Kentucky Lake Aviation Takes Off at Carroll County Airport

McKENZIE — A new flight school at the Carroll County Airport is giving West Tennessee residents a chance to learn to fly.

Kentucky Lake Aviation, owned by Craig Anderson, opened in August 2025 and has quickly built a steady group of students training to earn their pilot licenses.

Anderson said the idea for the school grew out of his own experience learning to fly. For several years, he drove from his home in McKenzie to Murray, Kentucky — the nearest place offering flight instruction.

At the time, Anderson was completing the series of certifications required to become a professional pilot. He earned his private pilot license in 2020, followed by an instrument rating in 2023, a commercial license in 2024 and his instructor certification in 2025.

After finishing his training, Anderson decided to bring a flight school closer to home.

He purchased a training aircraft and began offering lessons at the Carroll County Airport. Anderson said he expected interest from local residents, but the response has exceeded his expectations.

“I expected it to be busy,” he said. “But it took off. It’s been ridiculous. I have more students than I can deal with — in a good way.”

The school currently has about 18 students and operates two aircraft — a Cessna 172, which Anderson lovingly named “Nellie,” and a Piper Cherokee 140, named “Niko.” Anderson recently hired another instructor, Weston Wallace, and said he may add a third airplane as demand continues to grow. Anderson and his mechanics inspect the aircraft every two weeks, ensuring they are in top condition for all training sessions.

Kentucky Lake Aviation offers several services, including pilot training, introductory discovery flights and aircraft rentals for licensed pilots. The discovery flights, priced at $185, allow people to experience flying in a small aircraft for up to an hour, usually taking passengers over Kentucky Lake, Paris and McKenzie.

For many people, it is their first time seeing the area from the air.

Discovery flights have drawn interest from people of all ages. Anderson said one past passenger, an eight-year-old boy named James, recently began saving money from selling eggs to pay for another flight.

“He called me yesterday and said, ‘Hey, I just raised enough money to go on another discovery flight,’” Anderson said. “He’s definitely going to be a pilot when he grows up. Passengers like him are why I do discovery flights.”

Students who want to pursue a license typically train several times a week. According to Anderson, most people can earn a private pilot license in about six months if they fly consistently.

The Federal Aviation Administration requires at least 40 hours of flight time for a private pilot license, though many students take longer depending on their pace and experience.

“If you fly two to three times a week, you’ll be done within six months,” Anderson said.

Training at the school costs about $9,500 for the initial 40-hour package, which Anderson said is significantly less than many larger aviation programs.

“They could go to Nashville and get the same license for $20,000,” he said.

Anderson completed his own training through what is known as a “Part 61” program, which focuses on one-on-one instruction rather than the structured classroom format used by many college aviation programs. He said that approach allows for more flexibility and personal attention.

“My goal here … I want to make quality pilots,” Anderson said.

Lessons often include practical training along with opportunities for students to gain confidence in the air. Anderson said he encourages students to enjoy the experience while they learn.

“We did some lessons this morning, and my student said, ‘Man, I’d love to fly over Kentucky Lake,’” Anderson said. “I said, ‘Let’s go over there.’ It’s all flying anyway.”

Anderson is originally from Paris and graduated from the University of Tennessee at Martin with a degree in natural resource management in 2024. Before opening the flight school, he spent time living in Africa where he worked with tribal communities to help teach crop planting and farming practices.

When funding for that project ended, he returned to Tennessee and began looking for his next step. Anderson said he considered becoming a game warden, but his love for flying ultimately led him to aviation training.

Many pilots use flight instruction as a temporary job to build hours before moving on to airline careers, but Anderson said he prefers teaching.

“Everybody asks me if I want to be an airline captain,” he said. “But I want to run a flight school. I want to give quality training to people.”

He also sees the business as a way to bring more activity to the Carroll County Airport.

The airport attracts pilots from around the region, in part because of its fuel prices and welcoming staff. Anderson said visiting pilots often stop in McKenzie specifically to refuel.

Looking ahead, Anderson hopes to continue expanding the school while helping more people discover aviation.