Fly Around Arkansas, a flight school operating at Baxter County Airport, recently expanded its operations with the addition of three new training aircraft. Founded 28 years ago in Palmer, Alaska, by aviation professionals Artic Wikle and Don Hammond, the school opened its Baxter County location in 2024, citing favorable flying weather and proximity to training customers in the Twin Lakes area as key factors in their decision to expand.
Hammond, now the owner of Fly Around Arkansas, expressed enthusiasm about the move to Mountain Home. "We are so pleased to be here in the Mountain Home area. We have bought homes and relocated our families to grow our business along with the local economy," Hammond said.
The newly acquired training aircraft, all Tecnam models, represent a modern update compared to traditional trainer planes that are often decades old. Manufactured by one of Europe’s largest producers of piston-engine aircraft, these planes feature advanced composite materials, fuel efficiency, low operating costs, and state-of-the-art avionics.
Fly Around Arkansas provides training across all pilot certification levels, from the entry-level sport pilot license to advanced airline transport certification. The sport pilot license, one of the more accessible pathways for new aviators, requires only a valid driver’s license to meet FAA medical requirements. It also limits pilots to flying simpler aircraft in less congested airspace with just one passenger. For aspiring professional pilots, the school offers a comprehensive Professional Pilot Program, covering training from private to commercial pilot certification at a cost of $69,665.
Additional training to achieve advanced FAA ratings, such as Certified Flight Instructor or Multi-Engine Pilot, is also available. These programs range in cost from $6,250 to $9,350. For certified pilots interested in aircraft rental, Fly Around Arkansas plans to offer rental options for its high-quality aircraft. Hourly rental rates are expected to start at $210, with instructors available for $75 per hour to provide mandatory initial check-out flights.
The flight school’s new aircraft are housed in a hangar recently completed at the Baxter County Airport. More information about Fly Around Arkansas and its programs can be found at their office inside the Baxter County Airport Terminal, located at 6462 Highway 126 near Midway.