SANFORD — Gain the theoretical knowledge essential to become a private pilot in Central Carolina Community College’s new Aviation Ground School for Private Pilots class, taught by professional flight instructor Adam Bowers.

“Ground School” refers to the training that would-be pilots take in a classroom, as opposed to training in the cockpit of an airplane. This class teaches aircraft systems and flight operations, aerodynamics, aviation weather observations and forecasts, and aircraft performance and navigation.

Successful completion of the course prepares students for the FAA knowledge test required for those who want to learn to pilot single-engine planes. The class runs 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, from May 17 through September 8. It will be held at the college’s Lifelong Learning Center at W.B. Wicker, 900 S. Vance St., Sanford. The cost is $175.

For more information or to sign up, contact the college’s Lee County Continuing Education Department (919) 775-2122, ext. 7793.

Bowers, a life-long resident of Southern Pines, works as a flight instructor at B-Bar-D Aviation at Raleigh Executive Jetport, Sanford. He has been flying since he was 14. In 2005, he graduated from high school and also earned his Private Airman Certificate with a Single-Engine Land Airplane rating.

He attended Sandhills Community College and briefly attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University before leaving school to pursue independent flight training. In 2009, he earned a Basic Ground Instructor certificate and, in 2010, his Flight Instructor certificate with Sport Pilot rating. He currently has about 250 hours of flight experience.