A.I.R. Flight Academy is a Part 61 flight school based at Gwinnett County Airport​/​Briscoe Field (KLZU) in Lawrenceville, Georgia, operating out of the Sheltair FBO at 850 Airport Road. The school launched in late summer 2025 and is among the newer flight training operations at KLZU, though it is led by an instructor team with substantial professional aviation experience — notably a Chief CFI who is both a current major airline captain at Delta Air Lines and a former military fighter pilot.   That instructor pedigree is the school's most distinctive credential. Students train directly under or alongside CFIs who have operated at the highest levels of both military and commercial aviation, which translates into a training philosophy oriented around professional-grade decision-making, systems thinking, and airmanship from the earliest stages of instruction. The school describes its approach as a structured, building-block method with part-task training, designed to accelerate student progress while reinforcing sound foundational skills at each stage.   Training programs currently offered span Private Pilot License, Instrument Rating, Commercial Pilot License, CFI, and CFII. Introductory ground lessons and discovery flights are also available. Multi-Engine Rating and MEI certification are noted as forthcoming additions to the curriculum. The school maintains small class sizes to ensure one-on-one instructor attention and emphasizes career guidance alongside flight instruction for students on a professional aviation trajectory.   A.I.R. Flight Academy also notes a nonprofit and charity component to its operations, with stated goals around expanding aviation access and inspiring future pilots in the broader community — an unusual dimension for a small Part 61 school.

Home Airport(s)

Gwinnett County Airport ​/​ Briscoe Field ICAO: KLZU | IATA: LZU | FAA LID: LZU   Located approximately two miles northeast of downtown Lawrenceville, Georgia, and about 30 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta. Owned and operated by Gwinnett County. The airport covers 520 acres and sits at an elevation of 1,061 ft MSL. FBOs on field: Sheltair (north ramp, where A.I.R. Flight Academy is based) and Aircraft Specialists (south ramp).   Runway: Runway 07​/​25 — 6,000 ft × 100 ft (asphalt; ILS​/​LOC and MALSR for Runway 25; RNAV​/​GPS approaches both ends; HIRL; PAPI both ends) Full-time ATC tower. Class D airspace. TPA for light aircraft: 1,039 ft MSL (pattern at 978 ft AGL). TPA for jet and turboprop aircraft: 1,539 ft MSL.   For flight training, KLZU is a strong home base with a particularly useful mix of runway length, controlled airspace, and surrounding terrain. The 6,000-foot runway is generous for training aircraft and provides real margin for student operations, including short-field and soft-field technique work, without the constraints of a shorter strip. The controlled Class D environment with a full-time tower means students receive consistent ATC communication experience from their first solo and develop radio confidence and airspace discipline early. The elevation at just over 1,000 ft MSL brings mild density altitude considerations on warm Georgia summer days — not extreme, but enough to build performance awareness in student pilots. The Atlanta metro area's proximity means students can progress into Class C and Class B airspace at Hartsfield-Jackson (KATL, approximately 30 nm southwest) and Dekalb-Peachtree (KPDK, approximately 18 nm west) for advanced cross-country and instrument training. Discovery flights route over Lake Lanier to the northeast, giving students memorable views of one of Georgia's most scenic bodies of water on their first experience in the cockpit.

Fleet and Facilities

Cessna 172 — The school currently trains in Cessna 172 aircraft, described as IFR-equipped and fitted with updated avionics consistent with current airline technology standards. Specific model variants and avionics configurations are not detailed in publicly available materials, but the school's emphasis on modern glass cockpit-style avionics suggests current-generation equipment. The Cessna 172 is used across all training stages from Private Pilot through Commercial and instrument training.   The school is located within the Sheltair FBO at KLZU, which provides a professional FBO environment with passenger lounges, fuel services, and field infrastructure. A.I.R. Flight Academy's own facilities include instructional space for ground lessons and pre​/​post-flight briefings.

Additional Notes

A.I.R. Flight Academy is a new school — launched in September 2025 — which means it is still building its student base, instructor roster, and operational track record. The early review on record highlights the Delta captain ​/​ ex-fighter pilot leadership, competitive pricing relative to other KLZU-based schools, and a strong training culture as key differentiators.   The school's location at KLZU puts it in a competitive field — Gwinnett County Airport hosts multiple flight training operations including ATP Flight School, Advanced Aviation (established since 1992), and others. A.I.R. Flight Academy's positioning on instructor pedigree and small-group, personalized instruction is a clear differentiator from larger academy-style programs at the same field.   The planned expansion into multi-engine and MEI training will meaningfully extend the school's career pathway capabilities. Prospective students should confirm current fleet composition, instructor availability, and multi-engine timeline directly, as the school is early in its development and details may evolve quickly from what is currently published.