The sky’s the limit for new flying services business

Mason Rowe and Austin Revlett both developed a love of flying at a very young age and took their first solo flights as teenagers.

It is that love of flying that has taken their careers to new heights recently.

The duo, who are both certified flight instructors and commercial pilots, started Kentucky Flying Services in April where they offer primary flight training, commercial flight training and tailwheel, high performance and complex endorsements.

Rowe said he was “hanging out” at the Ohio County Airport and Revlett was working somewhere else and though they had mentioned starting some type of business like this in passing, when Rowe got his CFI in March they started the business in April.

“A few things made us want to start the business,” Rowe said. “But I don’t think it was really a plan until it just happened.”

They have a total of 12 students between them. Even though you have to be 16 to take a solo flight and 17 to earn your license, students can start training as early as they want, Rowe said. Their students currently range in age from 17 to 70.

Along with their flight training, Rowe and Revlett offer ferry services. Ferry flying is flying an aircraft from one location to another in order to deliver it to a customer/owner located somewhere else.

Since starting their business, they have already done four ferry trips including one all the way to California.

Rowe, 19, of McHenry, and Revlett, 29, of Sacramento, have combined 14 years experience including 1,500-plus hours in over 50 types of airplanes. Their ferry services cover operations from tailwheel to complex/high-performance airplanes. They have experience flying coast-to-coast and mountain flying.

The plan is to also offer scenic flights as well but they are still working on that aspect of the business as there is paperwork with the FAA involved in getting that started, Rowe said.

Rowe said they had tossed around the idea of having a group ground school and offering training for their students all at once in a group setting in evening and weekend classes like a lot of places do but right now students work independently of one another and at their own pace.

“Everyone learns to fly differently. Everyone takes to it differently,” Revlett said.

In order for a student to get their pilot license they must first take an hour-long “discovery flight,” which Rowe said lets them know what it is like to be in a plane. After that, they have regular flight training with the instructor where they go through maneuvers, take-offs and landings working toward their first solo flight. Then they prepare for the “check ride” and have to take a written test. The process can take anywhere from a couple of months to a year to get their required flight hours in.

The business is based out of the Ohio County Airport where they rent a plane as well as use Revlett’s for instruction, They also utilize an instructor’s planes in Madisonville where they offer instruction and at other area airports where their students have access to planes.

Their plans and goals for the business in the future still seem to be up in the air.

“That kind of changes every day to be honest. We hope it turns into something big,” Revlett said when asked about the business’ future. “We are just trying to make good safe pilots.”

“We are excited about (the business). We would like to build it and maybe one day have our own airplane. It depends on how much time we have to put into it and how much interest there is in it.”