Accepting new students
Diego Suarez
FAA Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) · Advanced Ground Instructor · Bowman Field (KLOU) · Louisville, KY
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FAA Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) · Advanced Ground Instructor · Bowman Field
Louisville flight training starts with a plan.
I'm an FAA Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) and Advanced Ground Instructor at Bowman Field (KLOU) in Louisville. I help students and pilots build confidence with clear ground instruction, training-path planning, and practical prep for private pilot and commercial pilot training.
Also creator of the Simply Endorsed CFI endorsement lookup tool, a free FAA AC 61-65K reference for CFIs and student pilots, with a plain-English FAA endorsements list for understanding the endorsement path.
FAA CFIPrimary flight instruction
Advanced Ground InstructorFAA ground instruction
Bowman Field KLOULouisville, Kentucky
Commercial PilotInstrument rated
“Confidence in the cockpit
starts on the ground.”
I fly out of Bowman Field (KLOU) in Louisville, Kentucky, and I genuinely look forward to helping each student feel more comfortable around the airplane, the checklist, and the decisions that come with flying. Whether you're just getting started or working toward commercial, my goal is to make training clear, practical, and encouraging while still keeping every lesson built around safe, standards-based habits.
FAA CFI
Advanced Ground Instructor
Bowman Field (KLOU)
“The right first step makes
the whole path feel possible.”
Start here
Choose the help you need next
Use the right page for the problem in front of you: planning, ground instruction, written-test prep, oral prep, or Bowman Field context.
Flight Training Planning
Not sure where to start? Map the certificate path, medical timing, written test, cost range, and questions to ask before booking aircraft time.
Start herePrivate Pilot Ground School
Connect the books to the airplane: cost, timeline, student-pilot paperwork, medical choices, written-test prep, and checkride readiness.
Plan private pilotGround Instruction
Work one-on-one through airspace, weather, regulations, systems, navigation, and training questions that are slowing you down.
Book ground helpFAA Written Test Prep
Turn practice-test misses into a focused FAA-source study plan before you sit for the Private, instrument, or commercial knowledge test.
Build a study planCheckride Oral Prep
Practice ACS organization, scenario questions, endorsement awareness, and plain explanations before the oral portion gets stressful.
Practice the oralBowman Field KLOU Help
Make the local airport picture clearer: KLOU procedures, tower flow, Louisville airspace, weather habits, and route planning.
Study KLOU context“Good pilots are built
one thoughtful lesson at a time.”
FAQs
Questions? Answers!
Quick answers to the questions new and returning students ask most often.
How do I get started with flight training?
The best first step is a focused planning conversation or introductory lesson: review your certificate goal, medical path, study plan, and what to expect before aircraft time. If you book a flight lesson, it should include a preflight briefing, aircraft familiarization, and clear next steps tied to your training goal.
What kind of training can you help with?
I can help with primary flight instruction within CFI privileges, ground instruction, written-test prep, oral prep, and training-path planning. Services advertised here stay within CFI and Advanced Ground Instructor privileges and do not include instrument-instructor, multi-engine, recurrent instrument-currency, or aircraft-specific instruction.
How long does it take to earn a Private Pilot certificate?
The FAA minimum is 40 flight hours, but the national average is closer to 60–70 hours. Most students complete the Private in 6–12 months flying twice a week. Consistency matters more than intensity — two lessons a week beats one every other week every time.
What medical certificate do I need?
For Private Pilot you'll need either an FAA Third-Class Medical or BasicMed (once you've held any class of FAA medical at least once since July 2006). Sport Pilot requires only a valid U.S. driver's license. I can recommend an AME in the Louisville area and walk you through the MedXPress form before your visit.
What does flight training cost?
Every student's path is different — aircraft rental, instructor time, examiner fees, and ground materials all add up differently depending on your pace and goals. Reach out by phone or email and I'll put together a clear, honest estimate for your specific training plan.
How often should I fly to make real progress?
Twice a week is the sweet spot. It keeps skills fresh between lessons, shortens the total time to checkride, and ends up costing less overall than longer gaps where we end up re-reviewing material.
Can you help with checkride oral prep?
Yes. I can help with oral prep, ACS organization, scenario practice, written-test weak areas, and endorsement awareness. Instrument-instructor and recurrent instrument-currency work are outside this service offering.
Contact
Let's map your next training step
Have a question about cost, medical timing, written-test prep, ground school, or Bowman Field training context? Call, text, or email. I usually reply the same day.