ABOUT US

The Academy empowers youth and adults to learn about the joys and responsibilities of flying by providing students with classroom and flight training needed to pilot aircraft.

“Opportunity evokes passion and at Aspen Flight Academy we give kids an opportunity to live their dream and find their passion in Aviation.”

— Jeff Posey
Chairman AFA

Our Vision

Our vision is to create a world where the sky is within reach for all young people, regardless of their background or financial means. We aspire to be a leading force in aviation education, transforming the lives of high school students by opening doors to opportunities in the aviation industry. Through our commitment to excellence, inclusivity, and innovation, we envision a future where our graduates soar as skilled pilots, pioneers, and advocates for the limitless possibilities of flight.

Our Mission

At Aspen Flight Academy, our mission is to inspire and empower the next generation of aviators by providing high school students with accessible, high-quality flight training. We are dedicated to making the dream of flight a reality for young people from all backgrounds, fostering a passion for aviation, and equipping them with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to earn their Private Pilot License. Through scholarships, mentorship, education, and hands-on experience, we aim to cultivate future leaders in aviation who are prepared to navigate the skies safely and responsibly.

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What We Do

We are dedicated to making aviation accessible to aspiring pilots by offering affordable flight training programs that prepare students for their Private Pilot Certificate, Instrument Rating, and Commercial Rating. Our goal is to enable individuals to pursue careers as private, recreational, or commercial pilots with minimal financial barriers.

In collaboration with the Aspen School District, we offer an Advanced Placement (AP) elective course at Aspen High School. This course equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to begin their journey in aviation and prepares them to take to the skies.

Additionally, we provide flight training to anyone interested in aviation, offering the most cost-effective pathway to obtaining a Private Pilot’s License and advancing their aviation aspirations.

Why We Are Unique

Our people

We hire highly qualified Certified Flight Instructors from Purdue University’s prestigious aviation program, recognized as the "Best Flight School in the United States". Our students receive expert training from Aspen High School's dedicated Aviation Instructor, offering a comprehensive program to students course from 7th through 12th grade with an elective AP year-long course.

Our locale

Aspen, Colorado | Nestled at an impressive 7,838 feet above sea level, the picturesque Aspen airport ranks among the world’s highest-altitude airports. Surrounded by some of the planet’s most rugged mountainous terrain, it stands out as a bustling hub for both commercial airlines and high-performance general aviation traffic. Training in Aspen’s unique mountain environment gives our students valuable skills, making them more proficient and safer pilots.

View over the beautiful Aspen High School campus from the cockpit

View near Taylor Pass looking towards Crested Butte

Our planes

Our fleet includes four top-of-the-line Diamond DA40 aircraft, renowned for their exceptional handling, stability, and control, as well as their ease of operation and built-in structural and system redundancies. Each DA40 is equipped with a fully integrated G1000 NXi flight deck featuring the cutting-edge GFC700 Automatic Flight Control System, delivering outstanding situational awareness, convenience, and safety for pilots.

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Our classrooms

The Aspen School District offers aviation courses for 7th-12th grade students. These courses are designed to expose students to career opportunities in aviation and aerospace and help build the critical thinking and problem-solving skills essential to becoming a pilot. The school program culminates in a Private Pilot ground school course designed to prepare students to take their FAA Private Pilot Knowledge Exam. Along with these courses, students will also have access to the following training equipment:

ALSim Flight Simulator DA-40NG
8 desktop flight simulators operating Microsoft Flight Simulator
VR headsets to pair with Microsoft Flight Simulator

Kate Short, Aspen School District Aviation Teacher

The Impact of Your Support

Answering a critical national demand for qualified airline pilots, we are engaging students to help them become tomorrow’s aviation professionals and better citizens of the world.

Given the nature of an increasingly “connected” world from one runway to the next and the number of jobs that the aviation industry provides, we are also helping our nation to prosper today and in the future.

Helping students to soar the skies and striving to operate in the safest manner possible, we are changing the lives of youth and adults, instilling self-confidence, responsibility, and respect – one pilot at a time!

We are giving our high school students who are in this flight academy that “extra edge” for applying to and getting accepted by universities, colleges, and aviation programs around the nation.