10-Day Private Pilot Finish-Up Training
Hi Tony,
I have just completed 10 days of training with Andrew out of Southern Utah and wanted to drop you a quick note about my experience down there. Andrew is an exceptional talent in this industry and is the best instructor that I have ever worked with. He is a natural teacher and his passion for aviation really comes through when working with him. I was really impressed with his approach to risk management, and his overall demeanor leads to a sense of security and confidence while flying with him. I would love to take my IFR course with him.
It’s been a great experience!
Best,
Jeremy Grimes
Wasilla, Alaska
10-Day Private Pilot finish up Course
I recently completed my finish-up program for my Private Pilot License with AFIT in Southern Utah, and I had an excellent experience.
My instructor, Andrew, was outstanding. He was very knowledgeable, attentive, and flexible throughout the entire process. His instruction gave me the confidence and preparation I needed to be fully ready for my check ride.
The location also worked out perfectly: the airport was not overly busy, which made for a smoother training experience, and having an aircraft assigned to me for the entire period was a huge benefit.
Overall, AFIT provided exactly the support I needed to successfully complete my PPL.
Best,
Ted Elysee MD
Hartford, Connecticut
My Private Pilot Training Course IN MY Cirrus
I recently had the privilege of completing my training with AFIT Flight & Instrument Training LLC in pursuit of my Private Pilot Certificate in my Cirrus. This experience has been one of the most rewarding and transformative chapters of my life.
I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to two remarkable instructors, Tony and Steve. Both demonstrated the highest level of professionalism, intelligence, and patience throughout my training. Their guidance was clear, precise, and encouraging, which gave me the confidence to meet every challenge along the way.
AFIT’s accelerated training program is no small undertaking, yet under their expert instruction, I was able to develop the skills and discipline necessary to succeed. Their structured teaching methods and unwavering support not only prepared me for each lesson but also instilled a deep respect for safety, precision, and excellence in aviation.
On September 28, I successfully completed my Private Pilot check ride, a milestone made possible thanks to the dedication and expertise of my instructors. This achievement is not just a personal victory but also a reflection of AFIT’s commitment to shaping confident, competent pilots.
I am truly grateful to AFIT, and especially to Tony and Steve, for guiding me through this incredible journey. Their passion for aviation and devotion to their students left an indelible mark on my path as a pilot.
Billy Sung
Visalia, California
10-Day Instrument Training Course
“I had an outstanding experience with Accelerated Flight & Instrument Training (AFIT). From the moment I sent the email to Tony, to the successful check-ride, each moment was handled with professionalism that exceeded my expectations. My instructor, Art, was a true pro who brought a wealth of knowledge and practical experience to my training.
Thank you, Tony, Art, and the entire team at AFIT for making my instrument rating dream come true”.
Brian Bulkeley
General Manager
Toyota Kansas City Region
10-Day Instrument Training
Matias is an outstanding IFR instructor who truly goes above and beyond for his students. His ability to make complex instrument flying concepts simple and practical is what sets him apart. Every lesson had a clear purpose, and his calm, structured teaching style made it easy to build confidence in the cockpit.
I passed my instrument check ride on the first try and felt fully prepared for every scenario. He’s patient, detail-oriented, and genuinely invested in your success as a pilot. If you’re looking for an instructor who makes IFR training clear, effective, and enjoyable, Matias is the one you want to fly with.
Chase Enloe
New York, New York
10-Day Instrument Training Course
AFIT’s accelerated flight training was great, Annelie was a super experienced instructor and an amazing teacher. It was stressful, but definitely worth the grind. From ground knowledge to helping me become proficient in my instrument flying she did a great job.
The curriculum was well designed to help you meet your hours and become proficient in the process.
Definitely worth the time and money!
Ragesh ParnamiouthSan Francisco, California
7-Day Instrument Finish-Up Course
I worked with Matias for the bulk of my instrument rating training. He offered clear and easy-to-digest ground training, thorough pre-flight and post-flight briefings, and intuitive instruction. The training curriculum consisted of many real-world scenarios. He will have you aviating, navigating, and communicating, in every sense of those words, to make you into the best pilot possible.
If you’re looking to get your private pilot certificate or are looking to pick up an additional rating, I would highly recommend doing your training with Matias at AFIT.
I can confidently say I would not be where I am in my pilot career path without the quality training I received from AFIT.
Andrew Spicher
West Palm Beach, Florida
14-Day Private Pilot Training Course
Tony, Thanks for facilitating accelerated training timelines. I don’t think I would have been able to achieve my goal of getting a PPL without a shortened time frame. I would say that if you’re considering doing an accelerated PPL course with AFIT, do it! It can be done. It is a lot of work, but if you do take your written exam seriously, do your homework, and study hard it is definitely achievable. After going through it myself, I feel that in a lot of ways being able to review and then immediately practice the next day was a better training setup.
Andrew was a fantastic instructor. I think he was born to teach. He was very patient, safety conscious, generous with praise when needed, and appropriately corrective when things were not safe. He was very genuine, and would tell me where I was doing well and where I was deficient. That’s how it needs to be with flight school! Despite the two week timeline (and my doubts pre-checkride), after passing I realized that I was very proficient (for a freshly minted pilot) in both the air and on the ground. I would highly recommend Andrew as an instructor for anyone considering following in my footsteps.
Regards, Preston Cook (Proud PPL)
Midland, Texas
Private Pilot Finish-Up Training “Trust the process; Trust Matias”
I found the accelerated flight training after a lot of research driven by a drive to cross the finish line for my private pilot certification.
I understand a lot of people would be skeptical about a program that suggested it is possible to become a safe and successful pilot in such a short time. Their skepticism was subjective, as the truth was in the required commitment to the program.
I was paired with Matias and it was initially obvious he was an expert pilot. As the program progressed, it became clear that he was an exceptional teacher. I made sure to be very clear of my perspective on my status. It was his ability to form a tailored program based on our initial assessment flight that was very unique. His guidance and instruction was clearly developed by what he knew I needed to succeed.
It was a real Mr. “Myagi” situation where he was developing my skills, understanding, and confidence. During our abbreviated program, it got to the point where if he was pushing me, I understood it was because he knew I could be great. His goal was clearly excellence and it paid off big time when it was finally time for my checkride. One particular thing I am just appreciating now, is that I was his main/only focus and he was vested in my safety and accomplishing this goal. I greatly appreciate all of his efforts and would absolutely recommend him as a CFI to anyone. Trust the process, trust he knows what you need, and trust he will do what is necessary to make it happen.
Beyond Matias, the planes were great and well cared for. Alex was also great to work with. When I successfully completed my checkride, you would have thought it was a team sport that way everyone celebrated my accomplishment. It was, in fact, a team effort built on trust, commitment, and hard work.
Overall, this was challenging. If you are considering it to be anything less, you should consider the responsibility of being a pilot. However, if you want this to happen this program, and particularly Matias, is my recommendation.
Garrett O’Sullivan
Del Mar, California
14-Day Private Pilot Training Course.
Tony, Thank you for offering this great course. It was intense going from zero experience to passing my check-ride in 14 days, but well worth it. I had to study every night, but that made me learn everything faster and made it stick.
Andrew in Hurricane, Utah is an amazing instructor and was available 24/7. He cared about my success and was a great teacher throughout the entire process!
I Now have a CFI and personal friend in Utah! Thanks for everything.
AJ Hungerford
Littlestown, Pennsylvania
14-Day Private Pilot Training Course
First and foremost I want to thank you for the opportunity to attend AFIT in achieving my pilots license! Its been a Journey for sure and I could not have done it without your help.
“I want to start off by thanking Joshua for sticking with me in achieving my Pilots license. After pulling up to transient parking after the check ride I gave him the thumbs up I passed and I can see he was just as excited as I was. From takeoff’s, landings, comms, cross country, maneuvers and grounds Joshua was there to make sure I understood all of them. Even random questions I had studying on my own he was there to help. Additionally the weather was an obstacle on its own and I appreciate him going the extra mile in making sure we finished our training. Thank you!!”
Edward Swan
North Fork, California
Outstanding Accelerated PPL Training Experience
I had an excellent experience completing my PPL training with AFIT at Van Nuys Airport and I can confidently say it exceeded my expectations.
The accelerated structure is intense by design, but it is extremely well organized, efficient, and focused on producing safe, competent pilots. AFIT knows exactly how to balance speed with quality, and the training environment at Van Nuys is ideal for developing real-world flying skills.
A huge part of this outstanding experience was my instructor, Chad (CFI). Chad is not only an excellent instructor, but also a genuinely great person. He has a rare ability to understand each student’s strengths and limitations and knows exactly how to push you — safely and constructively — to get the very best out of you. His explanations are clear, his standards are high, and his commitment to your success is obvious from day one.
Chad’s teaching style builds confidence without compromising discipline or safety, and his passion for aviation truly shows. He makes complex concepts feel manageable and ensures you’re not just training to pass a check ride, but to become a solid, confident pilot.
I would highly recommend AFIT to anyone looking for serious, high-quality accelerated flight training, and I especially recommend Chad to anyone fortunate enough to train with him. This was a demanding but incredibly rewarding experience that I’ll always be grateful for.
Dr. Moiz Zeidan, MD, E MBA, DTM&H
Rochester, Minnesota
Private Pilot Finish Up Course
Hi Tony
I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for allowing me to train with Josh for the past two weeks in California. The experience was a little challenging, but it was very rewarding.
I was training Josh, and I appreciate his unique structured approach of teaching things, it really came in handy when you need to remember things. I like how everyone was very welcoming even the mechanics when Josh and I were looking at the planes getting serviced.
Passing my PPL check ride was a huge milestone for me, and I believe the training I received at your school played a big role in making that possible. I feel more confident in my skills as a pilot because of this experience.
Thank you again for a great program and for creating such a positive learning environments.
Best regards,
Johnstone Quick
Des Moines, Iowa
Instrument Through Commercial, CFI, and CFII
I had an outstanding experience training at AFIT from Instrument through Commercial, CFI, and CFII. Tony, the owner, was incredibly accommodating throughout my entire journey. He was always proactive about reaching out, flexible with scheduling, and genuinely invested in making sure my training fit around my availability and goals. (Getting signed off in 30 days of training for 4 ratings is absolutely incredible!)
That level of support is rare and made a huge difference, especially during the more demanding stages of training. Having aircraft, instructor, and DPE availability all working together is no small feat! Alex the manager was super friendly and always gave drinks, snacks, and more in the pilot lounge. It created such a welcoming and supportive learning environment.
Annelie, my instructor, was exceptional. She was patient, knowledgeable, and consistently supportive, taking the time to make sure I truly understood both the flying and the “why” behind it. From the first lesson to the final check rides, she was with me every step of the way, providing encouragement, structure, and confidence when it mattered most. We had such an amazing time together getting some practical flying with cross countries to Las Vegas, Phoenix, San Francisco, Big Bear, and countless other airports in SoCal. This increased my confidence so much to flying in the region. She was the only instructor I’ve had who actually flew me out to check rides and stayed to support me the whole way, big kudos to her.
AFIT is a flight school that truly cares about its students’ success. I couldn’t have asked for a better environment or team to complete my advanced ratings, and I highly recommend AFIT to anyone serious about professional-level flight training.
Thanks a bunch Tony, Annelie, and Alex for helping me all the way through.
Ray Wu
Everette, Washington
10 Day Instrument Training Course
I had an outstanding experience earning my instrument rating through AFIT.
Before AFIT, my path to a private pilot license was a frustrating, year-long grind—constant weather delays, aircraft sidelined for maintenance, and four different instructors as the flight school turned over staff. AFIT was the complete opposite. At Van Nuys, we had consistent weather, I trained in the same excellent aircraft throughout, and I worked with the best instructor I’ve had since starting my flying journey.
Eddie guided me through the program with practical, day-to-day wisdom, exceptional teaching, and exactly the right balance of encouragement and accountability. Thanks to his approach, I completed what many full-time students spend months working toward. And his sharp wit didn’t hurt either—it made the long days enjoyable.
Dylan B. Minor
Santa Barbara, California
10-Day IFR Training in My Cirrus SR-22 Perspective
Accelerated Flight & Instrument Training, LLC (AFIT) and their very experienced instructor Eddie delivered exactly what they promised. Eddie promised to make me a better, safer and more confidant Pilot, while at the same time preparing me for my instrument check ride. After 10 days of training with Eddie I can absolutely say I am a better pilot, safer, more confident and that check ride was a success!
Thanks team AFIT!
Steven E. Meyer
5 Day Private Pilot Finish-Up Course
My experience with AFIT was absolutely incredible. My CFI, Andrew, supported me every step of the way and consistently went above and beyond to ensure my success. No matter the time of day, Andrew was always available and committed to helping me learn and truly understand the material.
I couldn’t have done it without this amazing team.
Thank you, AFIT!
Aahil Akbarali
Delta Airlines Internship
Atlanta, Georgia
14-Day Private Pilot Training Course
From the first moments I met Josh, it was immediately clear to me that Josh was a very genuine man whose good nature, kind heart, and enthusiasm for helping others granted him a disposition well-suited to teaching. These qualities continually made themselves apparent throughout our two weeks together, adding much to my overall experience.
What I had still yet to discern in our first moments of getting acquainted with one another, however, was if Josh’s mannerisms, as well-suited as they were to teaching, were going to be equally as well-suited to my particular needs as a, perhaps, unconventional student. While I strive to always be fair, reasonable, and open-minded, I can be stubborn, opinionated, and quick to oppose conventions.
I am happy to share that Josh possessed a patience, flexibility, and willingness to see things from my perspective which proved him to be a wonderful match for the many instructional challenges I threw at him, borne from my particular style of learning, as they were. My curiosity and desire to absorb knowledge can be very focused, intentional, and intense, at times, which can have the regrettable tendency to frustrate or baffle instructors who hope to simply regurgitate information and move-on to the next student. Josh, however, wasn’t just there to do his job. He genuinely wanted to help me, every moment of every day.
Josh’s natural intuition allowed him to see my constant questioning, probing, introduction of hypotheticals, etc., not as an affront to him, personally, but as the, perhaps, atypical manifestations of my desire to learn and know at a very deep level. I don’t believe this would have been possible were Josh not so dedicated to his role as a teacher and the purpose of assisting others with learning.
There were countless instances where Josh would hear from me, “I disagree with that approach,” or, “this doesn’t seem important to learn,” or, “why do I have to memorize this?” It probably felt at times that I never gave him an inch, neither in the classroom, nor the cockpit!
Not once, though, did Josh respond with frustration or lose his patience with me. It seemed to me that his natural instincts as a teacher and disposition as his own man allowed him to realize that I simply had my own way of learning and absorbing information. I like to wrestle with knowledge, not just hear it. Josh’s skills as a listener and aptitude as a mindful, capable pilot allowed him to assist me while I confronted learning the way that I do, on the ground or in the air.
If I was stuck with particular language, he altered it to better suit my semantic preferences. “Why do they call it that? Shouldn’t they call it this?”
If I needed context behind a maneuver or a technique, he provided it. “What is the purpose? When would a pilot need to use this?”
He always entertained my viewpoints with courtesy, patience, and experience. If I found myself fixated on something – such as my desire to practice landings – he would stay in it with me, even if it took up half of the day, or more.
Josh also knew how to make learning fun. Once he became aware of how I wanted to use my pilot’s license in my personal life, Josh helped plan a very memorable final flight – cross-country to the Napa Valley for a fantastic brunch experience which I will never forget, and have already recounted dozens of times to my friends.
If nothing else, let there be no doubt that I believe Josh adds credibility to the AFIT brand and helps to fulfill its mission. He is safe and capable, he is passionate about learning, he is flexible, he is personally invested in the success of his students, and, perhaps most importantly, he fully lives up to his stupendous last name.
Without equivocation,
Desmond Smith
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
14 Day Private Pilot Training Course
I completed a two-week accelerated flight training program with AFIT and had an excellent experience.
The process for getting everything ready to go was easy and simple. My instructor, Andrew Wilde, at St. George, Utah was outstanding. He was extremely organized, kind, and always available. He genuinely went above and beyond for me. Andrew met with me whenever I needed and I could call him anytime with questions or concerns.
As an instructor, Andrew was a great teacher and coach. He’s humble, patient, and truly determined to see you succeed. He pushed me when needed while still being supportive, and he’s an awesome trainer and a great pilot overall. I also really enjoyed hanging out with Andrew, he is a fun guy to be around.
The training itself was intense and challenging, but absolutely doable and incredibly rewarding.
In my opinion, doing an accelerated course through AFIT not only allows you to earn your license much faster, but it can also save you money. You don’t waste hours relearning things due to long gaps between flights, which makes a huge difference.
If you can dedicate two focused weeks to flight training, I highly recommend AFIT. It was a great experience from start to finish.
Brett Gladstone
Marriottsville, Maryland
14-Day Private Pilot Training
Hi Tony,
I just got my Private Pilot certificate. I worked with Josh and Sergey at AFIT (in Lincoln , CA) and it was a great experience overall. They were very very thorough, patient, helpful and made sure I would be successful.
I heard about AFIT from a colleague who trained with AFIT and gave Tony a call. He patiently explained the overall process and guided me to prepare for the oral part of the check ride before heading to Lincoln, CA
Thanks Tony, Josh, and Sergey. If I decide to pursue instrument rating in the future, I am definitely going back to AFIT. I strongly recommend AFIT, Josh, and Sergey to anyone interested in pursuing flying.
Srikanth Manohar Chatakonda
Seattle Washington
14-Day Private Pilot Training Course
Becoming a pilot has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember, and I truly don’t think I would’ve made it this far without Josh and the AFIT team. Josh doesn’t just go by the book, he has a way of explaining complicated aerodynamic concepts into practical, intuitive knowledge that sticks with you.
Throughout training, he was patient and never gave up on me. Whether we were flying or sitting down to study, he always took the time to help me work through anything I struggled with without ever making me feel discouraged. He put in extra effort going above and beyond for me, sharing helpful resources and giving me one on one guidance to ensure my success for my checkride. What I appreciated most was his motivation, he has this talent for taking a high-pressure learning environment and turning it into something fun and manageable, all while being incredibly time-efficient.
I’m not just leaving with my license, I’m leaving with so much gratitude towards Josh and the AFIT team for helping me reach this goal.
Alexa Ernst
Algonquin, Illinois
6 Day Commercial Pilot Training
I recently finished my commercial pilot certificate with AFIT in Lincoln California. My instructor, David, was amazing with adapting the training to my needs. He also found me a check ride within a day. He was very professional and impressively organized and his instruction was top tier. I was very happy to complete my training with AFIT, it was an enjoyable experience and I went into my check ride feeling very prepared. My favorite part of AFIT was being the only student my instructor had. This made it easy to find weak spots and fix them quickly as well as being available to go fly or do ground lessons for what you need to be successful.
The owner is very nice to work with and is very responsive should you need anything.
I highly recommend AFIT and David as your instructor!
Casey Kleeschule
