Flight Training and Flight Lessons in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Flight lessons in Fort Lauderdale at KFXE with the best rates, weather, and aircraft availability in the US.
Flying Out of Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (KFXE)
Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (KFXE) is one of the busiest and most respected general aviation airports in the United States. With three runways, a control tower, full ILS approaches, and proximity to Miami's Class B airspace, KFXE provides a training environment that produces well-rounded, confident pilots.
As a student at MFT, you communicate with Fort Lauderdale Tower and Miami Approach from your very first flights. This sets KFXE-trained pilots apart.
Nearby airspace includes Opa-locka Executive (KOPF) and Palm Beach International (KPBI), giving students exposure to the full spectrum of ATC environments in South Florida.
Our KFXE airport guide covers the towered field, FBOs and customs facility.
For a quick overview of every program and rate, visit our home page.
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Why Fort Lauderdale for Flight Training
300+ flyable VFR days per year — virtually no weather cancellations.
Class D towered airport experience from day one.
Proximity to Miami Class B airspace — the busiest airspace in the southeastern US.
No ice, snow, or extended storm systems that ground pilots at northern schools.
Directions and Driving Distances
My Flight Time: 1811 NW 51st Street, Hangar 42D, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309 — directly on the KFXE airport property.
From Miami: 20 minutes north via I-95. From Boca Raton: 30 minutes south via I-95. From West Palm Beach: 45 minutes south. From Hollywood, FL: 15 minutes. From Pompano Beach: 10 minutes. From Coral Springs: 20 minutes. From Aventura: 20 minutes north of Miami.
Who Trains at MFT in Fort Lauderdale
Local South Florida residents — pilots from Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, and surrounding areas.
Relocating students — pilots from across the US who come specifically for accelerated programs and consistent weather. We offer accommodations.
International pilots — foreign pilots building hours, converting licenses, or completing full training. We attract pilots from Europe, South America, the Caribbean, and beyond.
Looking for a Flight School Near Me in Fort Lauderdale?
If you searched for a flight school near you in Fort Lauderdale, we are on the field itself — not at an office miles away. Hangar 42D sits on the north side of Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport, two miles west of the Commercial Boulevard exit off I-95, with free parking at the hangar and aircraft on the ramp fifty feet from the briefing room.
Neighborhoods we serve most: Oakland Park, Wilton Manors, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Lauderhill, Plantation, Sunrise, Tamarac, Coral Ridge and Victoria Park are all inside a fifteen-minute drive. Downtown Fort Lauderdale and Las Olas are about twelve minutes north on I-95.
Hours are 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, seven days a week. Call (786) 705-7386 to check same-week availability.
Flight Training Programs Offered in Fort Lauderdale
Private Pilot License — $11,750, typically 4 to 6 weeks full time or four to five months part time for local students flying twice a week.
Instrument Rating — $11,500, using KFXE's full ILS plus approaches at KFLL, KOPF, KPMP, KHWO and KPBI within a single lesson.
Commercial Single $3,125 and Commercial Multi $10,250, flown on real South Florida cross-country routes.
Certified Flight Instructor — $4,250, with year-round instructing demand across Broward County and northern Miami-Dade.
Time building from $60/hr wet single-engine and multi-engine in our own Piper Seneca and Beechcraft Duchess.
Fort Lauderdale Airspace, Practice Areas and Local Routes
Pattern work happens at KFXE and Pompano Beach (KPMP) ten minutes north. Maneuver practice is over the Everglades conservation areas west of the field, clear of traffic. Navigation lessons use the coastal VFR corridor along Fort Lauderdale beach up to Boca Raton, and instrument students work south into the Miami Class B corridor.
Common local cross-countries run KFXE to Palm Beach International (KPBI), to Boca Raton (KBCT) for short-field work, to North Perry (KHWO) in Hollywood, and west across the state to Naples and Fort Myers for longer legs.
Serving Fort Lauderdale and All of Broward County
Beyond Fort Lauderdale itself we regularly train students from Pompano Beach, Hollywood, Coral Springs, Aventura, Doral, Miami, Miami-Dade County, Boca Raton and West Palm Beach — each with its own page covering commute, scheduling and local flying detail.
Whichever city you drive from, training happens at one field, with one fleet, one in-house 24/7 maintenance team, and the same rates.
Taking Flight Lessons at KFXE
New students usually begin with a discovery flight ($250): a walk-around with your instructor, an introduction to the controls, then a turn at flying over the Fort Lauderdale coastline. Every lesson after that follows the same rhythm of preflight briefing, flight and debrief, starting with aircraft control and tower radio calls and moving on to navigation, emergencies and cross-countries.
Flying two to three times a week is the most efficient pace; longer gaps mean more review at the start of each lesson. Bring a government ID and proof of U.S. citizenship (or TSA approval if you are an international student). You need a medical certificate before your first solo, not for your first lessons.
If you want to go deeper on this topic, keep reading Time Building for Commercial Pilots in Florida and How Long Does It Take to Build 1,500 Flight Hours?.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where exactly is My Flight Time located in Fort Lauderdale?
1811 NW 51st Street, Hangar 42D, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309 — directly on the KFXE airport property.
Is Fort Lauderdale Executive (KFXE) a good airport for student pilots?
Excellent. KFXE is a towered Class D airport with three runways, full ILS approaches, and proximity to Miami Class B airspace. You get real-world ATC experience from day one.
How far is KFXE from downtown Miami?
About 28 miles north — roughly 40 minutes up I-95 or the Turnpike outside of rush hour, and closer to an hour during weekday commutes. Many Miami-based students schedule mid-morning or early afternoon lessons to avoid the worst traffic.
What is flying in South Florida airspace like for student pilots?
Busy but excellent for building skills. You navigate Class D (KFXE), Class C (FLL), and Miami Class B airspace regularly.
What are your hours in Fort Lauderdale?
6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, seven days a week, year round. Early-morning slots are the smoothest air and the quietest pattern at KFXE.
Which Fort Lauderdale neighborhoods are closest to the school?
Oakland Park, Wilton Manors, Lauderhill, Plantation, Tamarac, Sunrise, Coral Ridge, Victoria Park and Lauderdale-by-the-Sea are all within about fifteen minutes. Downtown Fort Lauderdale and Las Olas are roughly twelve minutes south on I-95.
How do I get to the hangar at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport?
Take I-95 to the Commercial Boulevard exit, head west about two miles, then follow NW 51st Street to Hangar 42D on the north side of the field. Parking at the hangar is free.
Is there parking at the flight school?
Yes — free hangar parking on site, with no airport garage fees added to your lesson.
Do you serve students outside Fort Lauderdale?
Yes. Students commute daily from Pompano Beach, Hollywood, Coral Springs, Aventura, Doral, Miami, Boca Raton and West Palm Beach, and relocating or international students use accommodations minutes from the airport.
How much are flight lessons in Fort Lauderdale?
Dual instruction in a single-engine aircraft is $275/hr, and a discovery flight is $250.
How old do you have to be to take flight lessons?
There is no minimum age for lessons. You must be 16 to solo and 17 to earn a Private Pilot License.
Train at Fort Lauderdale's Best Flight School — Apply Now
Keep reading: time building at KFXE, current hourly rates and program pricing, our aircraft fleet, the Airline Pilot Program, or the pilot training blog.