Tropicbird Flight Service was created to provide local residents and visitors with top quality flight training. Our instructors and mechanics are professionals with many years of experience and are long-term residents of the islands. We specialize in Accelerated Flight Training programs, taking full advantage of our consistently excellent weather conditions for flying. We also offer our Island Flying Adventure course where you will fly with a seasoned CFI/guide pilot and explore the wonders of our magnificent Islands.
We're a flight organization based in Kailua/Kona, Hawaii
School Type: Part 61.
Category: Airplane (Fixed Wing).
Certificates: Recreational, Private, Commercial, CFI and CFII.
Ratings: VFR, IFR, Commercial, CFI and CFII.
Class: Single Engine Land and Single Engine Sea.
Engines: Single.
Endorsement: Complex and High Performance.
Recurrent Training: Flight Review, Instrument Proficiency Check, Aircraft Checkouts and Insurance Checkouts.
Training Orientation: Career (Carrier, Commercial, Military), Business (Private) and Recreation (all non-commercial flight).
Career Focus: Aerial Application, Coast Guard, Corporate Flying, Commercial (includes air taxi, survey, ambulance, etc), Flight Instruction, Major Airlines, Military Aviation and Regional Airlines.
Type of Curriculum: Ground School, FITS - FAA Scenario based training, Mountain Flying, All-inclusive, Self-Paced, Career Oriented, structured and Accelerated (full days, intense).
Technically Advanced Aircraft: Glass Cockpit(Garmin G1000), etc and Autopilot.
Type of Rental: Students only and Licensed Pilots.
Type of Airplanes Available: DA-20, DA-40 , Cessna 172, Cessna 182
Aircraft Rental Rates: call for latest rates
Instruction Materials: Jeppesen, ASA, Sportys, King and FAA.
Syllabus: Jeppesen.
Training Facilities: Dedicated Classroom, Lounge, Dedicated Study Area, Flight Planning Area, Lending Library (books, videos, software) and Simulator.
Airport Facilities: Control Tower, ILS, Weather computer terminal, Pilot Shop and Restaurant.
Airport Locations (codes): PHKO, KOA
Financial Assistance: Student Loans and Third Party (bank, etc).
Admin Support: Job Interview prep or coordination.
Professional Affiliations: AOPA, EAA and Civil Air Patrol.
Total Instructors: 4
Foreign Languages: Japanese
Awards of Merit: CFI of the year 1998 for Hawaii state ( Mike Lauro , Chief CFI)
Weather: Year round flying
School Description
Tropicbird Flight Service is a relatively small flight school where you will get lots of attention from your instructors... We do not do charters and commercial tours and thus we can focus just on what we do best...flight training! We can customize your training to fit your personal schedule. You can set up an accelerated course to get your ratings in just a few weeks and do it in style while staying on the beautiful Big Island of Hawaii... away from all the distractions of life.... and concentrate on getting that elusive rating done! If you are visiting the Islands for just a few days or weeks, then you will want to take our Island Flying Adventure course.... You will fly with one of our local, highly seasoned, CFIs and he will be your guide while you explore the Islands.... the best way to go if you have never flown here before... lots to learn about tropical weather and volcano flying techniques. Many of our graduates have gone on to fly for the military, Airlines and other Commercial jobs... very successfully.... we are indeed proud of all our graduates!!!!!!!!!!!!
Staff Qualification
Your Chief flight instructor, Mike Lauro has been flying for over 30 years, at least 15 of those years on Hawaii and with over 5000 hours of Instruction experience. He has also served for 12 years as an Air Force Officer.
Our other instructors have many years of flying under their belt as well. I do not hire CFIs that just want to build time. We hand pick our instructors and as a result, you will have a CFI that is highly motivated to teach.... and help you to truly learn to be a good pilot and earn your rating with confidence!
More About Us
Flying in Hawaii is simply awesome, the weather, the
atmosphere and our friendly flying club style of flight training makes our school the best for learning to fly. We are solely dedicated to flight training and do not perform commercial tours and charter flying. Our school is small enough to allow us to give you much attention and schedule you to fit your individual needs.
Testimonials
Check Air Nav website under PHKO and see great testimonials from visiting pilots!
Photo Gallery
Our Sweet DA-20 over Kua bay just north of the Kona Airport |
The owner, Mike Lauro |
Earning your wings is a most memorable day !!! |
Over the top of the worlds most active volcano !!! |
The coolest way to see the hot stuff.... 2000 degrees !!!!! |
