Boise, ID 83705
M-F: 8:00am - 9:00pm
Idaho Grown. Built at the Airport. Run by Someone Who Actually Flies
Ernie has been flying since he was 16. By 19, he had his Airframe and Powerplant certification. He did not just fall in love with aviation. He built his life around it.
When the chance came to buy a small flight school from a friend at Boise Airport, he did not hesitate. He rebranded it as Carmel Aviation, brought in instructors who shared the same obsession, and got to work. That was five and a half years ago.
Today, every aircraft in the fleet is maintained in-house by Ernie himself, who recently added his Inspection Authorization to his credentials. Every instructor on staff either trained here, built their career here, or chose this school specifically because of what it stands for.
Carmel is not a franchise. It is not a chain. It is a Part 61 flight school run by a lifelong aviator, located directly at Boise Airport, with one job: getting you in the air.
Meet The Full Team
Key Features:
- 1 Gold Seal Certified Flight Instructor: Kyle
- In-house A&P and IA certified maintenance by owner Ernie
- Instructors who came up through Carmel's own program
- Diverse backgrounds, one shared goal: your success
Built for the Way You Actually Live
Most flight schools are designed around their schedule, not yours. Carmel is different. As a Part 61 school located directly at Boise Airport, we give you one-on-one instruction, aircraft you can trust, and the flexibility to train around your job, your family, and your life. This is what flight training looks like when the school actually wants you to succeed.
Schedule A Discovery Flight
Gold Seal Instructor
One of our CFIs holds a Gold Seal rating from the FAA. That means his students pass checkrides at 80% or better on the first attempt. You get instruction from people who know how to teach, not just how to fly.
Part 61 Flexibility
Part 61 means your training is built around your life, not the other way around. Train on weekends, evenings, or whenever works for you. Pause and restart without penalty. Your schedule, your pace, your goals.
In-House Maintained Aircraft
Owner Ernie holds both his A&P and IA certifications. Every aircraft in our fleet is maintained by the same person you see at the airport every day. No outsourced maintenance, no delays, no guessing.
Right at Boise Airport
You train at a real commercial airport with an active control tower. That controlled airspace experience prepares you for real-world flying in a way that rural strips simply cannot match.
What Carmel Aviation
Students Are Saying
made my pilots Journey fun! “I started at Carmel in January of 2022 and have so far obtained Private Pilot, up to CFI through them and will be starting as one of their instructors. I've never had a bad experience with a single person at Carmel. The owners (the Sams), the instructors, front desk ladies, and maintenance have all been great and made my journey to a pilot amazing and fun.”
Carlie Gonzalez Google best flight school I’ve ever attended "This has been the best flight school I’ve ever attended, with patient instructors, well maintained aircraft, and awesome scheduling flexibility. They’ve helped me complete a lifelong goal! Cant wait to continue onto instrument."
Robert Hosterman Google can't imagine going anywhere else “I got my PPL through Carmel! Very friendly owners and reception staff. Instructors are even-keeled and knowledgeable. Planes are expertly maintained. Renter-friendly and student-friendly establishment. I can't imagine going anywhere else for any of my flying/learning needs!."
Riley Hayes Google
