At FalKor Aviation Academy, our mission is to develop proficient, safety-conscious pilots through structured training, effective instruction, and dedicated mentorship.

Our academy provides comprehensive training for Sport Pilot, Private Pilot, Instrument, Commercial, CFI, CFI-I, MEI, and Multi-Engine certificates and ratings. By blending the adaptability of Part 61 training with the organization, standards, and accountability of a Part 141 academy, we deliver a balanced educational experience with proven results.

We provide our students with clear expectations, consistent lesson grading, honest feedback, and online tracking of their training progress.

Our mission goes beyond preparing students to pass a checkride; we prepare them for the critical decisions and responsibilities they will face as pilots.

Our Training Approach

Learning begins on the ground. We use flight time to apply, practice, and refine what has already been taught.

Our flight instructors are educators first. They do more than demonstrate maneuvers. They explain the purpose behind each lesson, set clear expectations, and help students build the knowledge, judgment, and confidence required to become capable pilots.

This approach makes every flight more purposeful, improves retention, and helps students progress more efficiently.

Safety and Maintenance

Our commitment to safety is demonstrated in our training methods, aircraft upkeep, communication, and response protocols.

We promote an open environment where students and employees feel comfortable reporting mistakes, concerns, and potential hazards. We view honest errors as valuable opportunities for learning and improvement rather than reasons to conceal information.

FAA-certificated maintenance professionals support our expanding fleet. We focus on preventive maintenance, rigorous inspections, and prompt corrective actions to ensure our aircraft remain safe, reliable, and ready for training.

Mike Bennett 

(Founder and Chief Pilot) After earning his Private Pilot Certificate in 2002, Mike Bennett spent years flying across the Northeast as a member of the 150th Aero Flying Club in Morristown, New Jersey.

He subsequently established 110knots.com and its accompanying YouTube channel, documenting his passion for aviation through flight videos that frequently featured his young son.

After a chance invitation by Piedmont Airlines to sit in on a hiring event in 2017, Mike decided to pursue a professional aviation career and leave his position as a technical architect for a Fortune 500 company. 

During this transitional period, Mike founded his own general contracting company, worked as a journeyman electrician, and even worked on microwave networks.

Once he obtained his certified flight instructor certificate, he instructed at a few flight schools in New Jersey before moving to Florida to join L3 Harris Flight Academy. At L3, Mike earned his CFI-I and transitioned to the Cirrus fleet, where he gained insight into a large-scale Part 141 training environment. This experience highlighted the advantages of structured, standardized instruction, while also reinforcing that a single approach does not suit every student.

Due to the COVID-19 slowdown, Mike transitioned back to Information Technology, where he worked for USF Health and later Tampa General Hospital. During this time, he also worked part-time as a flight instructor at Tampa North Flight Center (X39). There he founded KC Aero Academy in 2023 and served as Chief Pilot and Academy Director. In this role, he developed the academy's training curricula, instructor training programs, safety protocols, and operational frameworks.

FalKor Aviation Academy incorporates the principles Mike has gathered over more than twenty years in aviation: uphold high standards, communicate transparently, remain humble, and maintain a focus on the individual student.

Our Core Values

Integrity and Transparency
We practice honest communication, accept responsibility for errors, and guide others by example.

Ownership and Accountability
Leadership, instructors, and students share the responsibility for professional standards and training results.

Humility
We stay approachable, admit when we make mistakes, and commit to lifelong learning throughout our aviation careers.

Compassion
We recognize that every student learns at a different pace; we identify individual difficulties and offer targeted support.

Professional Standards
We aim beyond minimum regulatory requirements to instill the discipline, preparation, and judgment necessary for competent pilots.