The easiest first step is to book a Discovery Flight. You'll spend about an hour with one of our certified flight instructors, get a feel for the aircraft, and actually take the controls yourself. From there we'll help you pick the right program for your goals and schedule.

None at all. Every pilot starts from zero. Our instructors are experienced at working with complete beginners and will walk you through everything from the ground up!

You can begin taking lessons and logging flight time at any age. However, you must be at least 16 years old to solo an airplane, and 17 years old to obtain a Private Pilot Certificate (PPL).

We currently offer Sport, Private, Commercial, and Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) ratings. Through partnerships with local flight schools, we can also help connect students pursuing an Instrument rating and/or CFII.

We’re based at the Mauston-New Lisbon Union Airport just outside of Mauston, WI.

Yes! STAR Aviation is a Part 61 flight school, which means we tailor training to your schedule and goals. Whether you want to train full-time or at a slower pace, we’ll work with you to create a plan that fits your needs.

On average, students who train 2 to 3 times a week can earn their PPL in 3 to 6 months. The timeline largely depends on your personal schedule and how quickly you master the maneuvers.

The FAA requires a minimum of 40 hours to be eligible to obtain your private pilot certificate. However, the national average is currently 75 hours.

A standard lesson begins with a pre-flight briefing to set goals for our time together. You will then conduct the flight, practicing specific maneuvers, followed by a post-flight debrief where your instructor evaluates your performance and assigns prep work for your next lesson.

You’ll train in our Beechcraft Musketeer Super 3, which we lovingly refer to as the “Super Mouse!”

The Musketeer offers a reliable, forgiving platform that's ideal for student pilots. It gives you a solid foundation in aircraft control that transfers well to almost any plane you fly in the future.