Flying Club & Flight Training in Northern Nevada
High Sierra Pilots is a flying club based at Carson City Airport, welcoming student pilots and experienced aviators from Carson City, Reno, Lake Tahoe, and Carson Valley.
Whether you’re taking your first lesson or looking for more opportunities to use your pilot certificate, our club brings together aircraft access, flight training, and a community of people who love flying.
Explore Membership · Ask About a Discovery Flight
Learn to Fly in Carson City
You don’t need a pilot certificate—or any previous experience—to get started.
Learning to fly is a series of achievable steps. You’ll work with an instructor, build your skills, and gain confidence as you progress toward becoming a pilot. Our club gives you a place to begin and a flying community to grow with.
Not sure whether flying is for you? A discovery flight gives you a chance to experience it firsthand, meet an instructor, and ask questions before deciding what comes next.
Already training or returning after time away? Talk with us about your experience and goals so we can help you plan your next step.
Already a Pilot?
Your certificate opens the door. Having access to airplanes gives you a reason to walk through it.
Join us for proficiency flying, weekend trips, new training goals, or simply more time doing something you enjoy. Membership offers an alternative to buying and maintaining an airplane of your own, with access to different aircraft as your interests and qualifications develop.
Reserve aircraft online and plan your flying around your goals, subject to availability, checkout requirements, and club rules.
Find Your Airplane
Our Carson City fleet includes familiar training aircraft, capable traveling airplanes, and opportunities to explore different kinds of flying.
Cessna 172s: A familiar choice for flight training, proficiency, and personal trips.
Piper Cherokees and Archer: Low-wing options for training and recreational flying.
Cessna 182s: A step into more capable aircraft as your experience and qualifications grow.
Specialty aircraft: Explore the fleet page for additional aircraft and training opportunities.
Aircraft availability changes with scheduling and maintenance. Our team can help you understand which airplanes fit your experience, training needs, and intended trips.
Make Flying Part of Your Life
Carson City puts the Sierra Nevada, Lake Tahoe, and the open landscapes of the Great Basin within reach of your flying ambitions.
A local practice flight can become the foundation for something bigger: a weekend away, a new endorsement, or the confidence to plan a trip you’ve been thinking about for years.
Flying here also gives pilots reasons to keep learning. Mountain terrain, changing weather, and high-elevation operations reward thoughtful planning and continued instruction.
At High Sierra Pilots, developing your judgment is part of developing your freedom to explore.
More Than an Aircraft Reservation
The people you meet can become one of the best parts of joining a flying club.
Share ideas for destinations, learn from other pilots, take part in club events, and find encouragement as you work toward your next goal. You can be deeply involved or simply enjoy having familiar faces around the airport.
Our community includes people taking their first lessons and pilots who have been flying for decades. There’s room for both—and plenty to learn from each other.
Find a Waterfall Above Town
Head west toward Kings Canyon for a short hike to a waterfall tucked into the foothills. It’s a different side of Carson City from the desert landscape you might expect on arrival.
Bring walking shoes and water, and check trail conditions before heading out. The experience changes with the season and water flow.
Explore Kings Canyon Waterfall
Stay for a Soak
Carson Hot Springs makes a good reason to turn a quick visit into an overnight stay. Enjoy the outdoor mineral-water pools or look into a private indoor soaking room.
Check current access and availability before planning your visit.
Walk the Historic Neighborhoods
The Kit Carson Trail winds through Carson City’s historic district, connecting homes, landmarks, and stories from Nevada’s past.
Walk a section, explore downtown, and make time for lunch. It’s an easy way to give your passengers something to enjoy after the airplane is parked.
Fly In. Explore Carson.
Carson City deserves more than a fuel stop. Arrange ground transportation before arriving and leave yourself time to explore a few places beyond the airport.
Watch History Being Made
At the Nevada State Museum, housed in the historic Carson City Mint, you can see Coin Press No. 1 in action during scheduled demonstrations. On minting days, visitors can purchase a silver blank and watch it become a freshly struck medallion.
It’s a memorable souvenir with a much better story than something grabbed on the way out of town.
Questions About Joining?
Can I join before I’m a pilot?
Yes. High Sierra Pilots welcomes students as well as certificated pilots. Contact us to discuss getting started with flight training.
Do I need to own an airplane?
No. Membership provides access to club aircraft after you meet the applicable training, checkout, and membership requirements.
What does membership cost?
Visit our membership page for current plans, aircraft charges, and requirements. Aircraft rates are dry, meaning fuel is separate. If you’re learning to fly, ask us to walk through instruction and other training costs as well.
Can I take an airplane on a trip?
Trips are subject to aircraft availability, pilot qualifications, and club reservation and overnight policies.