Jake Tallent took his first flight lesson at the Macon County Airport. Now, after countless hours of training and classes, Tallent is one of three instructors providing flight lessons at the airport.
Macon Air, Macon County’s Airport provides flight lessons someone looking for a new hobby or lessons for someone looking to begin a career in aviation.
Tallent, along with David Phillips, and Marc Bryson are FAA Certified Flight Instructors with decades of experience between them that can train anyone pursuing a Private Pilot License, an Instrument, and Multi-Engine Ratings, and even a Commercial Pilots License.
“Flight lessons are pay as you go and are flexible to meet anyone’s schedule,” said Tallent. Who works as a 
commercial pilot when he isn’t giving lessons at the airport. “We train on either a Cessna 172 or a 182. All someone has to do is give us a call and we can handle everything to help get them started.”
The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is an American four-seat, single-engine, high wing, fixed-wing aircraft made by the Cessna Aircraft Company. First flown in 1955, more 172s have been built than any other aircraft. It was developed from the 1948 Cessna 170, using tricycle undercarriage, rather than a tail-dragger configuration.
Measured by its longevity and popularity, the Cessna 172 is the most successful aircraft in history. Cessna delivered the first production model in 1956, and as of 2015, the company and its partners had built more than 44,000 units. The aircraft remains in production today and is the most commonly used aircraft in terms of flight lessons.
The Cessna 182 Skylane is an American four-seat, single-engined light airplane, built by Cessna of Wichita, Kansas. It has the option of adding two child seats, installed in the baggage area.
Introduced in 1956, the 182 has been produced in a number of variants, including a version with retractable landing gear, and is the second most popular Cessna model still in production, after the 172.
The Private Pilot Certificate, internationally referred to as the Private Pilot License (PPL), is the first step in becoming a pilot. The PPL provides foundational knowledge and skills for all future aircraft pilot training. As a Private Pilot, you can fly an airplane day and night in visual flight conditions. In fact, you can even carry passengers, such as friends, family, and co-workers, however, you cannot fly for paid compensation or hire.
To be eligible to pursue your Private Pilot License, you must meet certain requirements, such as:
Be at least 16 years old to fly solo.
Be at least 17 years old to receive your private pilot certificate.
Read, speak, write, and understand English.
Obtain at least a third-class medical certificate.
Perform basic math: adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing.
While you will have 40 hours of flying time to obtain your pilot’s license, there is also a ground training 
program that can be completed simultaneously that is required to complete the course.
The PPL ground training introduces you to key aviation concepts. It helps build aeronautical knowledge in areas such as aerodynamics, Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs), and radio communication procedures. The staff at Macon Air will help you get set up with the ground training course, which can be completed online.
Tallent currently has 10 students undergoing lessons which include both local residents interested in flying as a hobby as well as some students looking to secure their pilot’s license as the first step in their aviation career.
No plane? No problem! Macon Air has two training planes for the course and then after you receive your pilot’s license, the planes can be rented out for personal use.
Most flight lessons take about an hour and will cover a wide variety of topics required to secure your license. Everything that needs to be completed to get you into a plane and in the air can be done with the staff at Macon County Airport’s help.
For more information about the Macon County Airport’s flight school, call 828.524.5529.
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