American Flyers

★★★★★ 5 out of 5 5 months ago

I came to American Flyers Scottsdale to follow the same path my dad started in the 1980s, when he trained with American Flyers in Florida and hired as an instructor. He’s now a B787 Captain, and I can see why this school continues to produce such capable pilots. Over the past year, I completed my Private, Instrument, Commercial, CFI, and CFII training, all through American Flyers. The program is well-organized, consistent, and focused on building strong fundamentals. The Piper Pilot 100i aircraft are excellent training platforms — reliable, modern, and great for both primary and advanced instruction. The instructors set a high bar. They expect professionalism and precision but provide the guidance and support needed to meet those expectations. American Flyers delivers efficient, high-quality training with a clear path from student pilot to instructor. I’d recommend it to anyone serious about pursuing aviation as a career.

Hayden Morgan

★★★★★ 5 out of 5 11 months ago

I did all of my training at American Flyers’ Scottsdale location—Private, Instrument, and Commercial—and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. The training was top-notch, and flying in Scottsdale’s busy airspace really pushed me to become a sharper, more confident pilot. There’s a saying, “It takes a village,” and that’s exactly how I felt about my training here. Every instructor I flew with had tons of knowledge and their own teaching style, which gave me a really well-rounded learning experience. No matter who I flew with, I always knew they cared about my progress and were giving me their best. If you’re thinking about starting flight training, I’d absolutely recommend giving American Flyers Scottsdale a call. You won’t regret it.

Collin Erickson

★★★★★ 5 out of 5 a year ago

I recently had the pleasure of taking my first flight with American Flyers, and as a lifelong aviation enthusiast, I can confidently say it was an unforgettable experience. From the moment I arrived, the entire staff made me feel welcomed and at ease. Their professionalism truly stood out, creating an environment where I felt comfortable and excited for my flight adventure. My flight instructor, Tanner, was exceptional. His extensive knowledge and accommodating nature made the learning process smooth and enjoyable. He expertly guided me through every step, from the simulator to the preflight inspection, and finally to takeoff, maneuvering, and landing. Tanner’s patience and clear explanations helped me grasp the concepts effortlessly. The flight itself was breathtaking as we soared over North Phoenix, North Scottsdale, and the stunning Lake Pleasant. The views were incredible, and Tanner ensured I was fully engaged and learning throughout the journey. Overall, my experience with American Flyers was nothing short of amazing. I highly recommend them to anyone interested in aviation, whether you're a beginner or looking to refine your skills. Their commitment to excellence and passion for flying truly shine through!

Richard Geren

★★★★★ 5 out of 5 2 years ago

Best decision, no regrets. Moving from TN to AZ with my PPL was a big leap of faith that American Flyers would be a good fit for me. Fortunately, from the day I started, it was nothing but professionalism, efficiency and an excellent experience. I came from a more “mom & pop” styled flight school where you had to text your instructor and hope they could fit you into their schedule. I was more than pleasantly surprised upon arriving at American Flyers Scottsdale that they had an entire operations/scheduling team dedicated to planning out your entire program, day by day. They’ll even work with your schedule if you have work or prior commitments and still make sure you don’t get behind. This honorable mention goes to Garrett, Matt and Austin. These guys are the glue that juggle a daily (handwritten) schedule of almost 100 students - wild. Some other things you’ll want to know when considering this school… their once a month weekend ground school for a specific rating or certificate is well worth your time and money. A certified instructor runs through all the nuts and bolts of what you’ll need to pass your written in just 2.5 days. You can take your written the day you finish your course and knock it out - worth it. The facility is clean and top notch with 5+ dedicated classrooms and two Frasca Simulators. This is where you’ll spend one on one time with an instructor for all your ground knowledge needs. Having been able to break down all the minutia of Instrument Flying was huge for me as there is a lot to learn to be safe. I was fortunate to have two main instructors that really pushed me across the finish line that were key to my success; Victor and Alex. Request them if they’re available. You’ll fall in love with the avionics in the Piper Cherokees that American Flyers offers. Touch screen G3x moving map displays, auto-pilot, less than 3yr old, routine maintenance etc.. great training aircraft. I know you’re probably wondering, “what about the checkride situation?”. While the DPE shortage is real in the country right now, American Flyers’ Scottsdale location has a checkride scheduler that will bend over backwards and call every DPE in a 1000mi radius to do whatever it takes to make sure you don’t have to wait months and months for a ride. Garrett McSheffrey deserves some praise for doing the majority of this for the students at AF Scottsdale! Lastly, a qualm I had if any, would’ve been that this particular location, at the time of this review, does not offer Multi Engine or an accelerated CFI program. I would’ve stayed at this location had they offered such programs, but I had to move on due to the circumstance. All in all, it truly was an invaluable experience being able to train at such a well refined school in one of the most busy airspace’s in the country. I feel like a much more competent and confident pilot having completed my Instrument Rating and Commerical Certificate in the Phoenix Bravo. You won’t regret training here.

Gage Lance

★★★★★ 5 out of 5 6 years ago

I came to American flyers with a part 61 private certificate and this was my first time with a 141 program. I like how it’s very structured compared to part 61. In my opinion I have gotten better instruction using a 141 over 61. Price will be a factor as 141 is always a more expensive route but also you usually can get done faster and at a lower time minimum. I’m almost done with commercial and will be around 190-200 hours as opposed to the 61 minimum of 250. The only bad thing about flying anywhere in Phoenix is the heat during the summer but if that is a dealbreaker come fly in the winter when it’s 60-70. American flyers is definitely a school you need on your radar before choosing a flight school and spending 10s of thousands on training. Their refund policy is a no brainer as well. I’ve been here going on 4 months and I havnt seen one instructor leave yet either and they have plenty of instructors here too. Last thing Scottsdale’s airport is great. The controllers are very nice and the airport is nicely laid out and is a very easy class Delta to train out of and become more familiar with controlled airports, bravo airspace, and taxiing.

Blake W