Skillfly is a Part 61 flight school operating at Searcy Regional Airport (KSRC) in Searcy, Arkansas. The school was built around Jay Bruce, who flew as a private pilot for many years before deciding to add instructional ratings. Bruce earned his first Flight Instructor certificate — for light sport airplanes — in 2015, and has been actively instructing for a decade. Skillfly offers training at every level from Sport Pilot through Commercial, with Instrument and Multi-Engine add-ons available, positioning the school to serve both recreational pilots and those building toward a professional flying career.   Skillfly operates under Part 61, meaning training is structured around individual student schedules and goals rather than a fixed Part 141 curriculum with FAA-approved stage checks. This flexibility makes the school accessible to working adults, career-changers, and anyone who cannot commit to a full-time accelerated program. The school markets itself with a straightforward mission — personalized instruction delivered by CFIs who are genuinely motivated by aviation — and avoids the pipeline-program structure that characterizes larger regional academies.   The instructional team currently includes three CFIs. Jay Bruce is the senior instructor and holds ratings covering Sport, Private, Commercial, Instrument, Multi-Engine, Tailwheel, Complex, and High Performance, making him qualified to take a student from a discovery flight all the way through commercial certificate completion. Rileigh Offenbacker began her flying journey around 2018 while in college, earned her CFI certificate at the close of 2023, joined Skillfly at the start of 2024, and added Multi-Engine instructor privileges in 2025. Steven Yingling is an Air Force veteran with a background in aircraft maintenance. Yingling began flight training in 2017 under Bruce, earned his Private Pilot Certificate, added a Light Sport Instructor rating and Multi-Engine privileges to his private certificate, and holds an FAA Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) Mechanic Certificate with Inspection Authorization — a credential that meaningfully supports the school's maintenance awareness and aircraft airworthiness culture. The presence of an A&P IA on the instructional team is a practical asset for a small independent school operating a mixed-vintage fleet.   Skillfly serves a broad student population including first-time student pilots pursuing Sport or Private certificates, existing private pilots working toward Instrument or Commercial ratings, pilots seeking multi-engine add-ons, and individuals who want tailwheel, complex, or high-performance endorsements. Gift certificates are available, reflecting the school's openness to discovery flights and introductory experiences as a point of entry. The school's mailing address is listed as 2513 S. Main St., Searcy, AR 72143, which corresponds to the airport area on the south side of the city.

Home Airport(s)

Searcy Regional Airport (IATA: SRC, ICAO: KSRC, FAA LID: SRC) is a publicly owned, public-use general aviation airport located approximately 3 miles south of the central business district of Searcy, in White County, Arkansas. The airport sits at a surveyed elevation of 264 feet MSL and covers 330 acres. It is owned by the City of Searcy. The FAA classifies KSRC as a general aviation facility within the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems. The airport was activated in April 1946 and is within the Memphis Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) area.   KSRC is an uncontrolled airport with no FAA control tower. The CTAF and UNICOM frequency is 122.7. An AWOS-3PT weather system is available on 128.325. Little Rock Approach and Departure Control are accessible on 119.75 and serve as the IFR gateway for departures and arrivals in instrument conditions. The airport is staffed during normal business hours, with the FBO — operated by the City of Searcy — open 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily, with some holiday exceptions and after-hours services available by request with applicable call-out fees.   KSRC has a single runway, designated 1​/​19, measuring 6,008 feet by 100 feet on an asphalt surface in good condition. The runway is oriented approximately 011​/​191 degrees magnetic. Runway edge lighting is medium intensity; the lights are preset to low intensity and can be activated or intensified by pilot-controlled lighting on the CTAF. Both runway ends are equipped with 4-light PAPI systems on the left side, each set to a 3.0-degree glide path. Runway 1 carries a 1,400-foot MALSR (medium intensity approach lighting system with runway alignment indicator lights) and supports an ILS​/​DME approach. REIL is installed on Runway 19. Precision markings are present on both ends. A notable FAA remark on the airport record states there is no line of sight between the runway ends for small aircraft — a condition pilots should be aware of for traffic pattern separation. Additional NOTAM-class remarks note frequent agricultural aircraft operations between February and November at or below 500 feet AGL, as well as regular gyrocopter activity during daylight hours and numerous student pilot operations. Single-wheel pavement weight capacity is 40,000 pounds and dual-wheel capacity is 65,000 pounds. Published instrument approaches include the ILS or LOC Runway 1, and RNAV (GPS) approaches for both Runway 1 and Runway 19. Special alternate minimums and special takeoff minimums apply.   For a small GA training airport in central Arkansas, KSRC offers a notably capable infrastructure. The 6,008-foot runway is longer than many regional GA airports in the South, giving student pilots room to practice stabilized approaches and go-arounds without the short-field pressure that constrains training at smaller strips. The presence of an ILS on Runway 1 is a meaningful asset for instrument students, who can practice precision approaches at their home airport rather than diverting to a busier towered facility. The airport's uncontrolled status keeps traffic patterns accessible and radio workload manageable for primary students, while proximity to Little Rock TRACON provides a realistic IFR environment for more advanced training. The airport is also home to two FAA Designated Pilot Examiners, meaning checkrides for most certificates and ratings can be conducted on the field — a logistical convenience that reduces cost and scheduling friction for students completing their training at Skillfly.

Fleet and Facilities

Skillfly operates a mixed fleet of training aircraft spanning light sport, single-engine, and multi-engine platforms. The specific aircraft types on the flight line — confirmed through the school's Skyfarer Academy instructor profile — include a Tecnam P2008, a Cessna 172SP, a Cessna 150L, a Piper PA-28-140​/​160, and a Beechcraft Musketeer. Multi-engine training is offered and confirmed by the school's curriculum and instructor ratings; the specific twin-engine aircraft type in use has not been publicly identified on the school's website and prospective multi-engine students should confirm the current platform directly with the school. Published rental rates for the single-engine fleet have been listed at $125–$135 wet, with instruction at $60 per hour, making Skillfly one of the more accessible-priced flight training options in the Arkansas market.   Tecnam P2008 The Tecnam P2008 is an Italian-designed, high-wing, two-seat Light Sport Aircraft built with composite construction and powered by a Rotax engine. It qualifies as a Light Sport Aircraft under FAA definitions and is the primary platform for Sport Pilot training at Skillfly. The P2008 features a stick rather than a yoke, side-by-side seating, and modern avionics typical of light sport platforms, including a glass-panel display option. It burns mogas or avgas, making it cost-efficient to operate relative to traditional trainers. Its light weight and responsive handling make it an effective introduction to flight, though its stall behavior is somewhat less predictable than legacy Cessna trainers — a characteristic that, when properly taught, builds good habit formation for students who will eventually transition to more demanding aircraft.   Cessna 172SP The Cessna 172SP is the most widely used training aircraft in general aviation history. The SP variant is powered by a Lycoming IO-360-L2A engine producing 180 horsepower and is fuel-injected, eliminating carburetor ice as a training consideration. Gross weight is 2,550 pounds. The 172SP features a high-wing configuration offering excellent ground visibility and natural stability that makes it well-suited for primary and instrument training. Cruise speed is approximately 117 knots at 8,500 feet at 65 percent power. The SP variant at Skillfly serves as the school's primary four-seat single-engine trainer and is used for Private, Commercial, and Instrument training. Avionics specifics for the school's individual aircraft are not published and should be confirmed with the school.   Cessna 150L The Cessna 150L is a two-seat, high-wing light trainer produced in the 1970s and widely regarded as one of the most forgiving introductory aircraft in general aviation. The L variant is powered by a Continental O-200-A producing 100 horsepower. Gross weight is 1,600 pounds and stall speed is approximately 42 knots. Its simplicity — minimal systems, conventional round-gauge instrumentation, and benign handling — makes it an effective and economical platform for students in the early stages of Sport or Private training, particularly those building hours at low cost. The 150L at Skillfly expands the school's capacity to serve entry-level students and budget-conscious pilots building time.   Piper PA-28-140​/​160 The Piper PA-28 Cherokee in the -140 and -160 variants is a low-wing, four-seat piston single powered by a Lycoming O-320 producing 140 or 160 horsepower depending on the specific model year. The low-wing configuration provides a fundamentally different sight picture and crosswind correction geometry compared to the Cessna high-wing trainers in the fleet, giving Skillfly students exposure to both primary configurations during their training. The PA-28 at Skillfly is used for Private, Commercial, and cross-country training. Its four-seat cabin and fuel capacity make it suitable for the longer cross-country flights required for Private and Commercial certificates.   Beechcraft Musketeer The Beechcraft Musketeer, produced under the Model 23 and related designations from the 1960s through the 1970s, is a low-wing, four-seat trainer powered by a Lycoming O-320 or O-360 depending on variant. It is less commonly found in active training fleets than the PA-28 or Cessna 172, giving Skillfly a degree of fleet diversity unusual for a small independent school. The Musketeer's side-by-side cockpit, gentle handling, and docile stall characteristics make it an effective trainer. Its presence in the fleet allows for expanded scheduling capacity and provides students with experience across a wider range of aircraft types — relevant for the Complex and High Performance endorsements that Skillfly's instructors are qualified to provide.  

Hours of Operation

It lists the school as "always open," consistent with the flexible, student-schedule-driven model of a Part 61 school with a small, owner-operated team. No fixed daily counter hours are published. Training flights and ground instruction are scheduled directly with individual CFIs and can accommodate early morning, evening, and weekend sessions depending on instructor and aircraft availability. Prospective students are directed to contact the school via email or phone to discuss scheduling.

Additional Notes

Skillfly's position in the Searcy market is defined by genuine accessibility on multiple dimensions: geographic, financial, and structural. Searcy sits roughly 45 miles northeast of Little Rock, in a part of Arkansas that has no large airline-feeder flight academy competing for the same student base. The school's published wet rental rates of $125–$135 per hour and $60 per hour for instruction are meaningfully below the national average for comparable aircraft and instruction, which has trended well above $200 per hour combined at most urban and suburban flight schools in recent years. For a working resident of central Arkansas who wants to earn a Private or Sport Pilot certificate without commuting to Little Rock or paying metro-area pricing, Skillfly is the most accessible structured option in the immediate region.