with or without instrument privileges. No written exam required.

~10–20 hrs

For the 14-day Private Pilot program, come with your FAA written exam passed and a current medical certificate in hand — that’s what makes the accelerated timeline possible. See what to bring →

*Instrument rating in 10 days or less once your written exam is done.

Proof, not promises

Why my signature on your logbook carries weight

Master Certified Flight Instructor wings badge

3× Master Certified Flight Instructor

Fewer than 700 of America’s ~96,000 CFIs have ever earned it. What that means →

Published author

“Things My Flight Instructor Never Told Me” — the lessons most instructors never teach.

The book →

A&P / IA mechanic

I don’t just fly them — I maintain and inspect them. That shows up in how I teach systems.

Writing since 1995

Stories and lessons published in aviation magazines for nearly 30 years.

No canned reviews

I won’t paste fake testimonials. Call me and I’ll connect you with people I’ve trained.

Getting started

A few things to line up

Don’t worry about figuring this out alone — I’ll walk you through all of it on our first call.

Medical Certificate

Find an Aviation Medical Examiner and get your medical sorted before you start.

IACRA

Insurance

Line up the right coverage for training and ownership.

Books

The reading that pairs with your ground school.

Flight Gear

Headset, kneeboard, and the essentials to get going.

Questions

Straight answers, before you call

Do I really need any experience to start?

None at all. Most students walk in having never touched the controls. We build from your very first hour, and ground school is integrated so it always connects to what you just flew.

How old do I have to be to learn to fly?

There's no minimum age to start learning. To fly solo you must be 16, and to take your Private Pilot checkride you must be 17. There's no upper limit either — I've trained plenty of people who were sure they'd missed their window. They hadn't.

Can you really get me to a PPL in 14 days?

On an accelerated, immersive schedule, yes — many students earn the Private Pilot certificate in about two weeks. The catch is you have to arrive ready: your FAA written (knowledge) exam already passed and a current medical certificate in hand. With those done, your pace comes down to your availability and the weather. New to all this? Call me and I'll help you get the written and medical squared away first.

What kind of medical do I need — can I use BasicMed?

For your first Private Pilot certificate you'll need at least a 3rd-class FAA medical from an aviation medical examiner (AME) — get that done before an accelerated course. BasicMed is a great option down the road, but it requires you to have already held an FAA medical, so it can't be your first one. Not sure where to start? I'll point you to a good AME.

Are you a Part 141 flight school?

No — I train under FAR Part 61, not Part 141. Part 141 schools follow a fixed, FAA-approved syllabus and are what you need for things like VA/GI Bill funding or certain student visas. Part 61 gives us the flexibility to build training around you and your schedule — which is exactly what makes the accelerated, one-on-one approach possible. For almost everyone the certificate is identical; the path to it is just more personal.

Do you accept the GI Bill or VA benefits?

No, and I want to be upfront about it. VA and GI Bill funding for flight training runs through FAA-approved Part 141 schools, and I train independently under Part 61, so I can't process those benefits. If VA funding is essential for you, you'll want a 141 program. If you want one-on-one training with a Master CFI and can fund it another way, that's exactly what I do.

Can you train international (non-U.S. citizen) students?

Yes — with the right paperwork. If you're not a U.S. citizen, the TSA requires you to be vetted and approved through the Flight Training Security Program (formerly AFSP) before we can begin any training, and you'll need to be in the U.S. on an immigration status that permits flight training. I can't sponsor a student visa, but I'll happily guide you through the TSA process — the application, fingerprinting, and fees are yours to complete, and we can't fly until you're approved. Call me and we'll map out your situation.

How does payment work — do you offer financing?

I keep it simple and honest: flat, transparent rates we go over on our first call, with no surprise fees. For an accelerated block I'll usually ask for a deposit to hold your dates, with the balance handled as we train. I don't offer in-house financing, but many students use an aviation-specific lender or a personal line of credit — and I'm glad to point you in the right direction.

Do you come to me, or do I come to you?

Either. Instruction is available in my aircraft or yours, at your home field or mine, anywhere in the country. Your location or mine, your aircraft or mine.

What aircraft will I train in?

Everything from a Piper Cub to a Citation. For primary and time building I fly Piper Cherokees and a Cessna 150; for instrument and commercial work I use a well-equipped Mooney M20. For type-specific training, we use the airplane you actually fly.

What if the weather doesn't cooperate, or I need more time?

The 14 days is a realistic target, not a promise to rush you. Weather, your own learning curve, or a maintenance day can move things. If we need more time, we take it — I will never sign you off for a checkride until you're genuinely ready. You're paying for a capable pilot, not a date on the calendar.

Are you the cheapest option?

No, and I'll tell you that up front. There are lower-budget schools. What you get with me is a Master CFI one-on-one, and the guarantee that when I sign you off, you are a genuinely capable pilot who can handle a real emergency.

Can you help me buy an airplane?

Yes. As an A&P/IA I do independent pre-buy work for a flat fee — never a commission — so my only interest is giving you an honest opinion on the airplane.

Start your aviation journey today

Your location or mine, your aircraft or mine. Let’s build the plan that gets you flying.

Start your training (561) 704-2008

Learn to fly with me — not a flight school.