Blue SkiesFlight AcademyFlight School in Sparta & Cookeville, TN
Whether you’re taking your first lesson, adding a rating, or training for a commercial, instructor, multi-engine, or airline career, Blue Skies Flight Academy will help you reach your next aviation goal. We’re based at Upper Cumberland Regional Airport in Sparta, Tennessee, and serve pilots across Sparta, Cookeville, McMinnville, and Crossville.
Experience matters.You won’t be training with a new pilot building hours while learning to teach. Our seasoned instructors bring a higher level of safety to every flight, and they know how to get you through training efficiently, which saves you time and money.
From your first flight all the way to ATP
We train under FAA Part 61, which means a flexible schedule built around your life, not a rigid syllabus calendar. Train at your own pace, on weekdays or weekends.
Discovery Flight
Take the controls with a certified instructor on a real training flight. No experience needed, and the time can be logged toward your pilot certificate.
Book online →Private Pilot
Your license to fly. Carry friends and family, travel across the country, and fly for the joy of it.
- FAA minimum: 40 flight hours
- Ground school and written exam prep
- Checkride preparation
Instrument Rating
Fly safely in clouds and reduced visibility. The single biggest safety upgrade for any private pilot.
- Taught by a CFII
- Real-world IFR experience
Commercial Pilot
The first step toward getting paid to fly, whether your goal is the airlines, charter, or instructing.
If you already meet the FAA’s flight-time requirements, we focus your training on the commercial maneuvers, complex-aircraft time, and checkride standards so you can finish quickly.
- Typical timeline: 1 to 2 weeks
- Typical cost: around $3,000 to $5,000
- Commercial maneuvers and checkride preparation
Flight Instructor (CFI / CFII / MEI)
Learn to teach from an instructor who holds all three ratings and runs a working flight school.
- CFI spin endorsement training in our Cessna 150: $600, all-inclusive
- Ground instruction on spin aerodynamics and recovery
Flight Reviews, IPCs & Endorsements
Stay current and sharp with a flight review, instrument proficiency check, or recurrent training. FAA WINGS credit available.
- Complex & high-performance endorsements in our Beechcraft Debonair: $2,000, all-inclusive
Multi-Engine Rating
Add a multi-engine rating in our twin with a Multi-Engine Instructor (MEI). Essential for any airline or charter career.
Airline Transport Pilot (ATP): Multi-Engine & Single-Engine
We can take you all the way to the highest pilot certificate the FAA issues. Once you've passed the ATP knowledge test, train with an ATP-rated chief instructor who has flown Part 121 airline operations, and take your checkride in our twin or in a single-engine airplane.
Multi-engine ATP applicants must complete the FAA's ATP Certification Training Program (ATP CTP) at an approved provider before the knowledge test. The single-engine ATP does not require the CTP.
Well-maintained aircraft, ready to fly
Our aircraft are maintained to a high standard and based at Upper Cumberland Regional Airport (KSRB).
Airline experience. Instructor's heart.
Lee Jacobs
Lee founded Blue Skies Flight Academy in 2025 to bring professional, airline-standard flight training to the Upper Cumberland. He holds an Airline Transport Pilot certificate, the highest pilot certificate the FAA issues, and is a Certified Flight Instructor with Instrument and Multi-Engine ratings.
Lee's 25 years in aviation include flying as a Part 121 First Officer on the Bombardier CRJ (CL-65) for Pinnacle Airlines and extensive time in the twin-engine Cessna 310. He is also an experienced aerobatic pilot.
Alongside flying, Lee spent 30 years founding and leading IT companies in highly regulated fields such as pharmaceuticals and aerospace, where checklists, standard procedures, and strict compliance are a way of life. He brings that same discipline to every lesson. He also holds a B.S. in Psychology from the University of California, Riverside, which helps him tailor his teaching to each student.
Outside the cockpit, Lee is an Ironman triathlete, U.S. Masters swimmer, sailor, and Advanced Open Water diver. He is a member of LifeLine Pilots, AOPA, and The Twin Cessna Flyer, and an active participant in the FAA WINGS safety program.
- Airline Transport Pilot
- CFI
- CFII
- MEI
- First-Class Medical
Safety first. Always.
Maintenance is done right here on the field, so small issues get fixed fast and your training stays on schedule. We move quickly, but we never cut corners: safety is the highest standard every airplane has to meet before it flies.
Maintenance on site
Our aircraft are cared for where they're based, at Upper Cumberland Regional Airport, by our partner maintenance shop and its A&P / IA certified mechanic. No ferry flights to a distant shop and no waiting weeks for an airplane to come back.
Problems solved quickly
When a squawk comes up, we deal with it right away. That means fewer cancelled lessons and more time in the air working toward your certificate.
Safety is the standard
Speed never outranks safety. If an airplane isn't right, it doesn't fly until it is. You can train with confidence knowing every aircraft is held to the highest standard.
What our students say
Real reviews from Blue Skies students on Google.
Three steps to your first lesson
Book a discovery flight
Meet your instructor, tour the airport, and fly the airplane yourself. It's the best way to find out if flying is for you.
Book online →Sign up as a student
Create your account in Flight Schedule Pro to book lessons, see instructor availability, and track your progress.
Sign up →Get your medical & start training
Schedule an FAA medical exam before your first solo, and start flying on a schedule that works for you.
Interested in scholarships?
Several national aviation organizations offer scholarships for new and advancing pilots. We're happy to help you with your application.
Common questions
Do I need any experience to take a discovery flight?
None at all. Your instructor will walk you through everything on the ground first, and you'll handle the controls in the air with the instructor beside you the whole time.
How old do I have to be?
There is no FAA minimum age to start taking lessons, but because of the complexity of flying an airplane, we prefer students be at least 14 to start training. You must be 16 to fly solo and 17 to earn a Private Pilot certificate.
Do I need a medical certificate?
Yes, you'll need an FAA medical certificate before your first solo flight. We recommend getting it early in your training. We can point you to aviation medical examiners in the area.
How long does it take to get a Private Pilot certificate?
The FAA minimum is 40 flight hours, though most students need more. Students who fly two to three times a week often finish in four to six months.
How much does flight training cost?
A Private Pilot certificate generally costs around $12,000 to $18,000. Where you land in that range depends mostly on two things: how often you fly and how much you study.
The more often you fly, the less the certificate costs overall. Students who fly two to three times a week retain more between lessons, spend less time re-learning, and usually finish in fewer total hours. Coming to each lesson prepared saves money too.
Experience matters too. We aren’t new pilots building hours while we learn to teach. Our instructors are seasoned aviators who know how to teach efficiently, and that helps students get through training faster and for less.
If your goal is the airlines, the Private certificate is the first step in a longer path of ratings, and it's money well spent. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for airline pilots was $232,140 in May 2025. That adds up to more than $5 million over a 25-year career.
Because fuel and parts prices change often, call (931) 279-6351 or email admin@blueskiesflightacademy.com for current aircraft and instructor rates.
What does Part 61 mean?
Part 61 is the section of the FAA regulations that lets flight schools tailor training to each student. It gives you flexible scheduling and a pace that fits your job, school, and family.
Where are you located?
We're at Upper Cumberland Regional Airport (KSRB), the regional airport serving Sparta and Cookeville, at 826 Airport Rd., Sparta, TN 38583.
Come fly with us
Questions about training, scheduling, or billing? We'd love to hear from you.
Upper Cumberland Regional Airport (KSRB), serving Sparta & Cookeville