My wife surprised me with me with a gift of flying for my 50th birthday. They were very…read moreaccommodating, and even got it scheduled for my actual birthday (they ask for multiple dates you can make). My flight instructor Seth was great and made me more relaxed by his knowledge, humor and calm demeanor. It was without question an exhilarating, one-of-a-kind experience for me. For my two cents, I highly recommend as a gift for certain. Dave Smith 6-25-2024

I called Essex Air no one returned my call. I then tried again today to schedule an introductory…read moreflight. I spoke to someone who refused to give me his name. I asked if we could come by so we can ask questions - I was told we should read the information online. I explained that this is new to us and it's nice to speak to someone in person - I was told then ask on the phone. I asked if we can come in tomorrow and may I have your name - the gentle man refused to give me his name. This is very disappointing and discouraging - we will take our business elsewhere. This call was on 9/23/2022 at 2;28 pm.

The Best people! Just like family Also a pleasure coming here. Roberto and his team are doing…read moregreat work here at Costanzo.

I went on an introductory flight in Spring of this year. It was an incredible experience. Mr…read moreCostanzo was extremely pleasant and knowledgeable. He took me and my wife up in a Cessna and gave me much more time at the controls than I'd expected to have which was incredibly fun. I would highly recommend and introductory flight at this school if you're at all interested in flying.

Top-tier flight training center among the finest in the NY Metro area! Superb instructors,…read morewell-maintained aircraft and great training environment for career-minded pilots or anyone looking to enter the aviation world.

Please please please, if you're trying to become a pilot go to one of half a dozen other schools…read morearound. This school doesn't direct you, guide you, or gets you there. I've spent over a year and tons of cash on crappy planes and no drive or direction. The owner is non existent and doesn't maintain the planes. Go next door to american flyers or to Caldwell. Listen to me, you won't regret it.

This place can average at best, but it can also be really bad. I have had instructors No-show me…read moreon lessons. Aircraft not available for scheduled lessons, my checkride of all things was almost cancelled because they "forgot" to schedule me for it. 3 lessons in one week were never scheduled and no one had any idea why. I will use them to finish the PPL I started but that's it, Super expensive. I am done after the check ride.

So I visited a few flight schools today and by far this one was the most open and easily…read moreapproachable. What impressed me was that did not itemize or "nickle and dime" as much as the others. In am by no means saying that they are any less expensive when they quote you an average cost but they do have a few things that make the training more affordable. The highlight of my visit was a preview of their 2 simulators in which students may use gratis when they are enrolled. This is a huge deal since many schools will charge an hourly rate for the privilege. The only time they charge for sim training here is if it's instructor guided. That's a very fair deal in my opinion. Their aircraft use was more expensive BUT they have planes with analog instruments AND glass cockpit and ALL their planes go for the same price. Also, all of their planes are fuel injected which means no fussing with carb heat. Many other schools seem to charge more for upgraded technology. Ground school was not as pricey and the school does not push a package or kit for you to buy. No high pressure sales there. Kudos goes out to John there for alleviating some of my initial anxiety by letting me walk out to a plane and hop in for initial feel and showing me around. The other places I visited today all seemed either a bit harried or sticklers on a scheduled appointment for a more controlled visit. I'm happy that they are busy but I really needed something a bit more personal here and John did a great job. Though I still have a bit of anxiety I think I can now go forward and actually schedule a discovery flight. Oh and speaking of which, THIS school actually includes a simulator experience in addition to the flight. No one else I've previewed offers that either. Great way to ease someone into this.

I started training at Century Air in July 2020 and have since completed the private, instrument,…read morecommercial, CFI, and CFII courses. I researched several schools at CDW and at MMU prior to enrolling here. After visiting this school and getting to know more about the facility during my consultation, I was impressed at how well-run it is. The staff is very professional, everything is very clean, the airplanes are well-maintained, the curriculum is very organized, and the brochures they prepare highlight everything you need to know about the courses they offer. The final point that sealed the deal for me is that Century does not hire anyone and everyone who graduates from their program. All their instructors are tested and held to high standards before getting hired. This means that you will not be training with instructors who are only there to build time to go to the airlines. Instead, you will get highly proficient instructors who actually want to be there to teach you and truly care about your success. This is a Part 141 school, which means that the FAA oversees and approves the curriculum. As a result, you will be able to complete the requirements at a reduced number of hours, as well as have a structured syllabus to follow so you are trained to a high standard to become a good and proficient pilot. An additional benefit of having this structure is you always know what will be covered in every lesson and you will have progress checks along the way to keep you on track. For someone like me, this motivates me and allows me to push myself and set the bar higher to get the most out of my training. Flight school is different from a traditional college setting in the sense that everything is done at your own pace. You are assigned an instructor and you can complete all your ground and flight lessons together whenever you can. There are no lectures or classes to sit in on at predetermined times. This makes it very flexible for people who work and want to flight train when they have free time. This also allows you to take breaks when life gets busy without needing to wait for a vacation. Since Century is open 7 days a week, as long as your instructor and plane are available and the weather is nice, you can fly. Shortly after enrolling, I was assigned my instructor, Nick Ollo. I have obtained all my pilot certificates with him and I am very glad to have done so. Nick always challenged me to exceed the flight test standards so that I could become a better pilot and always work to improve my skills. He always has a wealth of knowledge and has taught me so many things that I wouldn't be able to learn just from a textbook. He is very dedicated to his job as a flight instructor, and I could tell that he cares a lot about it. There was never a point in time where I felt like I was neglected or not getting the full value out of my training. He has seen me grow from a zero-time student, all the way to becoming a flight instructor myself. Without him, I definitely would not be as great of a pilot as I am today. Being that CDW is under New York's airspace, which is the second busiest airspace in the world, you will get a lot of practice flying in and around congested airspace. Since CDW also has an ATC tower, you will also get a lot of practice communicating with air traffic control both on the ground and in the air. These reasons help to justify the costs of flight training in the New York metropolitan area, which like everything else in the area, is above average. You won't get the same experience training in the middle of nowhere or the cornfields. Century also has a simulator training center located down the street at the airport. The G1000 simulator is mainly used for instrument training, and there is a Frasca simulator that is mainly used for multi-engine training. Having access to simulators means that you can complete your training at a lower cost, as well as have fewer cancellations due to weather. It is much cheaper and more efficient to transfer skills that you learn on the ground into the plane, rather than try to learn everything in the cockpit. Lastly, one of the nicest benefits of training here is that the flight school owner, Richard Greene, is also a Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE). Therefore, you will be able to take your checkrides (flight tests) without needing to fly to other airports to do so. Rich is the most experienced aviator I know, holding certificates in all different types of aircraft you could possibly think of. Rich, as well as his wife, Christine, run the school together and they put in a lot of effort to make sure your experience at the school is top-notch. They have worked very hard to build the school up to where it is today. Overall, my experience at Century Air has been amazing. I am very happy that I chose to train here and cannot imagine going anywhere else. I highly recommend you schedule a consultation and tour the facility if you are considering flight training!

Met the owner today about flight training. This man has no…read morebusiness talking to prospective clients. The climate of this facility was so negative , when I walked in. Staff was actually scared on what they can or not say since they were young. Mr. Greene only talked about how great his school was with disregard to other professional's in this field. I was a flight instructor for 32 years in the Air Force as a Inflight Refueler. He had Zero respect on my accomplishments, but to no end told me about his. I turned 4 shades of red with his interview in 20 minutes, then he wanted to Rob me for $ 20,000 stay away or see for yourself... JK Retired Air Foce

They told me go to another flight school. Read the bottom for the full explanation. No, here is…read morewhat we can do. Here is how we can help you. You need to be realistic. There was no understanding, empathy or genuinity. Just F off. But in a very polished manner. I was almost done with my training at another school. I had already soloed and all I needed was my cross country solo and then the checkride. I was going to go back to the other school which is near my family in California, but I was in NJ and did not seem like a big deal so I asked my instructor and he said try and do the cross country there and come back. Or if they can take you across the finish line, finish it out there. His words, were you don't need much more training. This place told me initially that they can do just what I had asked but after 3 lessons, they told me I would need additional time. After I asked the instructor, he said if I came 3 times a week, it might be one month --- to fly in the pattern at the airport. If it was not my time, effort and money this would be laughable. They also inisted I do my IFR there. Which I declined as I want to get a Cirrus and wished to do my IFR and transition at a Cirrus facility. I asked the instructor I would like to speak with the owner and I wanted a definitive structured plan to get from point A to point B. Not a nebulous come whenever you are free, get in the air, do some turns and then do it again in a few weeks when you have forgotten everything. So Alexy the owner called me. I explained my entire situation and what I was lookking for. Defintiive, structured training to finish my PPL requirements. After explaining everything, he in an extrememly polished with massive sleazy undertones, suggested I go to another school. A Cirrus school since thats what I want to buy. And its easier to fly, right... Since they could not provide what I am looking for and he did not want me to be "milked". I called him out and said, you are a true businessman. I understand translated in business lingo, you are telling me get lost. So this school for part 61, is for milking. The owner has clearly done this kicking people out before, who dare to question their unscrupulous "milking" practices. And he has his farewell speech down to an art. Mona Lisa style. Masterpiece. I was genuinely impressed with his articulate, caring and compassionate fakery. I can not attest to the CFI's here. Because the poor things need their job and will do whatever he says. But yes, the core here is milk. He is the dairy farmer, so he controls the milking. So if you want to get milked come here. Or find a place that can give you a definitive plan with structured learning and most importantly a goal and a realistic expectation of that goal from day one. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you want or need any additional details as I would not wish this on anyone going into aviation, for a career or leisure. An example of milking: During a ground lesson, I used this Sim for 15 minutes at the end of 2 hours of talking with my CFI. Literally one landing. But they charged me the full 2 hours of Sim. I did not say anything or dispute it. I was like they are a sdchool, I am not a young student. Let them have it. This is just one example of their nefarious milking schemes. And I do not take writing this review lightly. I write this with a very heavy heart. I have been to 2 schools before this one. And though they were not perfect, they absoloutely did not warrant having to post such a warning to others as this place necessitated.

Air Fleet is an exceptional flight school with outstanding instructors, well-maintained aircraft, a…read moreprime location near NYC, and deeply dedicated, professional ownership. I wholeheartedly recommend Air Fleet to anyone in Northern New Jersey or Manhattan seeking top-tier pilot training. I joined Air Fleet in early 2021 as a Flight Instructor after interviewing with Chief Pilot Kyle and owner Alexey, both of whom exemplified professionalism and genuine care for their students and staff. Their passion for aviation and commitment to fostering a supportive learning environment were evident from day one, making my onboarding seamless and inspiring. The facility is impressive, featuring spotless, well-equipped classrooms, a state-of-the-art Redbird simulator, and ample amenities. Alexey's hands-on approach ensures every detail of the school reflects his high standards and love for aviation. The aircraft fleet is equally remarkable, primarily consisting of newer, meticulously maintained Cessna 172s--ideal trainers with a mix of digital and analog instruments. For multi-engine training, the Piper PA-44s are a fantastic asset. Maintenance is a priority at Air Fleet; aircraft are promptly serviced, typically grounded for only 1-2 days for inspections, unlike the weeks-long delays I experienced at other schools. This efficiency reflects Kyle's rigorous oversight and dedication to safety, ensuring students and instructors always fly reliable aircraft. Teaching at Air Fleet was both challenging and rewarding. The complex airspace near the school requires skill, but a quick 7-minute flight takes you to a spacious training area free from ATC constraints. Air Fleet offers both Part 141 and Part 61 training, catering to focused students and those needing flexibility. The transparent pricing--no hidden fees or surprise costs--underscores Alexey's integrity and commitment to fairness, setting Air Fleet apart in the industry. My time at Air Fleet was a defining chapter in my career. The sense of community among students, instructors, Kyle, and Alexey fostered an environment of professionalism, honesty, and mutual support. Kyle's leadership as Chief Pilot was instrumental, providing mentorship that helped me earn my Gold Seal Instructor rating before transitioning to SkyWest Airlines. Alexey's vision as an owner and passionate aviator ensures Air Fleet delivers unparalleled training in the region. Bottom line: Air Fleet is the premier flight school in Northern NJ and Manhattan. Whether you're a student pilot or a CFI, you'll find an unmatched commitment to excellence here. *Disclaimer: I was an employee of Air Fleet from 2021-2023.*

I took my boyfriend for his birthday to do a discovery flight. I feel so lucky for having found…read morethis school. I called so many schools to find a discovery flight. Aero Safety had the most reasonable price and they were easy to contact over the phone. They also had great reviews from previous customers. I chose them based on the price, ease of contact, and precious reviews. I can't say enough about what a great school they are. The day of our flight, Aero Safety was giving free flights to kids who wanted to get a feel for flying. It was such a great atmosphere. I saw so many happy people who love flying or who have a curiosity. My boyfriend and I were also incredibly lucky to have had Bob as our instructor. He clearly loves teaching. He is very poignant and calming. So my boyfriend had a very great flight and learned a lot thanks to being at ease and getting clear flying instructions. After our flight, Bob answered any questions we had about pursuing a private flying license. All in all, it was an amazing experience!

This review is almost a year overdue. I bought a flight…read morelesson for my husband as an anniversary gift and "it was one of the best gifts ever" (his words). The airport was easily accessible and the instructor was great! He explained how everything worked in detail and was very personable. I was able to sit in during the flight simulation and I was a passenger on the actual flight. Such an amazing experience.

After 7 years of Cirrus flying - Angel with NOVA is one of the top instructors in the country. The…read moreattention to detail and instructional techniques are second to none.

From the owner: Advanced Flight Training, Aircraft Management and Aviation Consulting.read more

Great flight school! I trained and flew with NYC Air Service and received my private pilots…read morecertificate in less than a year. Now I'm currently training for my instrument rating with NYC Air Service and I highly recommend them for flight training or scenic trips around the Manhattan skyline. Their instructors are great and provide a unique training atmosphere. They are always available to answer any questions you may have. Their fleet of aircraft are maintained very well, always clean and some of the best to learn on.

Decided to bring my grandfather here as a gift, I told him about a week in advance. When we got…read morethere, the instructions on where to go were not clear. We arrived late which was our doing since we left a little later than expected. When we got to the front desk, my grandfather backed out sadly, and did not want to go. The employee Georgie there was super sweet and nice, but the owner I'm guessing, Vincent, he had no understanding whatsoever. He was an older gentleman, and when I told him about trying to reschedule or something because of my grandfather he just smirked and told me they can't do anything, and I could come alone if I'd like. Out of human decency, I decided not to fly by myself, and comfort my grandpa which Georgie was kind enough to help me with. To Vincent, it is not about the money, it's about the morals you have as a person. I don't care about your policy, I've had many companies with strict policies help in serious circumstances. You are just a money hungry snob, by how you perceived yourself.