Flight Training Blog
Louisville flying, explained plainly.
Practical stories and advice about training, local flying, medicals, and the decisions pilots face along the way.
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13 articles
Where to Take the FAA Written Test Near Louisville
How Louisville student pilots take the FAA knowledge test: the PSI testing center process, FAA Tracking Number, instructor endorsement, what to bring, cost, and test-day rules.
Read article →Getting Started10 min readHow to Choose a Flight School in Louisville Without Regret
An honest framework for choosing flight training in the Louisville area — Part 61 vs. 141, instructor fit, questions to ask, red flags, and the discovery flight test drive.
Read article →Airport & Airspace7 min readFlying During Kentucky Derby Week: TFRs and What KLOU Pilots Need to Know
What Louisville pilots and student pilots need to know about Kentucky Derby TFRs over Churchill Downs, FAA special procedures at KLOU and KSDF, and checking current NOTAMs each year.
Read article →Airport & Airspace9 min readLanding Practice at Bowman Field: How Pattern Work Builds Better Pilots
A Louisville-focused guide to pattern work, landing practice, and runway awareness at Bowman Field (KLOU) — runways, winds, stabilized approaches, and what students actually work on.
Read article →Medical & Certificates9 min readMedXPress, Step by Step: Your FAA Medical Application Before the AME Visit
A student-pilot walkthrough of the FAA MedXPress application (form 8500-8): what to gather, section-by-section guidance, the confirmation number, and what happens at the AME exam.
Read article →FAA Endorsements8 min readEvery FAA Endorsement a Student Pilot Should Understand
A plain-English FAA endorsements list for student pilots, from pre-solo and solo cross-country to knowledge tests, checkrides, flight reviews, and IPCs. Companion to Simply Endorsed CFI.
Read article →Medical & Certificates9 min readBasicMed vs. Third-Class Medical vs. Sport Pilot: Which One Do You Need?
Three medical pathways, different rules, different airplanes. Here's how to pick the right one for your flying goals, with Louisville-area AME notes and a straightforward decision tree.
Read article →Aircraft10 min readBristell NG5 LSA vs. Cessna 172: Which Aircraft Is Right for Your Training?
Two very different training aircraft at Bowman Field. Here's how the Bristell NG5 LSA and Cessna 172 compare for student pilots — handling, cost, certificate paths, and what I've seen in the cockpit.
Read article →Getting Started8 min readYour First Discovery Flight at Bowman Field
What happens on a discovery flight at Bowman Field (KLOU), from arrival to debrief, with local training context for Louisville student pilots.
Read article →Written Test11 min readHow to Study for the FAA Private Pilot Written Test
A structured study plan for the FAA Private Pilot knowledge test — what to study, in what order, and how to pass the first try. Written by an FAA Certificated Flight Instructor based in Louisville.
Read article →Airport & Airspace11 min readFlying at Bowman Field (KLOU): A Local Pilot's Guide to Louisville's Historic Airport
Bowman Field KLOU guide with current runways, tower hours, frequencies, Louisville Class C airspace, Derby procedures, and practical local guidance. Updated April 2026.
Read article →For Instructors11 min readFrom Commercial Pilot to CFI: The Real Path
What it takes to go from Commercial Pilot to CFI: FOI/FIA tests, right-seat training, lesson plans, checkride, cost reality, and Louisville lessons learned.
Read article →Training & Costs9 min readHow Long Does a Private Pilot License Take in Louisville?
The FAA minimum is 40 hours, but national-average planning is closer to 75 hours. Here's a conservative Louisville timeline for Part 61 students.
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