"I flew at three different schools in the area prior to settling at Frequency Change and I am so glad I shopped around. I feel safe, I feel educated, and I feel like I have the space to learn and grow as a pilot."
SIX REASONS NASHVILLE
PILOTS CHOOSE FCA.
Part 141 & Part 61 Certified
Nashville's only school offering both. Part 141 gives you a structured, accelerated path. Part 61 gives you flexibility. You choose what fits your life.
Expert Instructors Who Actually Care
Our CFIs are top-notch instructors, CSIP-qualified, and genuinely invested in your success — not just logging hours. Many of our students become instructors here.
Modern, Diverse Fleet
Train in the right aircraft for every stage of your journey. Our fleet includes Cessna 172s, Diamond DA-20s, Diamond DA-40s with G1000 avionics, and Cirrus SR22s — from basic trainers to high-performance aircraft.
KJWN — A Towered Airport
John C. Tune Airport is a controlled, towered airport. You’ll train with real ATC communications and real traffic — building the skills that matter — without the complexity of a major international airport. It’s also safer and easier to get to than BNA.
VA GI Bill® Approved
We are approved for VA education benefits. Veterans can use their GI Bill® for instrument rating and commercial pilot training. We'll walk you through every step.
A Plan From Day One
You'll know exactly where you're going, how long it takes, and what it costs before you ever get in the airplane. No surprises. No wasted hours. Just a clear path to your certificate.
THE AIRCRAFT YOU'LL
TRAIN IN.
We match you to the right aircraft for your stage of training. Our Cessna, Diamond, and Cirrus fleet covers everything from your first solo to high-performance and instrument training.
FROM ZERO TO
PRIVATE PILOT.
Most students complete their Private Pilot Certificate in 6–12 months. Here's exactly what that path looks like.
Discovery Flight
You fly the airplane. A CFI is alongside you the whole time. Most students know within the first 20 minutes whether they want to keep going. Most do.
Student Pilot Certificate
A simple FAA medical exam gets you your student pilot certificate. Once you have it, you're legal to fly solo under the supervision of your instructor.
Written Knowledge Test
Before your checkride, you'll pass the FAA Private Pilot written knowledge test — a 60-question multiple-choice exam. Your instructor will prep you with ground school and study materials. Most students pass on their first attempt.
Solo Flight
The moment every pilot remembers. Your instructor steps out of the airplane and you take off alone for the first time. It's the milestone that makes everything real.
Cross-Country Training
You learn to plan and fly routes to airports you've never been to. Real-world navigation, weather decision-making, and the kind of flying that actually goes somewhere.
Night Flying
The world looks completely different from the air at night. Three hours of night flight are required for your certificate — and most students say it's their favorite part of training.
Simulated Instrument Flight Time
You learn to fly by reference to instruments alone — a skill that makes you a safer, more capable pilot even if you never pursue your instrument rating. This is simulated instrument time, not actual instrument approaches.
Private Pilot Checkride
A two-part exam with an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner. An oral knowledge test followed by a practical flight test. Pass it and you're a certificated private pilot — for life.
WHERE DO YOU
GO FROM HERE?
Instrument Rating
Fly in clouds, low visibility, and IMC conditions. The most important rating after your private certificate — and required for most professional flying paths.
Commercial Pilot License
Fly for compensation. The CPL opens the door to professional aviation — charter, banner towing, aerial photography, and more.
Multi-Engine Rating
Add a second engine. Multi-engine aircraft are faster, more capable, and required for most airline and corporate flying careers.
CFI / CFII
Become an instructor. Teaching others to fly is one of the fastest ways to build hours — and one of the most rewarding things you can do in aviation.
WHAT OUR STUDENTS SAY.
Real feedback from real pilots who trained at Frequency Change Aviation.
"I feel safe, educated, and like I have the space to grow."
I have been a student pilot working on my PPL with Frequency Change since October. My experience has been excellent! Not only is my instructor amazing to fly with and learn from, but the quality of the program as well as the quality of other instructors is above par. I flew at three different schools in the area prior to settling at Frequency Change and I am so glad I shopped around. I feel safe, I feel educated, and I feel like I have the space to learn and grow as a pilot. Kudos to them for running such an excellent program.
"Clayton had me soloing in 12 hours. I didn't think that was possible."
I'd been putting off getting my PPL for years, telling myself I didn't have time. Then I booked a discovery flight with FCA and that was it — I was hooked. Clayton had me soloing in 12 hours. I didn't think that was possible. The structured approach, the quality of the aircraft, and the way every instructor actually cares about your progress — this place is the real deal.
"Using my GI Bill® here was seamless. Jeff walked me through every step."
As a veteran, I was skeptical about whether my GI Bill® benefits would actually cover flight training in a meaningful way. Using my GI Bill® here was seamless — Jeff walked me through every step of the VA approval process. Six months later I have my instrument rating and I'm working toward my commercial. The instructors here don't just teach you to pass checkrides. They teach you to actually fly.
"Bob Parker is the kind of CFI you read about but rarely find."
Bob Parker is the kind of CFI you read about but rarely find. Patient, precise, and genuinely invested in making you a better pilot — not just a certificate holder. I came in with a lapsed student pilot certificate and a lot of bad habits. Bob rebuilt my fundamentals from the ground up. I passed my private checkride on the first attempt and I attribute that entirely to the quality of instruction here.
"I was the only woman in most of my ground school sessions. FCA made me feel completely at home."
I was the only woman in most of my ground school sessions, which can be intimidating. FCA made me feel completely at home from day one. Anna in the office was a huge part of that — she's a pilot herself and just gets it. The training is rigorous but the environment is genuinely supportive. I earned my private certificate in eight months while working full time. If I can do it, you can do it.
"Nate is one of the most gifted instructors I've ever worked with."
Nate Arend is one of the most gifted instructors I've ever worked with. He has this rare ability to meet you exactly where you are — whether you're struggling with steep turns or trying to nail your instrument approaches — and explain it in a way that actually clicks. I went from zero time to commercial certificate in 14 months. The fleet is well-maintained, the scheduling is easy, and the culture at KJWN is unlike any other flight school I've visited.
"The Cirrus SR22 training program is exceptional."
I purchased a Cirrus SR22 and needed a CSIP-qualified instructor for transition training. Jeff Ramsey is exactly what you want — deep technical knowledge of the aircraft, calm under pressure, and genuinely passionate about Cirrus safety culture. The transition program here is thorough without being overwhelming. I left feeling genuinely confident in the airplane, not just checked out.
"FCA is the best thing to happen to general aviation in Nashville in years."
I've been a pilot for 15 years and I've watched a lot of flight schools come and go in Nashville. FCA is different. The culture Jeff has built — the emphasis on genuine competency over just getting checkrides signed off — is rare. I've sent three friends here for their training and all three are now certificated pilots. FCA is the best thing to happen to general aviation in Nashville in years.
"I started with a scenic tour. Now I'm a student pilot. That's exactly how they said it might happen."
I started with a scenic tour over Nashville — just wanted to see the city from the air. The instructor mentioned that a lot of experience guests end up becoming students. I laughed it off. Three weeks later I was back for a discovery flight. That was four months ago. I'm now 30 hours into my private pilot training. I started with a scenic tour. Now I'm a student pilot. That's exactly how they said it might happen.
START WITH AN
EXPERIENCE FLIGHT.
Not sure if flying is for you? Book a scenic tour or a Pilot for a Day experience first. No pressure, no commitment — just a taste of what it feels like to be in the air.