Academy of Aviation – Farmingdale

★★☆☆☆ 2 out of 5 2 weeks ago

After 2 years of attending AoA under their career program, I think I have gathered enough to give a fair, unbiased and in-depth review of the good, and the ugly of AoA. 2/5 might have been justifiable. Disclaimer, this review reflects my own personal experience ,current CPL w/ no checkride failures, or disciplinary issues against me from from my tenure (2023 to early 2025) as well as comparing with flight experience from 2 other local flight schools. The good: ease of initial onboarding process, my overall quality of instructors (emphasis on the “MY” part!), organizational structure and learning environment (sims, PSI exam center onsite, classroom learning, community, etc). All students sent for checkrides are more than capable of passing. Aircraft kept in overall good conditions (HUGE improvement from when I first started) The ugly: 1. the REAL cost of flight training at AoA, quality of instructing (YES! It’s here too), communication, communication, and COMMUNICATION. [At no fault of AoA] FRG is an extremely inefficient (based on time and money) place to do flight training as you’re subjected to long ground times during start of blocks, and having to account for long times in pattern just to get back in + 2 months of the year where you can’t fly because of weather. That being said, 12 months period on the learning contracts that you have to sign isn’t enough so literally NO ONE finishes it within that time and that’s where they start to screw you over. After contract experience, they beginning to charge rental aircraft rates instead. $400/hour with instructor in a 172SP ,which is insanity because it’s nowhere near competitive with local rates, and you have no choice but to pay because you cannot withdraw the money you have left. 2. Instructors are generally scheduled with 1 day off, working 6:30am to around 5pm and usually 7pm (during the summer time) with a nonexistent 30 mins break between 12:30-1. Fatigue is a thing, and it REALLY showed if you were unlucky enough to have flight books at around 3pm and after. 3. My biggest issue with the school was COMMUNICATION or lack thereof. Part 141 schools require students to pass progression (stage) checks throughout each course. This goes back to wasted time as well, but just to get approval for a stage check took WEEKS to from the chief pilot after your instructor submitted it, which is unheard of. One of my instrument stage checks took nearly 3 weeks (and 4 frustrated phone calls) just for approval to SCHEDULE. Note, you are not flying during this waiting period and you had to wait again just to be scheduled. During that time, it was due to the departure of the chief pilots, but it always floated around 2 weeks during my entire time there. Airplanes break, things happen, but the school CONSISTENTLY did not communicate these things and there were countless times where I and other people showed up (after driving 40 mins+ sometimes) just to find out that we no longer had a plane because they give it to someone else (based on priority like checkride prep, contractual obligations, etc). I was contractually (when I was within the window limits) obligated to fly 3 times a week which was fine, however NUMEROUS weeks I was not able to hit that goal just because of airplanes being down. Something to note, it was also kind of troubling how common it was to find people with 40-50 hours who still haven’t solo’ed there. Part 141 schools are generally compared to a puppy mill, but for pilot. They have the stereotype that they don’t care about students after they already have your money… this school makes no effort to stray away from that. If you are considering this school (for visa endorsement, etc) , I highly recommend already having your PPL, and being assertive (and speaking up!), attentive to your own needs and pacing.

Shane I

★★★★★ 5 out of 5 8 months ago

Kat made the admissions process very easy for me when I was looking into flight training on Long Island. She was available to answer any questions regarding training, payments or any other concerns. The school has a large fleet of G1000 Cessna 172 aircraft and is located in the main terminal of Republic Airport. The instructors are knowledgeable and committed to providing training instruction in accordance with the FAA as well as their own experiences and ways that helped them excel through the program. Many of the instructors here also went through the AOA Training program so they are familiar with the school and their policies.

Collin delaBastide

★★★★★ 5 out of 5 8 months ago

Update: Once again Academy of Aviation has set higher standards of excellence. Today 11/9/25 I had taken my kids on a discovery flight with Ali it was an absolute pleasure flying with him. Professional experienced and made the entire flight experience welcoming and absolutely amazing! 10 yr old’s first time ever in an aircraft and zero stress! Ali was caring and took his time to not only show the features of the plane but made my son’s day by letting him fly and encouraging him to stay comfortable and confident. Ali chose our flight path and we couldn’t have asked for a better route. Just mesmerizing and breathtaking views. We are so grateful for the staff and administration for making this dream come true! Previous review: Had the pleasure to finally fly a plane with probably one of the best pilots out there! Michael Ziccardi was not only professional but went above and beyond to make sure I was comfortable flying as a learner. Discovery flights are the way to go so you can get a feel of what’s it’s really like and definitely the programs they offer are worth the $$! will return for more sessions and hopefully I will be lucky enough to get same instructor. Professional staff and tremendously knowledgeable instructors.

Nabiha K.

★★★★★ 5 out of 5 a year ago

I earned my instrument rating at Academy of Aviation almost 20 years ago, maybe more, and I’m pretty sure that was around the time they first started. Even back then, it stood out as one of the best flight schools around, and what really impresses me is that they’ve remained steady and reliable all these years. A lot of flight schools come and go, but Academy of Aviation has stayed strong, which says a lot in this industry. If you’re looking for a cheap flight school, this might not be the place—but that’s a good thing. Too often, budget schools shut down without warning, leaving students stranded and out of options. Academy of Aviation has a well-maintained fleet, structured programs, and a solid reputation. Whether you’re pursuing a career in aviation—military or civilian—or just flying for fun, this is the place to go. I’m not sure why it took me over two decades to write this, but I can say with confidence that this is one of the best schools I’ve trained at. I have great memories, especially from those early days when the owner was also my instructor. The training was thorough, professional, and effective, and I left with a strong foundation. About two years ago, I tried to rent a plane from them again after not flying for about 10 years. The process felt different, more geared toward structured student training rather than casual renters, which I’ve grown to accept. I flew with an instructor who was a bit wary about spins, and while I can’t blame him—considering my long break from flying—I couldn’t help but reflect on how the CFIs from my training days were probably more daring. Back then, they’d get excited, and I’d be the one nervous. These days, I understand the pressure instructors are under. One mistake can cost a career, and I respect that fully. While the experience of returning wasn’t quite what I remembered, it doesn’t take away from the fact that this school provides top-notch training. It’s structured, professional, and results-driven. It may be costly, but you’re paying for quality, safety, and real results. I would still give Academy of Aviation a 5-star rating and highly recommend it to anyone serious about flight training. Whether you are just starting out or looking to take your aviation journey to the next level, this school will set you up for success.

Tony Ho

★★★★★ 5 out of 5 a year ago

I would recommend this flight school. All the staff members have always been helpful and understanding, and made me feel as part of the family. There's a special shout-out to Ms. Cameron. She's been so helpful throughout the whole time, from the very beginning and until the present moment.

Gik Muradov