Well, I have always been an airplane fanatic. My first time at the controls was before I was even two years old. Things just never seemed to work out for me to get my ticket. Three years ago I joined the Commemorative Air Force wing at Camarillo airport. 18 months ago I got to fly in, and actually put my hands on the stick of an SNJ-5 for five hours. That was it, I had to learn how to fly. Now we come to the end of January this year. Camarillo Flight Instruction manager Rob Mork was visiting the CAF. We chatted for a few minutes and I got some information. I did some research and found that Camarillo Flight Instruction had the best rates around as well as several types of aircraft to learn on. A Cessna, three Pipers, from basic to complex, and a very nice Diamond DA40. They have since added yet another DA40 to the fleet. All aircraft are at very reasonable rates, wet. All you need to bring is yourself and a healthy will to learn. So, the next week I signed up for the discovery flight with Rob. We had a fun hour, me flying and Rob trying to find my limits (he is good at that so you can learn!). Since then he has done a superb job of helping me to push those limits and learn all the time. All of the hours I have put in have been productive learning hours. Even the time spent waiting for take-off clearance has been used to chat and learn things, and quiz you on what you have already learned. I found that two times per week was my minimum number of flights I had to do to keep things current and feel comfortable moving on to new concepts. Three times a week would be even better if you can afford the time. All of the instructors at CFI are great, professional, friendly, and flexible. Any one of the instructors is more than willing to say hello to you and answer any questions, even if you are not "their" student. I am six hours short for my 40 hours and my check ride to get my private pilot license on my way to CFII. I will be using Camarillo Flight Instruction for the rest of my flight education. Update 9/19/15 I was successful in passing my check ride and got my pilot certificate at 41.7 hours in the book on 6/28/15. There was no wasted instruction time. I now have 70 hours total. I am endorsed to fly all the CFI planes but the two Cessna 172s they have. I also got my complex aircraft endorsement (constant speed prop and retractable gear). Nothing beats the DA-40s though. You want to learn to fly? CFI is the place to go. read more

I passed my Commercial check ride a few days ago! I trained for my Private Certificate and Instrument Rating at CFI (2014-2016) and I am very glad I came back to them to finish up my training, practice the maneuvers for my Commercial Certificate and take my check ride. I found the airplanes (N573ND, N575ND, N783BG) in good shape and several airplanes to choose from. Mikey in the office was very pleasant to work with and he helped me a lot with locating documents, making reservations and when I needed a CFI on short notice he called and got Dylan to the airport in 45 minutes. I practiced my Commercial maneuvers with Eric Bensinger who is soft spoken, respectful and very competent. We were able to get me dialed in and he even referred me to specific online videos to help me prepare for the next day's air-work. Michael Phillips, a local Master Instructor had very good things to say about Eric as well. When I was in a pinch one evening, Dylan Sweet another CFI was kind enough to drive right over to help me practice a specific maneuver, I found him to be knowledgeable and pleasant as well. During my oral portion the DPE needed clarification on the pitot static system inspection, Mikey got on it and Eva (IA) came right over with her laptop and we were able to address the matter right away. The office and facilities look nice as well. Good job on everything you have done over the years, I am happy to call CFI "my flight school". read more

This is the place to go for flight training. The instructors are nice and helpful, and you never feel like a number. Camarillo Flight Instruction is a thriving, highly professional organization that remains small enough to retain a reassuring one on one dynamic. I've never met anyone there that I wouldn't trust completely in all aspects of the learning process, and everyone is very welcoming to newcomers. My instructors have been Rob and Sean, and they've both been fantastic. When you fly is left fairly flexible, but a general schedule is helpful for planning purposes. As for their fleet of aircraft, I'm learning on 6523D, the 172 that they have, and it is very well maintained and comfortable. They also have low-wing options, such as the Piper Arrow, Archer, and Warrior. If you really want to fly in style, they also have the Diamond DA40, which is a space age composite aircraft with a G1000 glass cockpit. Whatever you choose, they'll make it work, and steer you in a direction that is the most efficient and cost effective for your goals. Unlike other schools, they're not out to nickel and dime you into crippling debt. They'll lay out your plan at the beginning with no hidden costs. Plan to fly at least twice a week for best results, and to work hard at home studying ground school. I highly recommend Camarillo Flight Instruction to anyone serious about getting in the air. read more

I can't recommend Camarillo Flight Instruction highly enough! My daughter, a highschool senior, just completed her Private Pilot License (PPL) in under six months and stayed well within budget, which is a remarkable achievement. Mikey, the manager, who is the absolute perfect person for his role, and his wonderful staff were incredibly supportive throughout the entire process. They were always accessible, always solution oriented and treated us like family. A special shoutout to Terrance, my daughter's main flight instructor. His expertise and dedication made a significant difference in her training experience. She will never forget everything he poured into mentoring and preparing her until the day of her check ride. The entire team went above and beyond to ensure that my daughter completed her PPL in time to meet the application deadlines for several universities with flight programs, all while always prioritizing safety above everything else. From start to finish, it was a class act. The emphasis on safety was evident, and we never had to worry about a thing. We truly never expected such a seamless and streamlined process. Thank you, Camarillo Flight Instruction, for making this journey an unforgettable one! read more

So I have been a student at CFI for about 4 months now and I must say that im glad I picked this school to teach me how to fly. Everyone is super nice and professional here, from Mikey and Nathan at the desk. To all of the instructors and other students! My instructor Khaild Biary is one of the best teachers I've ever had and he's one of those guys that's willing to go that extra mile so you'll learn and understand each concept whatever it maybe. He is super patient and a skilled teacher now I'm a really slow learner when it comes to the books but it really helps when you have a teacher like that. I've been learning how to fly smartly and safely and they really stress that here. Everyone here wants to see you succeed here no matter how far you wanna take your aviation career. I hope to complete my training and get my private pilots license soon, with a school like CFI I have no doubt Ill become the best pilot I can be. Thanks Guys!! -Michael read more

I have been taking lessons at C.F.I. in preparation for my private pilot certificate for months now. Everything about it has been great! The front desk associate, Mikey, is extremely friendly and helpful. My instructor is also nice to work with - Dylan is a great teacher, helps me set concrete goals, and is always straightforward about the best plan of action. Whatever they're being paid, they both deserve a raise. The schedule for plane rentals is very easy to use, and the planes are well looked after. The office was recently remodelled and looks really nice. Plus, Camarillo airport is the best home airport to have (not too busy, but enough that you'll get good practice). Overall, this has been a wonderful experience and I encourage anyone interested to try out a discovery flight! It's definitely worth the experience, and you'll get to meet some of the great people at this school. read more

Short review: Friendly and caring staff, variety of planes, informative and comprehensive instruction. Long review: From the initial discovery flight on a beautiful DA40 I knew this was the place where I wanted to learn. The first instructor who has now moved on, was of great help in providing information and instruction. To my current instructor Riley who points me in the right direction both mentally and quite literally. The community of this area provides a great learning environment to further enrich your aviation passion whether it's for personal pleasure and exploration to professional. I am never afraid to ask questions or assistance from any of the staff, a key area from which one can improve and implement into their aviating life! I have recommended, and will continue to recommend this school to my friends who have asked about general aviation. read more

For my 70th birthday, my husband gave me the best present ever...a Discovery Flight lesson at Camarillo Flight Instruction. The entire experience was a dream come true. With the help of Diana at the front office, I was able to set up a date and time that worked for me. I received a classy tee shirt. On the actual day, I had the fabulous, Josh Stefanski, certified flight instructor, go over protocol on the walk up. He carefully explained the instrument panel and then we were up, up and away. I literally did everything from the take off, banking, turning, going over the Santa Monica mountains, my home, and then we cruised along the coastline. Josh was knowledgeable but not condescending as he explained next steps, and what I was seeing on the instruments. I would truly recommend Camarillo Flight instruction regardless of your goals for flying. read more

Learning to fly has been a dream of mine since I was a young child. I finally took the time to research a variety of flight schools although clearly I had not done enough homework as originally I made an appointment with Channel Islands Aviation, the guys next to the waypoint café. Anyway long story short, after some bullshit apparently they sent who was going to be my instructor on another flight and never bothered to call me or made any effort to make up for it. Frustrated that my time was wasted I called Camarillo Flight Instruction and was in the air an hour later. The difference was night and day. read more

CFI has been a perfect spot for my piloting journey! All of the instructors are helpful and competent. Kyle has worked with me for a year and a half as I slowly worked my way through ground school and skill building inside the cockpit, but he can get you through it a lot faster if you've got the time! There's lots of classroom space for studying, and Mikey and Nathan run an efficient flight desk to help with all your scheduling needs. CFIs fleet of Pipers, Cessnas, and a Diamond are well maintained. I always feel safe renting them. Thank you CFI!!! read more

Seeking to get current after 10 years I am very happy to say I found the right place. After so long I was very anxious and doubtful that I could still fly. Camarillo Flight Instruction placed me with the right instructor (Khalid Biary). The communication, scheduling and aircraft was exactly what I needed! Khalid has brought me to feel comfortable in the pilots seat again (I'm sure Khalid is representative of the other instructors) and I'm almost current and can't wait to get into the other aircraft they have available. Thank you CFI, Thank you Khalid. read more

Top Notch! If your looking for a flight school in Ventura County to get your private and beyond, I cant recommend Camarillo Flight Instruction enough. Knowledgeable and accommodating staff, no big egos or staff rivalries, and they will go the extra mile to help you with any difficult steps. I highly recommend Khalid Biary at CFI. Hes a hard working cfi that will inspire confidence when you need it, and also challenge you to make sure you get the most training for your buck. Definitely goes above and beyond just like this school does in general. read more

So I was referred to this school by my friend. I live in West Hills, although Van Nuys airport is closer, its also far busier. I was assigned a instructor who took me up in a great little Cessna and we flew along the coast towards Santa Barbara. He allowed me to fly as much as he could and get a feel if it was something I really wanted to do. If you are looking to take to the skies, give the folks at CFI a shot and take the discovery flight like I did because if nothing else, the views are epic! read more

I'm a german private pilot and I did a night-flight and a flight to Solvang with the perfect and excellent equipped planes from Camarillo Flight Instruction. Michael and Chris have been the perfect safety pilots and helped me thru the communication with the ATCs. We flow via a micro route over LAX, a great experiance. I can suggest Camarillo Flight Instruction with 5 stars! Michael and Chris, thank you, I will come back next year. read more

Christian is awesome! Moved from a big flight school as I was being nickel and dimed and was unhappy with the management. C.F.I. was just what I was looking for. Christian did a great job preparing me for the check ride. I think he was more nervous than me :) Can't say enough about these guys. Thanks again! Happy flying. John C. read more

I recently started taking lessons with Khalid Biary at CFI and am fortunate to have found such a great instructor. Khalid is very knowledgeable and has the students best interest in mind. I look forward to keep working with Khalid and the rest of the crew at Camarillo Flight Instruction! read more

Nice staff. Great setup for renting aircraft. Organized. Scheduling system for solo rentals or pairing with an instructor is straight forward. The owner is very personable. Highly recommend. read more