Learn the freedom that flight affords.

At NC Mountain Aero, we turn the mountain horizon into a habit—freedom you can repeat, refine, and trust. Training exclusively in the Cirrus SR Series, we build judgment, clarity, and calm backed by modern avionics and Cirrus safety systems.

Start in the Blue Ridge, then stretch your map—coastlines, cities, long weekends that used to be out of reach. Fly for the life you want: efficient travel, earned confidence, and peace of mind for the people you love. 

Training to Make Earning Your Next Pilot Certification Easier​

NC Mountain Aero, based at Asheville Regional Airport (KAVL), offers structured flight training under 14 CFR Part 61 for Private, Instrument, and Commercial pilot certificates, as well as mountain flying proficiency. Training in Asheville’s Class C airspace emphasizes disciplined radio communication, precise adherence to ATC, and experience in both controlled and uncontrolled environments, preparing pilots to operate confidently anywhere.

Explore Flight Lessons

Flight Training That Keeps You Legally Current and Proficient

Maintaining flight currency means keeping your skills, knowledge, and legal requirements up to date so you can fly safely and confidently. At NC Mountain Aero, that includes thoughtful flight reviews and instrument proficiency checks that go beyond the bare minimum to cover real-world scenarios in the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains. By regularly training with an experienced instructor, pilots stay both current and truly proficient, not just “legal on paper.”

Explore Flight Currency

Earn Your Wings, One Certificate at a Time

Earning new aviation credentials is how a good pilot becomes a great one, stacking skill on top of solid fundamentals. Whether you are working toward your Private, Instrument, or Commercial certificate, each step adds precision, confidence, and range to where and how you can fly. With structured training and real-world practice in demanding mountain airspace, those credentials become more than ink on a plastic card; they become proof you can handle whatever the sky hands you.

Explore Earning Credentials

Our Fleet: Modern, Comfortable, & Built For Serious Training

NC Mountain Aero’s fleet is centered around the Cirrus SR Series, modern training aircraft based at Asheville Regional Airport (KAVL). With Garmin Perspective Plus avionics and a quiet, refined cabin, the series gives both new and experienced pilots a stable, capable platform to learn and advance their skills. Available for private, instrument, and commercial training, this aircraft lets students experience the comfort and technology of a high-performance modern cockpit from day one.

The Cirrus Life
  • Headshot of smiling male flight instructor

    Greg Larson

    MS, CFI-I, AGI, ASEL, CSIP
    Owner | Chief Flight Instructor

    Learn More
  • Headshot of smiling female with long red hair hair wearing a lanyard.

    Marla Larson

    MS, CCEP, NBC-HWC
    Operations Director

    Learn More

  • Gopal Sundaramoorthy

    CSIP
    Flight Instructor

    learn more

  • "Greg is a fantastic Cirrus CSIP CFII! I did the Cirrus Embark training with Greg as well as my biennial flight review. It was, by far, the most complete, organized, and thorough review I've had in my 40+ years of flying. Greg is extremely knowledgeable about the Cirrus platform, and when he did not know the answer to a specific question, he reached out to Cirrus, got the answer, and got back to me quickly. If you are looking for a fast, rubber-stamped biennial, Greg is not the guy for you. If you want a complete, knowledgeable CFII who shares information you will use for the rest of your flying career, give him a call. A great investment of time and resources."

    —Jeff Krider

  • "My husband found NC Mountain Aero through a Google search, and we knew nothing about Greg, Marla, or NC Mountain Aero prior to finding them online. I was looking for a Cirrus instructor for my PPL, and after a brief call with Marla, I had a good feeling about doing flight training there, so I signed on. In hindsight, I realize how lucky I was, because I can now see that your first flight instructor teaches you many initial habits (for better or worse) that will stay with you as a pilot for years to come. I am very grateful to have Greg as a flight instructor. Greg exemplifies integrity, professionalism, and patience in a way that is hard to come by these days. I feel safe and comfortable training with Greg. He has an ability to be incredibly patient and allow me to go through the learning process, but also a keen sense of when it’s time to move me forward to the next steps. He is not only my flight instructor; I feel like he and Marla are dear, trusted friends. I highly recommend working with Greg, Marla, and NC Mountain Aero. If I could give them 100 stars, I would!"

    —Courtney Sanborn

  • "Greg is great! Top line and bottom line. I’m a 79-year-old pilot who flies an SR22 Cirrus. I have 2,300 hours as PIC, have flown since 2001, and have flown a Cirrus since 2008. Plans way back then were to train regularly using a Cirrus syllabus, which came with my original SR20. But the best-laid plans of mice and pilots often never take off. Now, as a 79-year-old pilot, I think my skills are still sharp, but maybe I am not the best judge of that. My wife of 60 years, who wants to keep me around, wonders about that too. So 24 years later, it’s time to start. I recently flew with Greg Larson, a CSIP based at KAVL, and plan to fly 3 hours with him every 3 months. The flight plan we have filed calls for him to assess my ability to, at a minimum, be safe, but optimally to increase my skills. Perfection is unattainable but pursuable. Excellence is the goal. I have asked Greg to point out the things that need improvement and adjust our flight plan to work on them. He will be my flight coach: knowledgeable, supportive, low-key, observant, affirming, upbeat, responsive. All the qualities you want in an instructor."

    —Ruffin Benton

  • "NC Mountain Aero is a top-quality training school. I used them for transition training to a Cirrus SR22T. Greg is a fantastic instructor, and he made the training interesting and enjoyable. Now that I have many hours in the Cirrus, I recognize that I was very well trained. I’ve been more than prepared for everything I’ve encountered flying across the U.S. A bonus at NC Mountain Aero is Marla, whose administrative skills keep the operation running smoothly and efficiently. This is a great business."

    —Bruce Dickerson

Let’s begin the conversation.

Not sure where to start? We’re here to help. Every student’s path is unique, and we want to ensure you find the perfect fit. Reach out with any questions, or if you're ready to dive right in, schedule a free consultation today.