Lake Elmo Aero: Flight School in Lake Elmo, Minnesota

Photos via Google Maps; they belong to their authors.

Location: Lake Elmo, Minnesota
School Type: Local flight school
Training Focus: Pilot training
Google Rating: 5.0 (42 reviews)

Call (651) 777-1399 Get Directions Visit Website

Listing data is maintained editorially and confirmed with schools over time. Programs and pricing change; verify details directly before enrolling.

Hours

Monday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Tuesday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Wednesday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Thursday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Friday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Saturday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Sunday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM

See It on the Map

What Students and Pilots Say

★★★★★ 1 year ago

Great flight school! Have been a student/renter with Lake Elmo Aero now for 2.5 years or so. They’ve helped me obtain my CFI and CFII. I’ve had many great instructors along the way. They have a diverse fleet of aircraft that are well maintained. Anyone in the east metro looking for flight training needs or aircraft rental needs, I would highly recommend LEA!
Parker Whitcomb via Google

★★★★★ 3 weeks ago

I completed my spin training at Lake Elmo Aero. My instructor was Rishiraj and he was extremely knowledgeable, professional and thorough. I learned so much and was very impressed with the level of information I was able to take away from a one day training session. Truly some of the coolest flying(spin training) I have done in my aviation journey and recommend to anyone interested!
Nick Makovsky via Google

★★★★★ 1 year ago

Highly recommend Lake Elmo Aero for multiengine training! Oscar N was my instructor and did a fantastic job preparing me for the checkride. Their Seneca is great, I stayed on budget, and passed first attempt! Everyone I met there was super friendly and knowledgeable. 5/5 stars for sure!
John Newsome via Google

★★★★★ 7 months ago

I completed my Private Pilot / PPL at Lake Elmo Aero and honestly couldn’t be more grateful. Everyone here is supportive, professional, and really invested in helping you succeed. The planes are well-maintained, scheduling is easy, the whole place has a great vibe. Huge thank you to Amy and Bryant, my CFIs. Their patience, clear teaching, and constant encouragement made all the difference. I always felt prepared and …
N Aswan via Google

Reviews via Google Maps; they belong to their authors and are not our endorsement.

Planning Your Training Here

Planning training at a local school like Lake Elmo Aero trades the academy's speed for flexibility and often meaningfully lower total cost. The pay-as-you-fly model keeps your money in your control, and training two to three lessons weekly around work is the proven rhythm, enough frequency to retain skills without the academy's all-in schedule. The variable to manage is momentum: local-school students who succeed book standing lesson slots, fly year-round, and treat ground study as homework rather than something that happens at the airport. Ask about aircraft scheduling depth, instructor availability on your target days, and examiner wait times in Lake Elmo, the three friction points that stretch part-time timelines.

What Flying in Minnesota Teaches You

Minnesota is float country second only to Alaska, ten thousand lakes and a seaplane culture to match, wrapped in winters that teach the full cold-weather craft. Delta's Minneapolis hub anchors the airline end, and the state's flying calendar swings from midsummer lake landings to January preheats without apology.

How to Evaluate Lake Elmo Aero on Your Tour

Every school on this directory gets the same advice from us, because the fundamentals don't move. Walk the ramp and count how many aircraft are down for maintenance. Ask how many lessons a week they can actually schedule you, and how far out the booking calendar runs. Ask for first-attempt checkride pass rates and how long students wait for an examiner. And keep your money in your control: pay as you fly, or in small blocks with clear refund terms.

Then weigh the location itself. Training in Lake Elmo means building your early hours in Minnesota weather and airspace, and both become part of your airmanship. Our school-selection guide covers the full vetting checklist, and the financing page maps scholarships and loans that apply at schools like this one.

Common Questions About Training at Lake Elmo Aero

How long would my training take here?

Part-time students flying two to three lessons weekly typically earn a private certificate in six to twelve months and a commercial certificate in two to three years, with pace set by your calendar and the weather. Consistency decides everything: standing lesson slots beat sporadic bursts by months.

What will it cost, and can I get help paying?

Get Lake Elmo Aero's current rates directly; published numbers age fast in this industry. Nationally, plan on $80,000 to $120,000 from zero time to commercial certificates before instructing pay starts offsetting costs. Our financing guide maps the loans, scholarships, and airline cadet programs that apply here, and several scholarship cycles go undersubscribed every single year.

How should I arrange a visit?

Call ahead and ask for a tour on a normal training day, not a quiet one. Use the directions button above to plan the drive to Lake Elmo, arrive early enough to watch ramp operations, and bring the vetting checklist from this page. A school proud of its operation will show you everything; hesitation is itself an answer.

Get Matched

Considering Lake Elmo Aero? Tell us your goal and timeline and we'll line this school up against comparable options near you, with the financing routes and scholarship deadlines that fit. One form, no spam, a real reply within a business day.