USAF Academy Flight Training Center

★☆☆☆☆ 1 out of 5 8 months ago

For reference I am currently both a US Military Pilot and Airline pilot, I would avoid this school. Over COVID I flew with an instructor Georgina Gittins who preyed on me for flight hours to get to herself to the airlines at my expense. I was doing basic basic airplane maneuvers at the 50-60 hour level. I didnt solo until about perhaps 60 hours of dual flight instruction. I was a freshly commissioned Officer and was too determined and stubborn to see what was happening, I was repeating the same basic maneuvers day after day after day while my funds shrunk and my instructor's flight time grew. Eventually after a period of burnout I switched instructors and received my private pilot licence certificate at 115 flight hours.. It rubs me the wrong way to this day that nobody in management looked out for me and saw what was happening. The culture here is uncomfortable, the quasi-military flight school culture is unnessary when they're burning holes in YOUR pocket. I witnessed the ret airforce manager yell at an employee for asking a normal question about work. Ive done the real deal military flight training, looking back on it, it was an odd experience and unnecessary for a civlian flight school. I've done the real deal civilian flight training too and went airlines and let me tell you there are better, cheaper and more advanced aircraft and school options. "The Flight School at MeadowLake" (KFLY airport) is nearby and I would recommend to an aspiring pilot. You will fly with other civilian traffic at a low stakes, quiet airport in a glass cockpit(i am NOT an employee btw). At the USAFA Aeroclub you will be practically segregated from the outside general aviation world on a day to day basis and your radio work will be less well rounded. At the USAFA Aeroclub you will have elaborate and highly detailed procedures drilled into you about rules and regulations specific to flying at just the academy, particularily routes to take in and out of the airport. Let me be clear, this laundry list of rules has nothing to do with your FAA pilot training curriculum nor is it pertinent/Translatable to what you need to know for your actual checkride. Your DPE will not care that you memorized an imaginary route to leave and enter the USAFA every day. They polish these weird rules into a "Yeah this is how we do it in the air force so we're preparing you for that". (and not to worry, the school will be happy to charge you as many additional hours of ground instruction as it takes for you to learn) Jokes aside, I fly in and out of Airforce bases regularly and I can tell you this reasoning is nonsense, it detracts from your bandwidth to absorb the more important things such as like oh, the required items in the Airmen Certifcation standards AKA the things you will actually be evaluated for to recieve your pilot rating from a DPE. I think if you are a cadet on campus or living on this post it is a reasonable option to consider for training. Anyone outside the fence, stay away. Peace.

Evan L

★☆☆☆☆ 1 out of 5 a year ago

A lot of money is being spent with nothing to show for it. With a staff this big, you would think they would have a lot more planes.

Brandon H

★★★☆☆ 3 out of 5 3 years ago

The instructors are great and not that flying isn't pretty expensive but they probably have the best rates you'll find. The reason for less than perfect score is the lack of functional planes. An aeroclub needs planes or what's the point. The planes they have are 50 something years old and they're often in extended maintenance because it's difficult to find parts for them. Some planes are down permanently. Worse yet the AF doesn't seem to be doing anything to fix this so the problems only going getting worse. I'll change/update my review should something be done about the problem.

Dan Cam

★★★★★ 5 out of 5 6 years ago

Had a fantastic time learning to fly at the aero club here. The instructors are incredible and tailor their instruction so you get the most out of your flights. The club has a great atmosphere that can be seen by how friendly and helpful everyone is. From all the instructors even ones that aren’t specifically slotted to fly with you to Basil at the front desk it is easy to see that they care and are passionate about helping you succeed.

Steven Bienlien

★★★★★ 5 out of 5 7 years ago

This is a great place to learn to fly or rent properly maintained aircraft. The instructors aren’t chasing hours to get their next rating. Many instructors are former military instructors and or airline pilots. Those instructors who did not go that route in their careers have a vast amount of light aircraft experience and truly care about your training and progression towards your aviation goals. I have enjoyed the instruction I have received here.

Eric W