A-Cent Aviation, Inc. is a Jacksonville-based flight school operating under FAA Parts 141, 61, and 91, with its primary location at Herlong Recreational Airport (KHEG) on the southwest side of Jacksonville and a second location at Fernandina Beach Airport (KFHB) in Fernandina Beach, Florida. Founded over 15 years ago and led by CEO Donnell Vigil, the school has positioned itself as one of the most comprehensive general aviation training and experience operations on Florida's First Coast.   A-Cent's training curriculum covers the full certificate and rating pathway — Light Sport, Private Pilot, Instrument Rating, Commercial Single-Engine, Commercial Multi-Engine, CFI, CFII, and MEI — along with ground instruction, simulator sessions, flight reviews, complex endorsements, high-performance endorsements, and Part 107 commercial drone pilot certification. The school also offers a dedicated Pro Pilot pathway for students pursuing a professional aviation career, and notably provides a Checkride Guarantee — an unusual and confidence-building offering that signals the school's commitment to thorough preparation before practical tests. Scheduling is handled through FlightCircle, and pricing is available in both phase and block options, with block time offering a $5​/​hour discount across the fleet.   Beyond structured flight training, A-Cent operates a robust aerial experience business covering romance flights, Jacksonville sightseeing tours, First Coast tours, real estate photo flights, golf course overflights, cross-country tours to South Florida and Georgia, and event-based experiences including birthday parties, proposals, weddings, and baby gender reveals. This dual identity — serious flight school and community experience provider — gives the school unusually broad market reach in the Jacksonville area.   A-Cent is one of only two pilot shops in the Jacksonville area, stocking learning materials, headsets, flight bags, hats, and aircraft parts. The school also operates as a certified CATS​/​PSI facility for all FAA knowledge exams and a Comira testing facility for other professional certification exams, making it a one-stop resource for student pilots throughout the checkride process.

Home Airport(s)

Herlong Recreational Airport (Primary Location) ICAO: KHEG | IATA: None (FAA LID: HEG)   Located approximately eight nautical miles southwest of downtown Jacksonville in Duval County, Florida. Owned by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority (JAA). The airport covers 1,484 acres and sits at an elevation of 85–86 ft MSL. Originally built during World War II for Navy and Air Force pilot training; awarded Florida Department of Transportation General Aviation Airport of the Year in 2001.   Runways: Runway 07​/​25 — 4,000 ft × 100 ft (asphalt; MIRL; pilot-controlled via CTAF 123.0; RNAV​/​GPS approaches) Runway 11​/​29 — 3,500 ft × 100 ft (asphalt; MIRL; pilot-controlled via CTAF 123.0) No control tower. Uncontrolled airspace; CTAF​/​UNICOM 123.0. AWOS-3 on field. Ultralight and glider activity noted on and in the vicinity of the airport.   For flight training, KHEG is an excellent environment across all stages. The two-runway layout gives students multiple wind options for pattern work and crosswind practice without having to coordinate with ATC, and the wide 100-foot runways provide meaningful margins for early student landings. The low-traffic, uncontrolled setting means students build self-reliance in radio communication and traffic scanning from their first lessons. At 1,484 acres, the airport grounds are spacious and unhurried — there's genuine room to breathe here, which contrasts sharply with Jacksonville's busier towered fields. North Florida's weather is among the best in the eastern U.S. for year-round flying, with a long warm season, abundant VFR days, and only modest disruption from summer afternoon convective activity. The presence of ultralights and gliders on field also introduces students early to mixed-traffic awareness, a useful real-world skill. The proximity to Jacksonville's Class C airspace at JAX International (approximately 14 nm away) means advanced students can access controlled airspace for IFR and cross-country training without traveling far from base.   Fernandina Beach Airport (Secondary Location) ICAO: KFHB | FAA LID: FHB Located in Fernandina Beach, FL (Nassau County), approximately 30 miles northeast of Jacksonville. Single runway (13​/​31 — 4,750 ft × 75 ft; asphalt; RNAV​/​GPS approaches). Uncontrolled field. Coastal setting adds cross-country routing variety.

Fleet and Facilities

A-Cent operates one of the largest and most diverse fleets of any independent flight school in the Jacksonville area, with 15+ aircraft spanning multiple types and price points. All wet rates include oil and fuel.   Primary Trainers (Two-Seat): Cessna 150G — Classic two-seat trainer; $125​/​hr Cessna 150H (×2) — Two variants; $125​/​hr Cessna 150L — $125​/​hr Cessna 162 Skycatcher — Light Sport Aircraft; $125​/​hr   Four-Seat Trainers: Cessna 172F (×2) — Two aircraft; $140​/​hr Cessna 172G — Enhanced wing design variant; $190​/​hr Cessna 172S — Glass cockpit with autopilot and leather interior; $170​/​hr   Complex ​/​ High Performance ​/​ Advanced: Piper Arrow IV — Retractable gear; IFR-equipped; complex endorsement platform; $190​/​hr Piper Cherokee 140 — 160 hp engine upgrade; $145​/​hr Piper Cherokee 140 (#2) — $165​/​hr Piper Cherokee 180 — Enhanced payload and performance; $160​/​hr Piper Cherokee Six — High-performance endorsement platform; Bahamas-capable; $215​/​hr Aero Commander 100 — Single-engine four-seater; reliable cross-country platform; $195​/​hr   Multi-Engine: Piper Seneca II — Twin-engine; used for MEI and multi-engine training and extended cross-country; $375​/​hr   On-site facilities at KHEG include a full pilot shop, CATS​/​PSI and Comira testing center, and FlightCircle-based scheduling. All aircraft renters are required to complete a checkout flight with an A-Cent instructor, undergo currency renewal every 90 days, carry renter's insurance with a minimum $10,000 liability coverage, and have a major credit card on file. Hobbs-time billing with a maximum daily charge cap is used for rental pricing.

Additional Notes

A-Cent Aviation's fleet depth is its most distinctive operational asset. With 15+ aircraft ranging from entry-level two-seat trainers to a twin-engine Seneca and a high-performance Cherokee Six, students can complete their entire certificate pathway — including complex, high-performance, multi-engine, and instrument endorsements — within a single school without changing operators. The presence of multiple aircraft at similar type ratings also improves scheduling availability, which is a persistent pain point at smaller schools.   The school's dual-location setup at KHEG and KFHB provides geographic variety and routing options, with the Fernandina Beach location offering a coastal, low-traffic setting that complements the more established Herlong base. The MOSAIC Sport Pilot 2.0 page on the school's website signals awareness of and likely preparation for the FAA's expanded Light Sport Aircraft rules under MOSAIC, which broadens the aircraft eligible for Light Sport operations and could meaningfully expand the school's Sport Pilot training options.   The Checkride Guarantee is worth highlighting for prospective students — it's an uncommon offering that reflects genuine confidence in the school's preparation process and shifts some of the practical test risk from student to instructor, which is a meaningful commitment.