Our students have the advantage of a wide variety of modern training aircraft stationed on our flight line.
At Pelican Flight Training you learn in real, working aircraft from your very first lesson. Our flight line at North Perry Airport (KHWO) includes Cessna 152 and Cessna 172 single-engine trainers, the complex Piper Arrow, the twin-engine Piper Seminole, Schweizer 300C training helicopters and a European-built ALSIM ALX flight simulator. Every aircraft is matched to a stage of your training, and South Florida weather keeps the fleet flying year round.
| Aircraft | Type | Seats | Cruise speed | Used for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cessna 152 | Single-engine trainer | 2 | 107 kt | Private Pilot, first hours |
| Cessna 172 | Single-engine trainer | 4 | 122 kt | Private Pilot, Instrument, Commercial |
| Piper PA-28R Arrow (Complex) | Complex single, retractable gear | 4 | 137 kt | Commercial, complex endorsement |
| Piper PA-44 Seminole | Twin-engine | 4 | 162 kt | Multi-Engine rating, MEI |
| Schweizer 300C | Training helicopter | 2 | 95 kt (max) | Helicopter PPL to CFI-H |
| ALSIM ALX | FNPT II simulator | - | - | Instrument procedures, decision training |
A classic two-seat trainer with fixed tricycle gear and a Lycoming O-235 engine. With a cruise speed of 107 knots and a stall speed of 43 knots, it is one of the most forgiving and durable training aircraft ever built, and a cost-effective platform for your first flight hours. Most students start here on the way to their Private Pilot Certificate.
The most produced aircraft in history and the world's default trainer. A four-seat, high-wing single with a cruise speed of 122 knots, a stall speed of 47 knots and a range of 696 nautical miles. Most of your Private Pilot and Instrument training happens in the 172.
A low-wing single with retractable landing gear and a constant-speed propeller. It qualifies as a complex aircraft, which is exactly why it is in the fleet: Commercial Pilot students get the complex experience the FAA expects, without renting it elsewhere at a premium.
Our twin-engine trainer, a four-seater with a range of 1,000 nautical miles. This is where you practice engine-out procedures and earn your Multi-Engine rating, the qualification airlines want to see on your certificate.
A light two-seat training helicopter with a three-blade main rotor and no hydraulics, which makes it one of the most honest and rewarding helicopters to learn in. Maximum speed 95 knots, maximum climb rate 750 feet per minute, range 195 nautical miles. Pelican runs full helicopter training programs from first hover to Private Pilot (PPL-H) and beyond, something few Florida flight schools offer at all.
A European-built FNPT II simulator that reproduces several classes of aircraft, one of only a handful in the country. Instrument procedures, abnormal situations and decision-making scenarios cost far less in the simulator than in the air, and simulator hours count toward your rating within FAA limits. The ALX is a key tool for both instructor and student, making immersion easy and building the decision-making skills that matter most in real flight.
Every aircraft in the fleet is maintained to the FAA Part 141 inspection schedule. Maintenance happens at our home base at North Perry Airport, so aircraft availability stays high and your training schedule stays predictable. Combined with about 365 flyable days a year in South Florida, that means fewer cancellations and steady progress toward your certificates.
The right aircraft at the right stage is what turns a checklist into a career. You start simple in the Cessna 152 and 172, add complexity in the Arrow, learn multi-engine flying in the Seminole, and rehearse the hard scenarios safely in the ALSIM simulator, all under one roof. Add helicopters to the mix and Pelican covers the full path from a first discovery flight to airline-ready hours. See how the aircraft map to each program on our programs and courses page, or come sit in the cockpit yourself with a discovery flight.
Most Private Pilot students fly the Cessna 152 and Cessna 172. Your instructor matches the aircraft to your stage of training and the hours you are building.
Yes. Pelican operates Schweizer 300C training helicopters and runs helicopter programs from zero experience to flight instructor, which very few Florida flight schools offer.
A complex aircraft has retractable landing gear and a constant-speed propeller, like our Piper Arrow. Commercial Pilot students are required to gain experience in one, and having it in the fleet saves you from renting it elsewhere.
Yes, within FAA limits for your program. The ALSIM ALX is an approved FNPT II device, and simulator hours cost significantly less than aircraft hours while building real instrument and decision-making skills.
Within your program, your instructor will advise which aircraft fits your goals and stage. Pricing differs by aircraft type, and we help you plan the most efficient path.
Our aircraft follow the FAA Part 141 inspection schedule and are maintained at our home base at North Perry Airport, which keeps availability high and schedules predictable.
South Florida gives about 365 flyable days a year. When weather is below minimums, lessons move to ground school or the ALSIM simulator, so your training keeps moving.
Yes. Book a tour or a discovery flight and sit in the cockpit before you commit. Our team will walk you through the fleet and the program that fits you.
Ready to see what you will fly? Explore our flight training programs or book a visit and meet the fleet in person.
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Welcome to Pelican Flight Training, Florida's premier flight school offering one of the best training programs for pilots from around the world. We offer a structured program that will take you all the way from private pilot rank to ATP and airline readiness.
In this video, you'll learn what makes our flight school so special — the passion, the professionalism, and the world-class fleet of aircraft used for training. From your first flight to becoming a professional pilot, we will be with you every step of the way.
Take a look right now and see why training at Pelican isn't just about learning — it's about transformation.
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