Air Ventures Flying School: Flight School in Smithfield, Rhode Island

Air Ventures Flying School in Smithfield, photo 1

Air Ventures Flying School in Smithfield, photo 2

Air Ventures Flying School in Smithfield, photo 3

Photos via Google Maps; they belong to their authors.

Location: Smithfield, Rhode Island
School Type: Local flight school
Training Focus: Pilot training
Google Rating: 4.6 (24 reviews)

Call (401) 216-9359 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: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

See It on the Map

What Students and Pilots Say

★★★★★ 2 months ago

I purchased a Discovery Flight for my mom for her 70th birthday. She went up with her amazing instructor, Irah, and my husband was her passenger. The flight school was so welcoming. My dad, two year old daughter and I sat in the comfy outdoor “patio” to watch my mom take off and land and we also got to see and interact with a lot of other planes. It was honestly a great Saturday morning activity for the whole family.…
Jane Winograd via Google

★★★★★ 4 months ago

I can't believe my son Jack Erice has completed a solo flight ! I am so proud of him! He is pursuing his dream of a career in aviation. My first encounter was with Bob , explaining the program at Air Ventures. He took the time to explain to us measurable milestones, a realistic timeline of the work, and commitment it will take to achieve his ultimate goal. I also had an opportunity to speak with Doug Auclair, who …
lisa e via Google

★★★★★ 1 year ago

Air Ventures Flight School is truly a gem in the aviation world, and I can confidently say it stands out as the greatest flying school not just in the eastern region, but across the entire U.S. From the moment I walked through the doors, I knew I was in for a top-notch experience. Under the leadership of Douglas Auclair, the owner and master CFI, Air Ventures has cultivated an environment that is both professional a…
Sirat Dhillon via Google

★★★★★ 2 months ago

What a great flight school. The staff is top notch and really care about producing safe, skilled pilots. I’d highly recommend you book a discovery flight to see if flying an airplane is for you!
Jesse Jarvis 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 Air Ventures Flying School 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 Smithfield, the three friction points that stretch part-time timelines.

What Flying in Rhode Island Teaches You

Rhode Island packs coastal flying into a state you can cross on one practice flight: Narragansett Bay's sea breeze and fog cycles, Providence's Class C structure, and the Boston-New York corridor flowing overhead. Small geography, grown-up airspace.

How to Evaluate Air Ventures Flying School 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 Smithfield means building your early hours in Rhode Island 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 Air Ventures Flying School

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 Air Ventures Flying School'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 Smithfield, 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 Air Ventures Flying School? 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.