New Mexico Sport Aviation

★★★★★ 5 out of 5 9 years ago

An unbelievable flight school...mostly because of Michael Szczepanski's (the owner / operator) demeanor and attention-to-detail. I came into the school having 55.3 hours under my belt - from 2004. I hadn't been in a GA aircraft since. Michael made no promises, but because he isn't a "cookie-cutter" instructor, he was able to get me back in the saddle. Tough when he needs to be, demanding when he should be, but lets you make the mistakes necessary to become a competent pilot, while still instilling the desire to continue learning. I must also add, coming from a fairly large flight school I attended in the early 2000's, I was accustomed to the traditional facilities comprised of old equipment, nasty (but still airworthy) airplanes, and questionable professionalism. Michael's school is the exact opposite. His planes are in top notch shape, the hangar is a wonderful location, and his classroom is well equipped, clean, and a pleasure to be in. Truly the most professional flight school I have ever had the pleasure of spending time.

Spencer Hamons

★★★★★ 5 out of 5 10 years ago

I've been a customer, student, and friend of NM Sport Aviation for a little over a year now. I started lessons here to achieve a life-long dream of becoming a pilot. Less than two months ago, I finally earned my sport license, and I'm now working towards my private license. NMSA maintains a modern, tech savvy operation. Students and renters reserve planes and/or instruction time via a website, and can request specific equipment, as well as purchase current sectionals if needed. Rental prices are wet (fuel included), with the option to also purchase insurance. NMSA is clearly focused on maintaining current, safe aircraft. Maintenance and inspections are routinely performed, and even small issues are addressed with timeliness. If you're interested in becoming a pilot, you couldn't ask for a better instructor than Michael, also NMSA's owner. His patience, attention to safety, and clear communication skills are superbly suited to flight instruction. He has a demeanor that puts you at ease and bolsters your confidence as you become more proficient. And his extensive experience means he is a wealth of knowledge. For me, one of the most important aspects of (any) teacher is in the ability to remain quiet at times, to let the student develop their plan, to sometimes make mistakes; little mistakes are often the best way to learn. This can be a hard balance when the subject is flight, but Michael excels at finding a balance between safety and student growth. Finally, being a scientist, I have an affinity for studying more about the subject at hand and recognize that there is always more knowledge to gain; Michael exudes this same curiosity and constantly aspires to learn new things regarding flight. I've thoroughly enjoyed the discussions we've had. My past 1+ year of flight lessons have included some of the most fun times I've had in my adult years. Every dollar I've spent at NMSA has been more than worth it. Whether you're a seasoned pilot or aspiring sport or private student, you can not go wrong with NMSA.

Brent Budden

★★★★★ 5 out of 5 13 years ago

New Mexico Sport Aviation is an innovation! Bringing high quality flight instruction to the high desert, NMSA's fresh outlook on flight training is so straight forward and modern, that you can't get better flight training in New Mexico.

Matt Freitas