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For those who yearn to take to the skies and soar among the birds, there is now a flight training school in Sussex County.
Based at Sussex County Airport near Georgetown, Delmarva Aviation officially opened its doors in May.
Garrett Dernoga decided to take the big leap and leave his job as chief financial officer for a real estate company and open his own business. He is the owner of Delmarva Aviation.
“I got to the place in my life - I’m 43 - where I decided to pursue my passion,” Dernoga said. “I’ve always loved airplanes. When I was a kid I would go sit at the airport and watch planes land and take off.
“I’ve always had this passion, and with my accounting background I thought it would help with running a business. My passion, my heart is telling me to go at this flight training. But there is a little trepidation at being self-employed.”
Sussex County Airport is perfect for a flight school, he said. “I looked at this airport and decided that if I don’t open a flight school, someone else will,” he said. He said Sussex County Airport is a great place to learn to fly because it has wide runways, beautiful views and unrestricted airspace.
“To go up in D.C., it takes all kinds of phone calls to fly,” he said. “Here, you just let the FAA know you’re going up.”
For Dernoga, one of the best aspects of flying is teaching others how to take flight. “I just love the instruction. I get a real sense of reward in watching a person do their solo for the first time. The students are real excited – I’m nervous. Plus, you get to meet people from all walks of life. I have students who are doctors, teachers, nurses, and entrepreneurs.”
He said many of his students are middle age or retired. “They just want to be able to fly over the beach or fly to visit their children in New Jersey,” he said. “Flying is a great way to keep your mind sharp.”
Dernoga said that while just about anyone can learn to fly, students must also understand how an engine works, aerodynamics, weather, navigation, and of course all those switches and pedals.
It costs $158 an hour for flight instruction, and Dernoga said students usually require about 60 to 65 hours of instruction before they earn their pilot license.
Students must learn on the latest equipment, Dernoga said. So his Cessna 172-R has GPS, sophisticated radios, and the latest in navigational systems. “Some schools train on junk. I want to fly quality aircraft,” he said.
He is in the process of buying his second aircraft and he has three part-time instructors.
In addition to pilot training, Delmarva Aviation also offers sightseeing trips and aerial photography. For more information, call 542-4251, or visit the website at www.delmarvaaviation.com.
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