Thank you for the congrats. It feels good to finally get my instrument rating.
My experience with Ralph was first class. He is an “excellent instructor”, and it is apparent that he has done this many times before. His approach to instructing keeps things relaxed and productive throughout the training. Learning to fly by instruments was somewhat stressful, but Ralph never added to the inherent stress. I would definitely recommend AFIT and Ralph to anyone looking for flight training.
Thank you for the professional experience.
I recently completed my private pilot course in Placerville with Cholena as my instructor. Being able to receive my PPL in 11 days is due in large part to Cholena’s dedication and her being such and Excellent CFII. Building a rapport with your instructor is essential; Cholena’s constant smile made every task looks easier than it really was. She brings “tough love” to an art form – she is the friendliest person but when the situation calls for it she immediately becomes the strict instructor you need at your right side. She lets you learn from your mistakes, like the best teachers do. Her approach can be somewhat frustrating at times but is “extremely” effective. If you don’t spend too much time feeling sorry for yourself it will get you to your goals faster and with much less pain.
Cholena’s aviation knowledge is virtually limitless; you’d be hard pressed to find a question she can’t answer. Even though I don’t plan on becoming a commercial pilot, Cholena’s experience flying charters made for very interesting side discussions about high performance airplanes, IFR, and the business of flying.
Placerville is the ideal place for learning to fly – nice weather, above the fog line, with an endless supply of airplane time. Being 2.5 hours away from my home in the Bay Area allowed me to disconnect from everyday interruptions and focus on flying and ground work, while being relatively close to my family. This made for a relatively short course which in turn allowed me to reduce the overall cost (as well as frustration resulting from never-ending training).
I would definitely recommend AFIT and Cholena to my friends, and in fact have already done so.
I wanted to say thank you for your help in assisting me obtain my instrument rating. Hal was a consummate professional, with the perfect demeanor for flight instruction. We got along great for our 10 days together and I learned a tremendous amount. Hal was always prepared for the day of instruction and adapted to my schedule when necessary. I think Hal is a great asset to your company and would recommend him to anyone who is thinking about an accelerated course. Please feel free to send my contact information to anyone who is considering using Hal or AFIT.
Furthermore, the more I read about the antiquated technology of the simulators used by other companies, reinforces my core belief that actual flying conditions cannot be replicated. I understand the cost of flying keeps increasing, but the savings realized using a sim cannot compete with actual flying time under ATC control.
Yesterday I passed my instrument rating checkride. Wow! You cannot imagine the thrill of that. However, the reason I write is to let you know how much I owe AFIT, you, and my instructor Ed for the rating. Ed entered my training after I struggled along for 18 months trying to learn instrument flying elsewhere. I struggled with whether or not accelerated was for me, could I do it, was it a good training method, etc. After reading about AFIT in Piper Flyer I took the plunge. As you know, my wife Brenda is currently finishing up her training for the instrument rating with Ed.
Accelerated was perfect for us – efficient, confidence building, and ramped up learning with no loss of knowledge along the way. With patience and eloquence, Ed pointed out numerous areas of things we needed to work on and improve techniques. Within the first day we were seeing dramatic improvement in our approach performance and radio work with ATC. I couldn’t be more positive about the AFIT accelerated approach or give anything less than an “excellent” rating to Ed our instructor. And, we did all the training and checkride in our PA32-260 Cherokee Six. Most schools want to train in their planes. We wanted to train in the plane we are going to fly.
Is AFIT expensive? NO! If I would have done this right away I would have been further ahead and would have saved all the time and money wasted on less than effective weekly lessons. Hence, that total cost of training is at most the same and highly probable less with AFIT because less overall hours of instruction and airplane costs are consumed.
Thanks again for helping achieve this important goal. My advice for anyone wanting an instrument rating – CALL AFIT.
First of all I would like to take this time to let you know, you are a very honest and trustworthy person, and your word is good. Let people know that I should have finished my instrument rating with Bill a year ago but my mom came down with an illness that delayed my training and you still let my money be good.
Bill is an “awesome instructor”, as you know, my training consisted of 7 days a year ago and then 3 days this year and I passed my check ride the first time.
I would highly recommend AFIT to anyone. I hold AFIT and Bill in highest regard.
I wanted to take a moment and tell you about my experience with AFIT. When I bought my plane 2 years ago, I figured I would be instrument rated within a few months. I have a great CFII that got me started, but like me, he is very busy. As time went on, I figured the only way to get this done was to get out of town and concentrate only on flying. I called you and was set up with Bill in Georgetown, TX.
I can’t say enough good things about AFIT’s 10-day program. Bill works the program perfectly and has it down to a science with a dedicated human touch. We studied hard, flew long hours, ate good food, and had a lot of good laughs. From the pink cards to Bill’s “tribal knowledge”, I learned more in 10 days than I have in 2 years. I can honestly say that my check ride was my easiest day!
Thanks again Tony and when I get ready for the commercial, I know exactly who to call!
I wanted to say thank you for an “Excellent” Private Pilot Training course with Eric, a “Fantastic” instructor. The training was an intensive 14 days and I enjoyed every minute of it. In just two weeks you really can became a safe pilot. It’s awesome. St. George Utah is a great training location and environment, with a variety of airports around mountains, desert, canyons.. A nice and well organized quiet town. And the most important, a Great Senior instructor working with you the whole day, every day.
I wanted to say thank you for an “Excellent” Private Pilot Training course with Eric, a “Fantastic” instructor. The training was an intensive 14 days and I enjoyed every minute of it. In just two weeks you really can became a safe pilot. It’s awesome. St. George Utah is a great training location and environment, with a variety of airports around mountains, desert, canyons.. A nice and well organized quiet town. And the most important, a Great Senior instructor working with you the whole day, every day.
When I signed up to go St George and fly with Eric my goal was to attempt to obtain my private certificate, however because of my limited time, 9 days, I thought there was a good chance that I might have to return at another time to complete it. I’m pleased to say however that in 10 days (9 flying) that I went home having passed my check ride. While some credit goes to me (I did the flying), most goes to Eric. On arrival in St George, the plane he normally uses for training was down with a prop issue, he quickly hustled up a replacement, arranged insurance coverage so I could solo in it quickly, organized a prop swap after a gyro failure, all of which kept me on schedule. He also kept in close touch with the local examiner to make sure he was available as needed and some of the hours I had in helicopters would count. In fact, I ended up flying over 40 hrs by the end of everything.
Eric was fully committed to seeing me succeed and went the extra mile. Most importantly, in spite of a packed schedule I had a lot of fun. Your prompt replies to email, phone calls, faxes and questions was also appreciated. Thanks..
I thought the experience was very good. The facts speak for them self, I progressed quickly and was able to pass my check ride in 8 days.
Your correspondences and instructions before the training was quite sufficient and I was prepared and knew what to expect before Eric’s arrival.
Eric is a “Very Good” instructor. He clearly is very knowledgeable and skilled. He is calm and explains things very clearly. I feel my general pilot skills are improved, not just the instrument elements. In fact that may be the best part of the training. I feel much more comfortable with our aircraft and have the confidence I can make it do what I want it to do more than reacting to what is happening. Working with a new instructor takes some time to accommodate. However, performing familiar task and seeing them through a different instructors perspective for me was a very good learning experience. Working through some task, from a different perspective allowed me to understand it better.Over all I enjoyed the experience and benefited from it. I recommend your program.
John’s vast experience added a dimension to my training far beyond the FAA standards & requirements. He made learning instrument flight easy and intuitive.
It was not easy, but between Bill’s “tribal knowledge” and his experience, I was very well prepared for the flight portion, as well as I could be for someone who has a full time Dentist Practice!
I wanted to send a short note saying how I appreciated the hard work John did getting me to pass my IFR check ride. My confidence was shaky at best. John kept telling me that I was going to do just fine and he was right again.
I found out that John had over taught me and that the check ride was much easier than I had feared. I also became a much better bonanza pilot because of John. His knowledge of flying seemed to be endless.
There were times when I asked myself if I was too old (51) to do this and why would I push myself so hard to achieve this goal. John kept encouraging me and I am now very grateful and proud to have my IFR ticket! It was not easy for me but it would have been nearly impossible to achieve this without your program pushing me to “get r done”.
I would like to thank you and Cholena for making my PPL a reality.
There are many things that can get in the way of actually finishing your PPL, and in my view the ‘accelerated course’ is the only way that makes good sense.
But I also think that an accelerated course only works if you are with a team that has the experience and understanding to do it professionally. Put simple, you guys are the real thing. Since my first email contact with you, right through to my Check Ride, you and Cholena had all the answers, and were able to guide me along what is usually a very daunting path.
I read the glowing testimonials for Cholena before commencing the course, and now at the other end of the process, I can say that they still do not do her justice. She is nothing short of brilliant. Her calm and persistent manner has left me with a level of confidence that I simply never had from my previous flight training experience. Previously I always felt that I was ‘missing something’. Whereas, after spending 2 weeks with Cholena – I feel that I have received a very thorough and considered training. The highlight for me was landing at Sacramento International Airport at 10.30pm in our Diamond DA20, on final next to a 747 on a parallel runway. Try doing that with your average instructor..!
As Cholena said, getting your PPL is really a license to continue to learn how to fly. I agree with this, but I also believe that the grounding I received means that I will be continuing my learning on a very sound and safe footing.
I also appreciate your own persistence, encouragement and professionalism. I don’t think I ever waited more than a couple of hours to receive a return email from you with answers to my questions.
Thanks again. I would not hesitate to recommend your organization to anyone serious about getting their license.
Wanted to let you know Bill did a “Great” job.I passed my check ride immediately after the AFIT course ended. I learned and truly understand the material now.
I would highly recommend this course!
Learning to fly with A.F.I.T. was one of the best decisions I’ve made regarding value, & good quality flight instruction. John is a “Grade A” instructor. I got my ticket in 42 hours, & I credit John for getting me through in just over the minimum- He has an eye for detail, & doesn’t miss a thing in the aircraft. I also found that he consistently challenged me to do good, & pushed me to get better in the plane.
In retrospect, I’m glad I chose A.F.I.T. as I know I would’ve likely dealt with “revolving door” issues from a training facility that had “time-building” CFIs that have no incentive to help you get your ticket in a timely manner.
Hands down, the best money I’ve ever spent!
The training went well. Overall I really enjoyed John and I learned a lot about my Columbia an my piloting skills. I also enjoyed getting to fly a Bonanza!
As you know, I began my studies abroad ( Panama City, Panama) and on top of that my training had been interrupted many times as life just kept getting in the way. I then moved to Seattle, WA where I enrolled in a flight school where as time passed and the awful weather due to icing conditions did not allow continuous flying which just made me feel that I was not ever going to get my rating.
I had set out to complete my Instrument rating by the end of June as I had already been trying to complete it for over 15 months and I heard about AFIT. IMMEDIATELY after talking with you and explaining my whole background and situation I felt I was in the right hands to finish my IFR training. You assigned Cholena for my flight instructor, who is an amazing, experienced Gold Seal instructor to whom I am very grateful.
My goal is to become an airline pilot and I needed the best training I could find, as soon as I explained my concerns and my goals, Cholena understood perfectly. I was also impressed with the confidence and professionalism everyone at AFIT showed during my training as I told Cholena I would be a challenge to train due to the many “missing links” in my base knowledge. AFIT did exactly what you told me and was very up front with all dealings.
In less than one week training, I got my Instrument Rating and even flew more than I had flown in 15 months elsewhere. When I completed the program I not only got my rating, but feel I am a very safe and competent pilot.
This letter falls short of everything Cholena did to prepare me and help me accomplish my goal.
Thank you Tony and Cholena!
I wanted to send a letter of thanks for the opportunity that you and John have provided to me to fulfill a life-long dream. I have to say that the 14 days was action-packed and very exciting. There wasn’t much time for distractions and I think that is one of the main reasons this program is so successful. I tried a couple years ago to get my certificate and the normal day-to-day distractions of running a business and having a family kept me from realizing the dream.
Your program worked! John was an excellent teacher and coach throughout the whole 14 days. I really enjoyed his teaching methods as well as his company and personality.
Thank you so much. My life will never be the same.
The training I received with Lou was better than I had hoped for. The entire process was very structured and well planned out. I enjoyed the experience I had with Lou, “great instructor”. He and I enjoyed a further bond with our military background. I plan on returning when my schedule permits me for an Instrument rating and multi rating.
When I came to AFIT I had felt my previous arrangement was taking too long and costing me more money. I wanted a program with a curriculum and structured base, that’s exactly what I got. Lou was able to find out where I had left off knowledge and flight wise after the first day. I really liked how easy it was to communicate with him and decided how to approach the next few days in order to knock out as much as we could and as safely as we could.
I highly recommend AFIT and Lou. I hope to be back in Texas to take care of further ratings and such.
As you know, I flew my private-pilot training with Lou and I can definitely say that he is a great instructor and really gets involved in every aspect of training, from theory and exam preparation to practical tips and tricks to make the flying experience both more enjoyable and more useful for the student. I also want to stress one thing – he ALWAYS goes the extra mile and takes the next step, even in things not directly involved with the airplane or the training. Training with Lou gave me what I needed not only to pass the tests but to be a good pilot, with the assurance that he was always by my side to help me achieve my dream safely and with excellence.
I recommend Lou as an instructor for anyone who wants to really have a thorough preparation for the next step in flying, whether initial private, as was my case, or advanced training. His encyclopedic knowledge of aviation and his easy manner of teaching make flying with him an experience to be enjoyed while it lasts and missed when it finishes.
The 10 days in Boulder were Wonderful. You where right by saying John is a wonderful teacher!Boulder is a great location, the facilities are great , the planes are superb and the ambiance was very friendly. I had a great time there.
Despite my French accent, John was kind enough to help me to go through radio communication. Of course the background of John explains his ability to teach how to fly IFR, but his patience, kindness and humility made the difference between a normal and a fantastic instructor.
I miss Boulder and John, (his wife who is a pilot too) but I’m sure I will meet them soon in Europe or in US, as good friends.
Thank you for sending me to Boulder ! An amazing experience!
I want to thank you for the training I received through A.F.I.T. I had some concerns as to the swiftness of this course at first but after the first day meeting with my instructor Lou my apprehensions were put to rest. The time frame allotted for this course was spot on. I cannot say enough good and positive things about Lou. Before I started the course he had researched what I needed for my add on commercial rating and put together a manual and maneuvers book.
It is not often in life that we get a chance to meet someone that has such an impact on our lives and careers. Lou is an invaluable asset to aviation and it shows in his passion to instruct, his vast pool of knowledge, and his character. I commend you on having instructors like Lou. Not only did I receive the training I needed but did so in a timely manner and with confidence that I would pass the check ride. If in the future I should need any further training and it is offered by your company I will most certainly be contacting you.
Yesterday, I received my instrument rating after spending nine very enjoyable days in the cockpit with AFIT instructor, Lou Fausak. When I arrived in Dallas I would have bet that it couldn’t be done. But Mr. Fausak, with his vast experience and professionalism, assured me that I would be a good and highly capable instrument pilot when I finished my training. He was right!
I want to thank you for recommending Lou to be my instructor. He is not only a passionate aviator, his tremendous knowledge and experience makes him a pilot’s pilot. He challenges his students to be precise and succeeds in developing them to be safe, sound and quality (instrument) pilots. I am also proud to call Lou a friend and look forward to returning to Dallas for more of his expert training in the future. I will also be proud to recommend AFIT to my pilot friends and acquaintances.
What an incredible experience! Almost hard to believe that I showed up in St. George, Utah with only a few hours of flight time under my belt, and 14 days later I am a Certificated Private Pilot! Eric is absolutely great at what he does. He knew exactly how to push, stretch, set expectations, and keep the whole learning process fun and on track. He is an expert! Truly a professional. Very committed to seeing me succeed! I highly recommend AFIT and Eric if you are serious about becoming a private pilot in the most efficient way possible!
I wanted to express to you what a great experience AFIT was. From the first phone call I made to the final day when I received my private pilot certificate, I received prompt responses to my calls, questions and emails. I never felt ambiguous or unsure about where we stood in the process.
I could not have had a better instructor than Eric. Not only is he incredibly knowledgeable, he truly cared about me becoming a SAFE pilot. He was there from sun up to sun down (and somedays longer)making sure we stayed on track and did not waste ANY time. This was very important as I had expressed to you on the phone that I was ready to work hard to achieve the certificate. It meant everything to me that I was provided with an great instructor who was more than ready to do the same.
I received A+ quality training in a time period and price we had discussed prior to my payment. What a great service AFIT provides in an industry that seems to do everything but that. I would recommend AFIT to anyone who is serious about receiving great instruction in a timely manner.
I wanted to let you know impressed I was with the service I received from AFIT and the exceptional experience I had flying with John in Boise. One of my original concerns with pursuing an accelerated IFR training option was the uncertainty of the type of CFII that I would be paired with. As John and I enjoyed lunch together that first afternoon in Boise my concerns quickly faded away. John has a passion for aviation that quickly shows itself with a clear and concise teaching style, real-world flying experiences and enjoyable humor.
I would highly recommend AFIT to anyone that is interested in pursuing accelerated flight training.
I am very pleased to celebrate this major milestone with you, under the precise coaching of champion Cholena! “She is an excellent instructor”, delivering just the right pace and intensity of theory and practical concepts daily (with homework), right up to minutes prior to my first solo flight !
I cleared all the tests to received my PPL, after intense teaching and corrections from Cholena. For me, this will be the start of continuous learning and skills improvement for private piloting.
You have an excellent and concise 14-day PPL training package, which I was somewhat skeptical initially, but I am now living proof of your success formula with my own PPL ! In addition, the excellent weather in California and availability of multiple airport types within a short range, is great for intensive dual and solo training.
It’s my honor to have trained with AFIT and Cholena, both with sincerity and aligned interest, working towards my successful PPL within 14 training days.
With first-hand experience, I will recommend prospective PPL students to you anytime. I am pleased to share my experience and feedback on this course.
Thank you once again !
I suspect many people, when they first see the claim of an instrument rating in ten days, are a bit sceptical. But it really can be done! Mind you, the key is in the quality of the teaching and Cholena certainly is a star. What makes her really special are two qualities: adaptability and persistence. Cholena will adapt her teaching of ideas and techniques until she finds the approach that suits you. And then she’ll work with you until you master it. A combination of dedication and skill like that is very rare.
I very much enjoyed working with you and Cholena. I certainly know where to go when I’m ready to take the next step. All the best for the future.
Tony,
Just wanted to touch base with you, since few weeks have passed since training with Eric.
I would like to say what a great instructor you have in Eric. From the ground school to the flying, it was a “Great Experience”.
It has been a “Great Experience” Cholena was “Great” and my training was enjoyable and fulfilling. Thanks.
I learned a lot in Utah with John.
John was “Very Good” and the experience raised the bar for me.
Thank you.
Cholena was Great … No complaints. Thanks for everything.
Mike trained me during 10 consecutive and intense long days. This included flying on Dec 31st and New Year’s day. We were based in KSUS, Spirit of St Louis, MO. We flew a nice and well equipped PA28-180 Archer II: N9513C. We achieved the required 40 hours of SIMC with an average of two flights a day, including a few session of simulator when snow covered the ground a couple mornings.
At 48 and 500 flight hours in various French aero clubs, I engaged this IFR training as a way to progress further and travel more often and more safely despite cloudy weather. I found the AFIT accelerated training a nice fit to my busy schedule. The stay in the US was a very intense experience, both from a “professional” and personal relationship standpoint. Flying has been and will remain leisure for me, but this course had the same unique objective as for anyone else: getting IFR certified.
Fully committed to make me succeed, Mike has this right balance of being a very nice person with a constant level of original English humour, but also knows to be tough enough when things are not done the way they should. Yet he had the patience to let me make mistakes to learn from, repeat and make me repeat again and again the essentials, until they become “a new religion”, like the famous 5 T’s. Mike maintained consistent pressure towards the objective and would not let me get distracted or over relaxed. He monitored daily we were on track, by achieving serious flying lessons every single day. And Mike also knows to measure and encourage progress along the way.
Moments of this training reminded my private pilot, over 20 years ago. Some of the Instrument stuff was hard enough for me that I sometimes had the feeling I was learning flying again from scratch. In this situation, Mike had this good old-style experienced instructor approach, teaching or reminding me plenty of little tricks that improve technique:
This course was great Fun and a great experience and I thank Mike for his contribution.
I’m safely back home and trying to acclimate, re-enter my life. Working with Cholena for the past 10 days was exactly what I wanted but nothing close to what I expected. Although I feel I arrived under-prepared to be able to take the maximum advantage of the training, Cholena simply focused me on the work I had to do in order to succeed in the program overall.
I found Cholena to be a professional trainer of the highest quality. She is a master of the knowledge and skill set she shares, but more importantly she seems to thrive on the activity of teaching and finding ways to help her students learn. Having past my check ride with no drama and reflecting on what I’ve learned I’m very appreciative of the foundation that I now have and look forward to the new areas of learning now available to me.
First off, huge thanks to my instructor, John T. for making the learning process as experiential as possible. John’s approach to ground training always felt more like a conversation with a trusted friend than a formal class, and his extraordinary depth of knowledge in all facets of aviation meant that there was seldom a question to which he didn’t have the answer. He kept me laser-focused on the knowledge I would need for my FAA oral test and check ride, but he still found time to impart untestable yet critical lessons that he has learned in his 40+ years of flying.
Like many novice pilots, I struggled with landings. John proved to be extraordinarily patient with my learning process. He applied several different teach techniques until he found the one that resonated with me and it all clicked. He held my hand during new maneuvers and situations just enough to ensure that I was safe, but he let go often enough to ensure that I learned something from my mistakes. I am confident that I am a better pilot for it, and I truly appreciate the high standards that he set for me, which made my check ride just another day in the plane.
My flight experience was unforgettable. Cholena was an awesome instructor and was very professional and, proficient in her knowledge about the subject matters.
I would highly recommend AFIT and Cholena to any individual who is interested in obtaining their private, or any type of license for their first time.
Thank you so much AFIT and Cholena for your passion for aviation.
Bill was a great instructor for my needs. I own a company and trying to get time away is difficult. Using the AFIT course I could go to work every morning at 6:30 a.m. and work until 11:00 a.m. We would work on ground school and flight training every day. We would end our day at 10:00 pm. Bill never complained about the long hours. I have only had my private license for 3 or 4 months. Bill helped me on both the written and practical test. I own a Cirrus SR-22. My insurance for a student/new pilot was $10,000.00 per year. After I accomplished 150 hours of flight time and passed my instrument rating my insurance dropped to half. Not only did I save $5,000.00 per year, but I am a much safer pilot thanks to Bill’s instruction and AFIT. Many Thanks.
I just wanted to drop you a note to say thank you for a Wonderful training experience. Eric and wife Rhonda were fantastic. They were organized, punctual, pleasant and engaged. They really went out of their way to make sure that I had everything I needed.
Eric is a great instructor and skilled pilot. His insights will make me a better and safer pilot. After doing holding patterns and partial panel for days at a time, the checkride was a piece of cake. The one thing that came through to me more than anything is that Eric cares about his students and wants them to be successful.Please rest assured that I will recommend your company and Eric to anyone who has an interest in pilot training.
Thanks again.
Your AFIT personnel, especially Eric and your various associates are “First Class” flight training professionals. You will not get a whitewash job – and before you’re done, you will acquire the skills you need, to start to survive, in the unforgiving world of airplane flying. An Awesome experience
Thanks for everything.
I recently had the opportunity to fly with Michael to complete an Instrument proficiency check. Michael is an excellent instructor with an expansive amount of experience and knowledge that he brought to the cockpit. I found him to be patient and willing to try different instructional approaches to improve my flying techniques and knowledge base while flying on instruments. Also, I appreciated his “back to basics” approach while flying on instruments and to have a back-up plan in place in the event the Garmin GTN750 goes blank.
I would highly recommend Michael for instructional flying.
