CFI Diego Suarez

Bowman Field · Louisville, KY

Learn to fly.With confidence.

Flight lessons at Bowman Field in Louisville, Kentucky, and remote ground instruction with CFI Diego Suarez.

Book a discovery flight Find your path

Diego Suarez / Flight Instructor · CFI / AGI

Start where you are

Find your next step.

Choose the next step that fits today. You can explore the rest whenever you’re ready.

01 · New to flying

New to flying

Learn how flight training works at Bowman Field and what to expect as you get started.

Explore flight training 02 · Already training

Already training

Use student guides to prepare for lessons, solo, cross-country flights, and your next milestone.

Browse student guides 03 · Pilot tools

Looking for a pilot tool

Explore free planning, safety, and flight calculation tools for your next decision.

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Flight instruction

Flight instruction, one step at a time.

Diego Suarez smiling while seated on a yellow Bristell aircraft
Your instructor · Bowman Field (KLOU)

Meet Diego Suarez.

I’m a flight instructor at Kentucky Flight Training Center at Bowman Field. I help students build sound judgment and understand why the airplane flies, one clear lesson at a time.

CFI · AGI · Commercial Pilot · Instrument Rating

Read my full story

Flying wasn’t always my plan. Then I found myself at Bowman Field, learning from instructors who made a complicated world feel possible. I still remember what it was like to be new: excited, full of questions, and unsure whether I belonged in the left seat.

Today, I’m a flight instructor at Kentucky Flight Training Center. I teach with the same patience my mentors gave me, while holding every student to the judgment and habits that make a capable pilot. We’ll work through the hard parts together, celebrate the milestones, and make sure you understand why—not just how—the airplane flies.

“The goal isn’t to make flying feel easy. It’s to help you become the kind of pilot who can think clearly when it isn’t.”

Accepting new students
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View FAA certificates and ratings
Certificates & Ratings · Federal Aviation Administration
Certificated Flight Instructor
CFI · ASEL · FAA 14 CFR § 61.183
Advanced Ground Instructor
AGI · FAA 14 CFR § 61.215
Commercial Pilot
CPL · ASEL · FAA 14 CFR § 61.123
Instrument Rating
IR · ASEL · FAA 14 CFR § 61.65
Private Pilot
PPL · ASEL · FAA 14 CFR § 61.109
Free pilot tools

Useful tools for the next decision.

Start with a training plan, a risk check, or a flight calculation.

  • PilotSolveWork through common flight calculations with clear inputs, units, and results. Phone, tablet & desktop · Offline support.
  • FlightRiskWork through pilot, aircraft, environment, and external-pressure factors. Phone, tablet & desktop.
  • CertPathMap FAA training requirements to your experience and build an estimated rating plan. Phone, tablet & desktop.
  • Simply Endorsed CFIFind model endorsements, checklists, and related FAA guidance. Phone, tablet & desktop.
  • FOI CardsPractice instructor knowledge with a focused study deck and saved progress. Phone, tablet & desktop.
  • Crank & CoreDesktop recommendedStudy Rotax 912 ULS and Lycoming IO-360-L2A teaching reconstructions. Desktop recommended · Touch controls available.

Explore all pilot tools →

Common questions

The checklist.

Quick answers to the questions new and returning students ask most often.

What does flight training cost?
The two anchor numbers: flight and ground instruction with me runs $45 per hour, and a discovery flight is instructor time at that same rate plus the aircraft — I'll quote you the exact total before you book. Beyond that, every student's path is different — aircraft rental, examiner fees, and ground materials all add up differently depending on your pace and goals. Reach out by phone or email and I'll put together a clear, honest estimate for your specific training plan.
What happens on a discovery flight?
A discovery flight is a first lesson, not a ride-along: about an hour in the airplane plus 30–40 minutes of briefing and debrief on the ground, so budget about two hours at Bowman Field. Once we're clear of the traffic pattern, you fly — straight-and-level, climbs, descents, and turns — while I handle the takeoff and landing and keep my hands near the controls. There's no commitment to continue; if you're hooked, the hour already counts toward a future certificate.
What medical certificate do I need?
For Private Pilot you'll need either an FAA Third-Class Medical or BasicMed (once you've held any class of FAA medical at least once since July 2006). Sport Pilot requires only a valid U.S. driver's license. I can recommend an AME in the Louisville area and walk you through the MedXPress form before your visit.
How long does it take to earn a Private Pilot certificate?
The FAA minimum is 40 flight hours, but the national average is closer to 60–70 hours. Most students complete the Private in 6–12 months flying twice a week. Consistency matters more than intensity — two lessons a week beats one every other week every time.
Where do lessons take place?
Flight training happens at Bowman Field (KLOU) in Louisville — a towered, Class D airport that's calm enough for a first lesson but busy enough to teach real radio work, with Louisville's Class C airspace right next door once you're ready for it. Ground instruction can also happen one-on-one over video, wherever you are.
Get in touch

Talk to Diego.

Book a Discovery Flight 502-510-0508

Call or text — I usually reply the same day.

Prefer email? SuarezCFI@gmail.com