About Us
The Solid Ground Aviation Story
Founded by professional pilot Todd O’Brien in 2020, Solid Ground Aviation provides advanced, simulator-first flight instruction in Fort Meade, Maryland. The company was created to bring professional aviation training standards to the general aviation community using a custom-built, FAA compliant Basic Aviation Training Device (BATD). With programs spanning private pilot to instrument, commercial, and instructor certifications, Solid Ground emphasizes safety, efficiency, and realism. Their in-house designed SG-1 and SG-2 simulators replicate real cockpits with configurable touch panels, allowing highly tailored and repeatable training without weather or maintenance interruptions.
About Us
The Solid Ground Aviation Story
Founded by professional pilot Todd O’Brien in 2020, Solid Ground Aviation provides advanced, simulator-first flight instruction in Fort Meade, Maryland. The company was created to bring professional aviation training standards to the general aviation community using a custom-built, FAA compliant Basic Aviation Training Device (BATD). With programs spanning private pilot to instrument, commercial, and instructor certifications, Solid Ground emphasizes safety, efficiency, and realism. Their in-house designed SG-1 and SG-2 simulators replicate real cockpits with configurable touch panels, allowing highly tailored and repeatable training without weather or maintenance interruptions.
About Us
Our Mission
To provide quality and cost-effective training to pilots of all experience levels through immersive simulation, bridging the gap between professional and general aviation training standards.
About Us
Our Vision
To become the trusted national standard for simulator-based flight training, where every pilot, from student to professional, chooses Solid Ground Aviation to enhance safety, proficiency, and confidence.
About Us
Our Values
Professionalism
Solid Ground Aviation holds itself to the same high standards of discipline and precision found in commercial and corporate aviation. Every interaction, from the classroom to the simulator, is conducted with respect, consistency, and excellence. The team models the professional conduct expected of pilots, ensuring students not only gain technical skill but also adopt the mindset and habits that define safe, capable aviators.
Safety and reliability
Safety is the foundation of everything at Solid Ground Aviation. By focusing on simulation-based instruction, the organization removes weather, maintenance, and operational risks while allowing unlimited practice in emergency and instrument procedures. This controlled environment enables students to train safely, repeat complex scenarios, and build real-world decision-making confidence under expert guidance.
Innovation through simulation
Innovation drives Solid Ground’s mission to redefine flight training. The company’s in-house designed simulators, engineered to FAA standards, bring professional-grade fidelity to general aviation. This technology allows customized training experiences that mirror each pilot’s aircraft, fostering deeper understanding, greater proficiency, and a more immersive path to mastery than traditional methods alone can provide.
Accessibility and affordability
Solid Ground Aviation is committed to making quality pilot training attainable for everyone. By using simulation as a primary teaching tool, the school minimizes costs, reduces scheduling barriers, and creates a consistent learning experience free from weather delays or aircraft downtime. This approach opens aviation education to a wider range of students while maintaining uncompromised instructional quality.
Continuous improvement
The company believes that aviation excellence is a journey, not a destination. Solid Ground’s team continually refines its programs, technology, and teaching methods based on student feedback, performance data, and advancements in flight simulation. This dedication to constant growth ensures that both instructors and students evolve together, becoming safer, sharper, and more capable with every flight session.
Our Programs
Private Pilot (PPL)
Introductory-level simulator training that reinforces fundamental skills, emergency handling, and procedural awareness for aspiring private pilots.
Instrument Rating (IFR) / Instrument Accelerator
Comprehensive instrument training with FAA logging credit, focused on IFR procedures, precision approaches, and decision-making in simulated IMC conditions.
Commercial and Advanced Programs
Scenario-driven training emphasizing precision, efficiency, and advanced flight skills tailored for commercial operations and professional readiness.
CFI / CFII Instructor Courses
Prepares future flight instructors using professional training methodologies and simulator-based demonstrations.
Fear of Flying / Jet Transition
Specialized simulator sessions for new pilots, nervous flyers, and transitioning aviators moving into higher-performance aircraft.
Youth Aviation Camps
Summer programs combining simulator sessions, drone operations, and airport visits to introduce teenagers to aviation in an engaging, educational environment.
Ready to Begin Your Pilot Journey?
Take the first step toward your Private Pilot Certificate or Instrument Rating with Solid Ground Aviation. Safe, affordable, and FAA compliant training, designed to get you flying sooner.