Launch the Fleet: Elite Aviation Adds Aircraft, CFIs and a Legacy of Success to Family Business

By Carmelo Turdo

Elite Aviation is the St. Louis area's premier flight training center, conveniently located in the Spirit of St. Louis Airport West Terminal. They offer experienced instructors, a structured Cessna Pilot Center ground school program, a modern aircraft fleet, and advanced Redbird MCX full-motion flight simulator training through Alpha Flight Simulation. Elite Aviation also provides aircraft rental and maintenance services, and they are an FAA-approved written examination testing station. 

Elite Aviation now has eleven Cessna 172S Skyhawks in their fleet along with a Piper Turbo Saratoga and recently acquired Tecnam P2006T twin trainer that will be in service soon. Additional certified flight instructors have also joined Elite Aviation to serve the growing demand for flight training in the St. Louis area. and their experienced service team maintains their fleet and customer aircraft from around the region. 

(Sarah Sutherlin photo)

Elite Aviation is more than a flight school, or even an aircraft rental and maintenance center. They are a family business that treats their customers and staff like family and extends that invitation to the community through numerous educational and charitable endeavors. Elite Aviation is a major sponsor of the St. Louis Red Tail Cadet program, now preparing for the fourth class of high school student participants starting this spring. A growing number of former Elite Aviation CFIs, including Sarah Sutherlin (right), have moved up to fly with jet charter companies and the major airlines, and The Aero Experience will feature them in our upcoming Then and Now series.

You have to arrive pretty early to catch the Elite Aviation fleet on the ground, and even then a few got away. Here we show the fleet departing for training flights during the morning cycle.

Elite Aviation provides general aviation aircraft maintenance services, including annual and periodic inspections, airframe and sheet metal repairs, engine cylinder and accessory replacement and avionics diagnostics and installation. The training and rental fleet aircraft receive frequent standard inspections, and a Cessna 172 undergoing an engine change is also a common site in the Elite Aviation hangar.

Contact Elite Aviation today for more information about flight training, aircraft rental, maintenance services and employment opportunities.