My 14-Day Private Pilot Training Course
Tony,
My background had been 45 years as Captain of my Crab Boats in the Bering Sea, wherein I faced many challenges of weather, and incidents of many kinds. But strapping myself in a small aluminum plane with a motor in front of me and having to keep it in the air; was quite a different challenge.
Mike is likely the most knowledgable instructor a student could ever have. Not only did Mike teach me the flying skills that were necessary, but all other necessary elements to be a safe Pilot. I thought I knew a lot about weather after 45 years at sea, but after Mike’s tutoring I think I could be a Meteorologist giving the daily weather report on the local TV station. And to re-train me from old habits, initially Mike had to keep saying to me: “the Rudder is what you change course with on your boat; now it’s Ailerons to keep yourself on course”, lol.
Seriously though, I do believe that you couldn’t find a better flight training program than AFIT, and especially with an instructor like Mike. In talking with the other instructors there, they were all professionals as well. Anyway, not only did we become friends, Mike truly cared about your safety, and making absolutely sure you had the skills and knowledge to fly. And I felt that this wasn’t just a job to Mike, because he really had his heart in it. Thanks Mike!
Regards,
Kevin Suydam
Kodiak, Alaska
14-Day Private Pilot Training Course
Tony,
I’ve had a passion to learn to fly my whole life. I had started a conventional training program twice and due to family, work, and other things life throws at you, was unsuccessful completing the requirements. AFIT helped my attain my life long goal at 58 and I couldn’t imagine achieving this dream any other way. The compressed 2 week program is intense, come prepared and ready to commit. My instructor, Sean, was incredible and provided tremendous support every step of the way. He worked diligently to teach the content and develop the necessary flying skills. All the people were great, the hangars and planes were in top notch condition.
Receiving my PPL yesterday will be one of the most memorable days of my life!
Dave Doherty
Thief River Falls, Minnesota
AFIT 14-Day PPL Training Experience
Mike did an excellent job of getting me through this course. He is wildly patient and skilled at approaching your shortfalls from multiple sides to help get you past them. If you have any life experiences whatsoever that he can help translate into aviation he will do so in order to make it easier for you. There are multiple ways and approaches one can take to earn a pilot’s license but my personal recommendation is to knock it out. In an accelerated course like this, the days feel like weeks but the weeks fly by in what feels like minutes. That is a good thing. You will be shocked what you can accomplish in a day. Mike WILL get you through this. The worst part (in my opinion) of training like this is all of the general knowledge that feels like pure memorization. Mike manages to slip everything you need to know into casual, relevant conversation throughout the days and before you know it you’re walking into your check ride thinking, “that sly dog, he tricked me into learning.
A PPL is challenging but perfectly achievable and I can’t recommend AFIT and Mike enough. Thanks guys.
Kelvin Winter
Fort Worth, Texas
14-Day Private Pilot Training Course
Tony,
I just want to thank you for the great experience I had over the 14 days. Not only is Abe a phenomenal pilot and excellent teacher, he also got me excited about flying. I left jazzed about moving forward to getting instrument rated and I have applied to a local flight club, met several pilots that own planes in my home airport and am actively working on getting a hanger and my own bird, which is way harder than you might imagine. The good news is a 45′ x 40′ T is only $450/mo here in hillsboro.
Here is what I loved about my time in Van Nuys.
1) I learned at a very busy, complex airport and ATC region. Invaluable to get that kind of experience. I looked it up afterwords and saw KVNY had 26,000 takeoffs/landings during March 2021. that’s nearly 1,000 a day.
2) Abe really went out of his way to show me around the airport, introduced me to so many people and helped me understand how to navigate the intracacies of the Airport community. Abe knows everyone!
3) Abe was the perfect balance of demanding yet patient. Which often meant adjusting the focus in order to spend more time on my weak areas. And he was always pushing me to gain the next skill.
4) Abe’s approach to ground training was excellent. Give homework, then ask me questions the next day about topics from the home work. If I knew the answers we would move on and not belabor that area. If I didn’t know the material, he could tell and we would dive into that topic and hit the whiteboard. Super efficient and avoided wasting time on things i had a pretty good handle on. BTW, i found Abe’s background in ATC work both fascinating and useful. Probably rare to have a CFI that has been through ATC training. Really great that he can describe from first hand experience what is happening inside the tower and explain why they probably just gave that specific instruction, etc.
5) Abe was super flexible on start times.
6) Abe was really good at constantly asking me how i felt about my competence and comfort with various skills and training. While he was great at gauging my competence through demonstration, he also put a lot of weight into where i thought i needed more work and which areas I was fairly confident with. This technique is so much better than just following a script or syllabus.
7) The plane was fantastic. I can’t say enough about how well Alex cares for the plane and keeps it in top shape. The logs are impeccable and you can see pride in ownership throughout the plane.
8) Lastly, Abe let me be a part of his life for the time I was there. This made the whole experience so much fun, valuable and memorable. It wasn’t just 8 hours a day of flying. We had lunch together, went out to dinner with our significant others, joined a bunch of other pilots for nice night out, etc, etc. He really went out of his way to make me feel a part of his life and a part of the KVNY family.
While I am starting IFR training, i am finding it a bit slow and frustrating to make progress…so who knows, I may be back for more!
Thanks again,
Chi Miller
North Plains, Oregon
14-Day Private Pilot Training / KLHM
Hey Tony, The program and Oleg were great and exceeded my expectations. I would love to use AFIT and Oleg again in the future and will recommend both to anybody who is considering AFIT.
Thanks for everything.
Ottis Sparks
Danville, Alabama
14-Day Private Pilot Training Course
Hi Tony and Andy
Thank you for helping me achieve my goal of learning how to fly. My experience with Any was perfect. From my earlier experiences with another flight school to Andy’s demeanor was night and day. I really appreciated Andy customizing the training to fit my experience. The program was perfect building on the skills from the previous day. I look forward continuing my flying journey and taking more endorsement classes in the future.
Thanks again and look forward to seeing you again
Jason Pruette
Oakland, California
14-Day Private Pilot Training Course
Hey Tony,
I want to thank you for the wonderful program you and your team has put together. Sean is a very knowledgeable, patient, and skilled instructor. I hope to stay in touch with Sean and yourself going forward (hopefully to Instrument rating).
You two made a dream come true, at 66 1/2 years young I was able to pass my practical test on the first try after only 2 weeks with Sean!
Thank you,
Joseph M Sager
Milford, Pennsylvania
Private Pilot Add-On Training Course
“My situation was a little different from a typical fixed-wing pilot. I’m a 2,000+ hour rotary military pilot and I already have my FAA commercial/instrument helicopter. I was looking to get my fixed-wing PPL add-on. During my search for the right accelerated school, I contacted dozens of schools throughout the U.S. (including AFIT). The typical response I received was a boilerplate/form letter, stating it’ll take 14 to 60 days to complete the training. This was not what aligned with my experience and required training, in my opinion. The response I received from AFIT is what set them apart. Tony took the time to look at the requirements and my experience before formulating his response.
Tony provided a streamlined syllabus of nine training days and available dates. I reviewed the information and made the decision to go with Andy in Lincoln, California. Upon arrival in Lincoln, the experience was exactly what was needed. The first day Andy and I hit the ground running with some ground school before flight instruction. With a dedicated CFI, my time was used efficiently and effectively to make the transition from helicopters to airplanes. Andy is patient, knowledgeable and allowed me to figure things out without being unsafe. I was pushed each day to grow and develop my skillset. Andy was vital in my successful pursuit of my private pilot license. Thanks, Andy!!!
Without a doubt, choosing AFIT and Andy was the right choice for my training! I’ll be looking to them again in the future!
Sincerely,
Jake Ingebritson
Sandy, Utah
IFR Training in My Cirrus SR-22 GTS
Tony,
My flight training experience was excellent. I really appreciated the calm demeanor of Todd and how flexible he was willing to be to make my schedule work. He made sure my experience was fun yet productive, so I could go into my final flight exam with confidence.
Thanks again for a fantastic experience.
Daryl Klassen
Aberdeen, Idaho
10-Day IFR Training
I just wanted to thank Ruben and the team at AFIT, along with Tony who was able to set all this up. Ruben is an amazing flight instructor and his calm demeanor made it extremely easy to learn from. He is patient and is able to explain things in a way that I understand. He has so much knowledge and experience to offer and many hours of flight hours to back it up. He is definitely not a fly by night instructor and will do what it takes to make sure you achieve your goals. Thank you Ruben from the bottom of my heart for helping me achieve mine! We spent around 38 hours in the plane, actual IMC conditions, many approaches, ground training and on and on. He is dedicated to you from start to finish. He helped me go from a “kick the tires and go” pilot to a much more competent and safe pilot then when I first begun.
Thank you again,
Kaleo Clifford
Paso Robles, California
14-Day Private Pilot Training Course
I had a great time at AFIT. My instructor, Ruben, had a great teaching style where he encouraged me to look the up the answers to my questions so I knew how to navigate my reference materials. It was an amazing experience overall, the whole thing was an adventure. Accelerated flight training is definitely the way to go, and AFIT has the system figured out.
Thank you,
Trenton Spafford
Rutland, Vermont
14-Day Private Pilot Training
Tony,
Thanks so much for pairing me with Mike. He’s an excellent instructor and extremely intuitive, always pushing but never pushy!
Rene Banglesdorf
Georgetown, Texas
PPL Finish-Up, IFR and Commercial Training / KLHM
Tony,
“I am so happy I found AFIT. I was tired of learning to fly one or two hours a week from instructors who simply wanted to build time and apply to the airlines. Not at AFIT. With Ruben, I got an exceptionally experienced CFII who would fly 6+ hours a day if I needed it. As a Helicopter ATP coming out of the Army, I needed an instructor who could tailor lesson plans to get me ready for FAA check rides. Ruben was able to zero in on my weak areas and get me my private, instrument, and commercial licenses. No other instructor at a typical school would have worked as hard as Ruben to train me at the level he did. With AFIT you’re learning from instructors who take your training as seriously as you do. “
I’m still in disbelief! Thanks for everything Tony
Best,
Alexander Mulqueen
Washington, DC
Instrument Finish-Up and 6-Day Commercial Course / KLHM
I would just like to say a few words about my experience with AFIT. First and foremost, the program itself is top-notch and provides such a valuable service that may not be found anywhere else. From the first inquiry, to signing up for the courses, to arriving in Lincoln, the communication was great and everything was laid out in a very well structured plan that made it easy to understand what would be taking place.
As for my instructor, Paul, I can’t express how great of an instructor he is and how his knowledge truly helped me understand the concepts and grasp an understanding of what I needed to know in order to be successful with my check rides. He took the time to go through all the details, and made sure every topic was covered, that way I had a good knowledge of the topics I was studying. Again, Paul was an amazing instructor and a huge factor in my success.
Overall, my experience with AFIT was one that will be memorable and led me to gaining a better knowledge that will help make me a better pilot. The instructors are dedicated to their students and want them to succeed, which makes the stressful process turn into one that is fun and enjoyable. I would 100% recommend AFIT to anyone who is looking for training, and I hope to work with these fine people again sometime in the future.
Thank you,
Eric Williams
Henderson, Nevada
10-Day IFR Training Course KVNY
I had a really positive experience with Abe and AFIT. Abe and Tony were very clear about what I needed to do to prepare and they did exactly what they said they were going to do. Abe was an extremely professional and friendly CFI. We flew every day and he consistently put me at ease and helped me focus on the areas where I could improve the most. The examiner was scheduled at the end of our training and I passed my check ride on my first try. LA is a busy ATC environment and after 10 days and a check ride under the hood, I really do feel prepared to fly IFR. I thought it would take years to get my instrument rating, but I got it in 10 days with AFIT, on time and under budget.
I can endorse AFIT and Abe Milad without reservation.
David Chasteen
San Francisco, California
10-Day IFR Training / KLHM
Hey Tony. Sorry for the delayed email. I just want to take a moment and thank AFIT, Mike and my DPE Karen Kalishek for helping me obtain my IFR rating. Mike is a dedicated top notch Professional. AFIT was intense and Mike’s commitment to see me through was extraordinary. I can’t thank Mike enough for all that he did for me throughout this training. Mike was very patient, forgiving and demanding of me throughout the AFIT process.
Sincerely,
David S Lamb.
Yuba City, California
14-Day Private Pilot Training Course
Hi, Hope you’re doing well. I wanted to thank you for the training. First off, you did a great job both teaching and listening. You were able to hear my questions and turn those into lesson plans that focused on what I needed to know. The whole experience looking back is kind of surreal. Everything that could’ve happened, did :) and I’m sure it made me a better pilot. The course was fast but I felt prepared for the check ride. The only thing I wasn’t ready for were those 25kt gusts but you can’t control the weather. Thanks.
Fly safe,
Rich Guzman
Austin, Texas
14-Day Private Pilot Training KLHM
AFIT thank you so much for such a wonderful experience. Paul is such an amazing teacher. His work ethic and dedication to making me a great pilot was readily apparent. We trained so intensely and spent such an immense time together over just 14 days. It was truly an immersion experience. I now view Anthony as a mentor and friend. Words cannot convey my appreciation of his dedication.
I can’t wait to see him again for IFR training.
Yours truly,
Brett Burnett.
Longview, Texas
My 14-Day Private Pilot Course KVNY
Hi Tony,
I had a fantastic experience learning to fly with Abe in Van Nuys. I still can’t believe that I was able to go from zero previous flight experience to soloing and earning my PPL in only two weeks! Abe is a talented and patient instructor with a great sense of humor who made long days of flying a ton of fun. Abe was willing to do whatever it took including spending extra hours to get me ready for my checkride. The Van Nuys airport was a great base for training as the busy airspace gave me lots of opportunity to practice my comms and get comfortable in crowded airspace. I’m a huge proponent of the condensed AFIT approach where each day built on and reinforced skills from prior days, particularly for people who have a busy schedule that could make it difficult to consistently log instruction/flight hours.
Thanks,
Chris Perez
Boston, Massachusetts
My 14-Day Private Pilot Training KLHM
Hi Tony,
The accelerated training with Andy was a great experience that “flew” by. I started the program with zero hours of flight experience and without having ever even been in a small aircraft. During the first couple days of the program there is a lot of information to take in, but by the time Andy gave me the go ahead for the first solo I felt very comfortable and safe in the plane. Andy was very laid back and easy to learn from.
After receiving my private pilots license and heading back home, I took a checkout ride for a rental aircraft at my local airport. The instructors commented that my flying skills were great.
Thank you..
Mr. Gian Mecca
Erie, Pennsylvania
14-Day Private Pilot Training KLHM
Tony,
I want you to know how impressed I am with this program. From my first conversation with you until the very end, I felt supported and knew my success was a priority. I really owe all my thanks to my instructor Mike P. Teaching someone to fly and all the other knowledge needed in 2 weeks is an art, and Mike has it dialed. He knows when to push, but also knows when you need a good laugh to loosen you up.
I’m now a pilot and I owe it to this program!
Thank you
Josh Vorhees
Roseville, California
10-Day Instrument Training
It was a great pleasure for me to work with Ruben on obtaining my instrument rating. This was the second year in a row that I worked with Ruben after completing my private training with him as well. To get me ready for the instrument check ride we had a lot of work to do, and I could not have been more confident when the day of the check ride came along. Both check rides I have done after training with Ruben were first time passes, and that speaks to his skills as an instructor.
After last year I said that I would highly recommend Ruben to anyone, and I completely stand by that. He is a great instructor, and a great guy to spend all day around the airport with.
Thanks again,,
Declan Darcy
Chicago, Illinois
10-Day Instrument Training
The AFIT program for Instrument rating is a great program. I had my doubts from the beginning about being able to complete the course within such a tight timeframe. It’s a lot work in 10 days, but totally achievable. I highly recommend AFIT for motivated pilots who want to get their training and get flying.
Mike is an awesome instructor. Mike is not your typical CFII. His expertise in understanding how people learn and comprehend complex material allows him to tailor his lessons to your learning abilities. Mike also has a great personality and is full of useful stories from his 30 years in aviation. So, spending 8 to 10 hour days in a small airplane with Mike was an enjoyable experience.
Kind regards,
Josh Seidel
Folsom, California
14-Day Private Pilot Training Course
I Would like to thank AFIT and Oleg for making what always seemed like a pipe dream into my new reality in less than two weeks.
Having a wife and two kids and living in a remote mountain town hours away from flight training school made the “traditional way” or learning nearly impossible. With zero flight experience or training going I wasn’t really sure this was something that could be accomplished in this short of a time. My flight instructor, Oleg, pushed me harder than I expected and the first few days seemed overwhelming until all of a sudden it didn’t. On my 4th morning I was flying solo and it all came together. The continuous one on one instruction and accelerated pace really made the difference and Oleg seemed more like a part of my family than some instructor.
Successfully completing my check ride and getting my Private Pilot’s license in less than two weeks from first beginning learning was an amazing feeling. Now less than a month after I’m taking delivery of my own Cirrus SR22 Turbo. I am looking forward to having the freedom I’ve always wanted to travel with my family on our schedule! AFIT and Oleg were a perfect start to a lifetime of learning and adventure.
Thanks,
Ryan Pfaff
Telluride, Colorado
14-Day Private Pilot Course KLHM
I definitely picked the right accelerated PPL program for me with AFIT. My instructor, David C., was a great teacher who moved at my pace and really let me go as quick as I wanted. My examiner on my check ride commented on how good of a job David did with me. I overall felt well prepared by the time the check ride arrived thanks to the thorough prep we did. I also appreciated the flexibility in scheduling and the ability to move up the timetable if things are going well. All 3 planes that I flew were in good condition. Tony’s hotel hookup at Lincoln’s Holiday Inn Express made daily commute times to the airport very simple and straightforward, while being next door to a grocery store and Target.
Overall the experience was overwhelmingly positive! I will definitely be coming back for my IFR training soon, and my wife can’t wait to get her PPL at AFIT!
Toan Tran-Phu
Thailand
14-Day Private Pilot Training Course
Hello Tony,
My 14-day private pilot training course was both engaging and fulfilling. I left the program with a great understanding of what my responsibilities as a private pilot are, how to use my best judgment when in the air, and how to keep myself and my passengers safe. I felt my instructor, Paul, and I meshed well, which made it easier to retain information and apply it when flying. Overall, I had an amazing experience and if I choose to continue my flight career I will definitely come back to AFIT for my training.
Sincerely,
Eric Horn
Yuba City, California
14-Day Private Pilot Training
Pursuing flying as a hobby has been a dream ever since I realized how accessible GA is in the States. I’d put in some hours towards obtaining my license 5 years back, but the skills erosion associated with trying to train on the weekends in Northeast weather along with demands from career and family made me put it on hold until I could figure out a more permanent solution.
When I decided to rededicate myself to getting my license, I decided to go for an accelerated program as I knew a full immersion in flying would be the most effective way for me to get the job done. I read various opinions on accelerated programs, and ultimately came to the conclusion that the demands of being willing to do the pre-work, as well as the personal attributes of being committed, driven and self-disciplined would be a very good fit for me personally. Tony and the team at AFIT were super responsive and went out of the way to work out a schedule that would be a good mutual fit.
While I had read Andy’s reviews, the ease and professionalism blew me away right from our intro and the first flight. Andy is very adept at assessing which parts of your flying need work and focussing on them, and within just the first few days, I’d had more progress and felt more comfortable managing the plane than I had in all my past months of training. Andy kept pointing out and sharpening my focus – right rudder! directional control! trim! – and within a week, I’d already completed my first solo flight.
Flying involves a lot more skills than just time in the plane, and our debriefings and discussions proved the wealth of wisdom Andy has accumulated over his decades in aviation. The easy accessibility of planes and hangars made usually dry textbook concepts like aircraft systems come to life and Andy made full use of all available resources when I said I wanted to understand something in more detail. He would just walk over to a plane with an open cowling and discuss the engine; he brought a spare magneto and showed how the magneto generates the sparks; we even replaced the wheels of the plane. For a newbie to aviation like me, this was all an amazing introduction to the nuts and bolts of how planes work and a much more easier way to grasp than just reading textbook descriptions. Likewise, with cross country planning, Andy would go to great depths to explain the particulars of airspace, terrain, route planning, and back all of these up with practical examples from his own experience to make these concepts stick.
Finally, I would be remiss if I did not mention how patient, humorous, and personable Andy is. While the task of getting a license is genuinely work, Andy’s jovial company made the two weeks a highlight of my aviation journey so far. I’m sure I’m going to be back for my instrument and tailwheel very soon! As Andy’s fond of saying, I really love flying!
I cannot speak highly enough about Tony, AFIT, and Andy! I would highly recommend the course to anyone who fits the personal attributes above, and I would be more than happy to talk in more detail about anyone looking for any more details!
Amit Karan
New York, New York
6-Day Commercial Training Course
Getting started with AFIT was so simple, just a phone call and Tony had me all set up to get started. My instructor. Tom, was the best I could have asked for, with many words of wisdom far beyond just the requirements for the training. Was more than enough to prepare me for passing my commercial check ride!
Thanks,
Aaron Glick
Teaneck, New Jersey / Surfside, Florida
10-Day IFR Training in my Cessna 182P
I am an instrument rated pilot!! I want to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to Ruben and the AFIT team for working with me to achieve this milestone in my aviation career. It was truly a team effort. I admit I was more than a little hesitant to place my trust in a program and in people I had never met before my first day of training. All my apprehensions were quickly put to rest upon meeting my instructor, Ruben. I arrived at KLHM on Friday before my training was set to begin on Monday morning. I’m the type of person who doesn’t like to be late or ill-prepared for anything. I texted Ruben and asked if we might be able to meet quickly to get acquainted before Monday morning. He promptly texted me back and told me he was at the airport and would happily meet me. Little did I know I would have homework over the weekend! Upon meeting Ruben in the AFIT classroom it was clear this was the type of training I was looking for. We exchanged greetings and got right to work. Ruben was personable, professional and it was immediately clear to me he was just as committed to my success as I was. I applaud Tony’s ability to match his clients with the correct instructor. I finished speaking with Ruben and went to my hotel and hit the books and began preparing for my first IFR flight lesson.
Monday morning didn’t go as I had envisioned it, but hey that’s aviation, you must be expecting and prepared for things not to go as planned. I had a little issue with my plane to start the day. Not to fear though, Ruben and the guys at Lincoln Skyways to the rescue. Before I could find someone, who could look at my plane on short notice, Ruben was already over in the hanger at Lincoln Skyways. Bryan, Kacey, Travis and Ken made sure I wasn’t grounded for long. The staff at Lincoln Skyways quickly fit me into their busy schedule, resolved the issued and I was in the air before lunch! Ken also arranged for Dana at the avionics shop to repair a faulty turn coordinator for me. The people at KLHM were instrumental in providing me with the necessary support to get my IFR ticket!
In the air Ruben was quiet and didn’t say much at first. It felt familiar, this was like a check ride. Later in the training Ruben would explain it was all part of the process. He wanted to see what type of pilot I was and what weaknesses he would bring up to standard over the next several days.
The following 10 days were filled with new and challenging tasks as Ruben patiently encouraged me to grow as a pilot. We flew approach after approach until I became comfortable and confident. The nights were filled with studying for the oral portion of the check ride and preparing for the following days’ flights. Whenever I had a question Ruben was only a phone call or text away. During the entirety of my training Ruben was invaluable. His ability to explain concepts in a variety of different ways helped me grasp unfamiliar information without delay. Ruben is a wonderful instructor, and I can’t recommend him enough. Going into check ride day I was confident and prepared.
When I received my IFR ticket it was hard to know who was more excited, Ruben or me. He is the type of instructor you want in your corner. Ruben was always there to work just as hard, if not harder, to see me achieve my aviation goals.
I recommend AFIT as a training resource without hesitation. If you are looking for a total emersion, eat sleep drink flight training experience AFIT is without a doubt the program for you. Rest assured the AFIT team will work just as hard as you do to make your aviation vision a reality.
Jason Kobaly
CHP Law Enforcement Officer
Joshua Tree, California
14-Day Private Pilot Training Course
Hey Tony, I wanted to extend my thanks to you for arranging my training with Kelly. He has truly been an inspiration progressing through this challenging objective. He has demonstrated qualities found only in the best, most seasoned instructors with enviable depth of knowledge, a calming and encouraging method and patience beyond belief.
I’m a believer; your outfit has been OUTSTANDING
Steve Chandler
Montgomery, Alabama
14-Day Private Pilot Training Course
AFIT was a great program for earning my pilot’s license quickly. My time there showed that with enough hard work and a great instructor it could be done. My instructor, Ricardo, helped me learn the skills necessary to become a pilot and handled setting up the test and check ride necessary to become a Private Pilot. He got up early with me to practice right before the check ride and gave me the time I needed that resulted in me passing my check ride. Overall it was a great program.
Thanks,
Brock Weaver
Austin, Texas
14-Day Private Pilot Training Course
This hard-earned handshake with my Examiner, Mark, is a proud moment; the final milestone in an unlikely journey.
It was the Spring of 2016 when I started flight training in New England as a way to accomplish something novel during a job search. I took a flight lesson whenever I had the time and money. Then, as the saying goes, life got in the way.
Five years passed, eroding anything I learned, before I came across A. F. I. T. and the 14-day PPL course. I was both skeptical and hopeful; after a phone call with CEO Tony, followed by some encouraging correspondence, I booked travel to a California hotel for 2 weeks, determined to finish what I started.
On day 1, we flew for almost 3 hours.
On day 5, I soloed locally.
On day 11, I soloed for 5 hours to 3 airports over 150 miles of cross-country.
On day 14, I became a Private Pilot.
I couldn’t have done it without my instructor Ricardo, devoting two solid weeks to my preparation. He trained me to be not only current and legal, but safe and proficient. Casey in Maintenance, De in the office, other instructors Paul, Dave, Ruben and even fellow students helped along the way. Finally, my wife Lisa was my biggest supporter and got me through struggles with boundless encouragement.
Thank you Tony and A. F. I. T. for backing up the promise of accelerated Private Pilot training.
Onward and upward!
Timothy Ayres
Foxborough, Massachusetts
My 14-Day Private Pilot Training Course
Tony,
Couldn’t ask for a better instructor to get me trained and prepared for my Private Pilot check ride. Made it through the 14 days and succeeded on my first attempt. Doing my first solo traffic pattern and cross country, the first night flight, seeing the urban sprawl of Los Angeles, and sharing the airport with Spielberg, Warner Brothers, and Jennifer Lopez (at least their airplanes all started with my instructor Abe and runway 16R. Can’t wait to get the Instrument and multi-engine ratings. Got to enjoy all there is to see in the world. You don’t get these views anywhere else unless you’re in the skies.
Thanks for everything.
Chuk Leung
Hong Kong
14-Day Private Pilot Training Course
I just finished my flight training with AFIT 14 day PPL and I am extremely satisfied. The experience was better than I ever could have anticipated and I came to AFIT with zero flight experience and walked away a pilot.
AFIT utilizes many instructors at many locations so I can only speak to my personal experience in Lincoln with my instructor Paul. Paul was extremely professional and knowledgeable. He has a wonderful calm, patient and helpful demeanor while giving clear instruction. I was extremely nervous and had no idea what I was doing… somehow Paul turned me into a pilot in 2 weeks! When you work with Paul there is no question that he truly cares about his students and their success.
The course itself is extremely challenging. I did study VERY hard for my written test but I had no actual flight experience. That being said, I studied every night for the additional ground school knowledge and showed up 110% for this course. I YOU HAVE TO SHOW UP and apply yourself in a serious way!
Tony the owner of AFIT was wonderful throughout the booking process and he even gave me advice when I was purchasing my plane for the training. At the Lincoln flight school the mechanics and office staff are all wonderful and a joy to be around.
Overall I am still shocked that I came away from this experience a pilot. It was a tremendous amount of work but it was well worth every penny and effort. I can’t thank Paul and the AFIT team enough for all of his hard work preparing me for my successful check ride!Rachelle Elliott
Graeagle, California
9-Day PPL Finish-Up Course
Hi Tony!!
Signing up with AFIT was the best decision I made. In hindsight, I would have saved a ton of money had I just started my training with AFIT from the beginning. The consecutive days of flying tremendously boosted my confidence and I truly felt like my skills increased exponentially. Come the day of the check ride, I was nervous but felt I was equipped to give it my best shot – and definitely way more prepared than my first day at AFIT. My instructor Paul helped me understand the concepts easily, always making himself available whenever I had questions after class. One of the great things was that Paul showed me how make all my calculations manually, but wasn’t anti-technology; he showed me the neat features of the apps I paid for! Overall I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend AFIT to someone looking for a streamlined approach to training. To give you an idea, on one day we flew close to 7 hours (long break in between). Everyone’s experience will be different, but I know AFIT will help you achieve your dream of becoming a pilot. I even finished a day early. I know I’ll be back for my Instrument Rating. See you soon AFIT!
Grace Gatpandan
Law Enforcement
San Francisco, California
My 14-Day Private Pilot Training
A.F.I.T. is the way to go! I went to A.F.I.T. with zero flight experience and walked away 14 days later with a private pilot’s license. Ruben is an amazing instructor and did a great job at preparing me for my check ride. Ruben went out of his way to make sure I had the resources I needed to accomplish my goal of becoming a pilot. The full emersion model that A.F.I.T. displays in their two week course made it easy for me to obtain the skills necessary to be a safe and competent pilot.
Thank you again to Ruben and the A.F.I.T. staff for helping make my goal a reality.
Sincerely,
Tyler Liburdi
Modesto, CA
14-Day Private Pilot Training
Many thanks to Tom, my instructor in Salt Lake City, Utah for meticulously preparing me for my successful Private Pilot check ride. Tom’s incredible knowledge and experience kept me calm and focused daily. Tom’s balanced approach set a positive baseline for safety and proficiency. Tom’s has a million stories for which he imparts golden nuggets of wisdom. I strongly recommend Tom and AFIT for any flight training needs. I will return shortly for my next level of training.
Todd Stephens
Alachua, Florida
Private Pilot Finish-Up Course
I came to AFIT after struggling through the typical “schedule with a flight instructor at a school” scenario. The flight instructors have a very busy schedule with multiple students and it is difficult for them to give you priority of focus and difficult to get on the schedule with them regularly. After 60 hours and still not being proficient enough with landing to be able to solo I decided the typical way was not working for me. I decided to go a different direction. I contacted Tony and he was able to set me up with an instructor Ricardo within 3 days. I flew to Lincoln for a “finish up”. Ricardo and some of the other instructors were shocked that I had 60 hours logged and still hadn’t soloed. After arriving I spent 1 hour in the pattern with Ricardo and was landing successfully. The very next day I soloed! My experience with AFIT and Ricardo was excellent! I will add that you need to come prepared to commit 100%. It is a very focused program, so you need to be ready. If you are committed, AFIT will not let you down. You get 100% commitment from them with no distractions.
I am very satisfied!
David Bannon
Eden Prairie, Minnesota
14-Day Private Pilot Training Course KLHM
One of the best things that I have ever done! Everyone from Tony the owner to Paul my instructor, the mechanics, and the front office staff are truly amazing! If I can be taught how to be safe and fly an airplane anyone can. I recommend these guys without hesitation. The course is challenging but worth every bit of effort. Don’t wait for time to pass you by. GET IT DONE WITH THESE GUYS worth every penny.
Ramon Flores
Fresno, California
14-Day Private Pilot Training Course
I started looking for an accelerated flight program to complete my PPL I had begun in high school. I found AFIT just from searching around and decided to go with their 14 day accelerated ppl service after reading the good reviews and them having availability during my time off from school. From the very beginning Tony was extremely helpful in getting me set up not only with the materials I would need for instruction, but also offering recommendations for housing for my stay and providing a full schedule of what my 14 days would look like down to the hour. He also reached out several times leading up to my start date to ask if I had any questions about the material and to make sure my studies were going well. About a week before my trip to Van Nuys I was put in contact with the CFI, Fady, who I would be working with for the duration of the course. Fady was a great instructor who was not there to build hours, and genuinely wanted to see me receive my ppl. He even sacrificed a day off to extend my training by a day since my check ride had to be pushed back due to weather problems. Thanks to this commitment I was able to pass my checkride and the examinar even complimented my flying and was especially impressed for it being a two week course. This course is a serious endeavor and safety is very clearly at the utmost importance to AFIT; Fady made sure that nothing was rushed and never signed me off on anything before I was ready and confident. As long as you come prepared with an attitude of being ready to spend the full two weeks dedicated to both flying and studying, you will surely receive your certificate and be a great pilot. Thank you again to Tony and Fady, I can’t wait to return when I’m ready for my instrument rating!
Respectfully,
Chase Collins
Ithaca, New York
