We are proudly based at the Schenectady County Airport (KSCH), just ten minutes from downtown Schenectady and 30 minutes from Albany—making it the perfect location for students seeking accessible, high-quality flight training in New York’s Capital Region.
KSCH has been an active aviation hub since World War II, long serving as a training field for pilots, air traffic controllers, and the National Guard. Today, it remains an ideal environment for pilot training, offering students real-world exposure as they share the airspace with other student pilots, corporate jets, and military C-130s. This diverse mix of traffic strengthens situational awareness and prepares students for everything from private pilot training to commercial pilot training and even future airline pilot training.
Five Star Flight operates from the SCCC Hangars located on the airport’s south end. Our facility features four fully equipped hangars and a dedicated briefing room—providing the ideal setup for both ground instruction and hands-on flight lessons. This professional training environment supports every stage of your aviation training, ensuring you have the resources, aircraft, and expertise needed to achieve your pilot career goals.
Most of our flight training is conducted in designated Practice Areas — over flat, open farmland ideal for maneuvers, emergency procedures, and essential pilot training. These areas give students a safe and controlled environment for their early flight lessons.
The Northwest Practice Area sits between Great Sacandaga Lake and the City of Amsterdam, with the Mohawk River offering an easy navigational reference.
The Northeast Practice Area lies near Saratoga Lake, another clear visual landmark that supports navigation during aviation training.
As students progress, they gain experience flying around nearby hilly and mountainous terrain during the cross-country phase of private pilot and commercial pilot training.
Advanced and commercial students also train south near New York City—some of the busiest airspace in the world. Instructors may even allow students to fly the iconic Hudson River Corridor, providing valuable real-world exposure for future pilot careers and airline pilot training.
While each training flight is different, here are some airports a student at Five Star can expect to visit:
NY0 – Fulton County
5B2 – Saratoga County
ALB – Albany Intl
4B0 – South Albany
GFL – Floyd Bennett Memorial
1B1 – Columbia County
NY1 – Kline Kill*
DDH – William Morse State**
*used for soft-field practice
**used for instrument training
RME – Griffis Intl
4B6 – Ticonderoga Muni
BAF – Westfield-Barnes Rgnl
SWF – Stewart Intl
POU – Hudson Valley Rgnl
N66 – Oneonta
GON – Groton-New London
BDR – Bridgeport/Sikorski
ITH – Ithaca Tompkins Intl
ELM – Elmira-Corning Rgnl
MHT – Manchester Boston Rgnl
ASH – Nashua Boire Field
PBG – Plattsburg Intl
BTV – Burlington Intl
Note: >100nm cross-country flights are generally reserved for commercial training.
