Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    North Aero

    5.0 (1 review)
    Open 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

    North Aero Photos

    Recommended Reviews - North Aero

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Ask the Community - North Aero

    Verify this business for free

    Get access to customer & competitor insights.

    Verify this business

    Magnum Aviation - Magnum Aviation's maintenance hangar and office- located at North end of the airport near Rnwy 14

    Magnum Aviation

    4.1(10 reviews)
    29.2 mi

    'Somehow it always feels good to go south' - an opinion even Tree Beard from Lord of the Rings…read moreshared. Going south on 101, after passing San Jose and Morgan Hill, next comes San Martin. Who would think that such a small community will have such a great airport? The runway sits next to freeway so you might drive alongside planes that are landing or taking off, a splendid view. Besides the great runway there is a flying club, Magnum Aviation, a place that always welcomes you and offers you a chill place in a hot summer day. If you want to start flying, this a good place, with several instructors and we'll maintained planes. Either driving or flying there will be a pleasant experience.

    As an independent flight instructor I used the aircraft from Magnum for my student lessons. It was…read morequite a loss to the field (and the independent flight instructors, like myself) that Magnum opted not to renew their lease with the county when it was due to expire at the end of 2020. After it closed near the middle of December 2020 a unique FBO passed. It was an FBO without membership or enrollment fees (so the student could spend their money all towards their training) and where the instructors were independent CFI's and not staff. To it's credit, Magnum would only take a cut of the rental of the aircraft from the leaseback owner and the independent CFI's kept their entire fee (paid directly to them by the flight student). Most of the time with staff flight instructors, the FBO takes a pretty sizeable cut of the fee that is charged for the flight instructor and paid by the student. What this would mean, of course, is that the student would be paying more per hour for the instructor's time. None of that at Magnum. A truly unique training resource has been lost - you won't find another like Magnum was. I still instruct out of San Martin Airport (I've been a Full-Time FAA Gold Seal Flight Instructor for nearly 15 years now and have given over 7,000 hours of instruction in that time), but Magnum Aviation was a very valuable and unique resource to leave our field, permanently and it will be greatly missed.

    Photos
    Magnum Aviation - Learn to fly here!

    Learn to fly here!

    Magnum Aviation - Downwind for 14

    Downwind for 14

    Magnum Aviation - Taxi thru transient parking call for rates

    See all

    Taxi thru transient parking call for rates

    South County Aviation

    South County Aviation

    5.0(2 reviews)
    28.9 mi

    I earned my private pilot license back in 2007 and COVID gave me the perfect excuse to social…read moredistance, up in the clouds, by earning my instrument rating. There were a lot of flight schools in the Bay Area to choose from. However, I promise you that you won't find a better place to train at than South County Aviation. Here are some reasons why: 1. Bailey is a great instructor. He develops personalized instruction that maximizes your flying time. He has adopted different technologies, such as using a GoPro to capture flight training for later review. He is very knowledgeable and friendly. Most importantly, he is a "calm" instructor. There are instructors out there that are ready to take over the controls the moment the student does something goes wrong. This is not Bailey. He uses cues to refocus your attention on what's wrong and how to correct it. He is very professional and easy to communicate which is so crucial when you're shoulder to shoulder with someone for so many hours. I know what we'll be working on in any given session and he gives comprehensive de-briefs that allow me to focus on new skills. Safety is always a prime area of focus of his. 2. The rental rates and instruction rates at SCA are great! There isn't a monthly membership fee unlike other FBOs at San Martin. This means that the business is able to support itself and the economics work without having to charge additional fees. Less fees means more air time for students, which is an important consideration. Also, there is always availability in the schedule for rentals and instruction. You can book without having to wait to find a slot! 3. The equipment at SCA is very well cared for. As of this review, SCA has upgraded N61610 with a brand new avionics panel and leather interiors. In N3912R, they have just refreshed the exterior paint. The dates for each system's required maintenance (transponder, ELT, VOR, annual, etc) are listed on a whiteboard in the hanger so you know that the planes are well cared for and maintained. You can truly feel the pride of ownership. It makes you feel confident knowing how well they care for their equipment. 4. The location of SCA is great. San Martin is a small un-towered field so you're not spending a lot of time waiting on air traffic control or other aircraft. You're only minutes away from the practice area but close to other, larger airspace. 5. This is a small, family run business and it is clear that they are supporting a passion. I've met a lot of the family and they are very friendly and welcoming. It is nice to support a local business that is just starting. I look forward to completing my instrument rating and continuing to rent at SCA!

    I needed to get a 2 year flight review done to maintain my private pilot license and to brush up on…read moresome things. I called the owner Bailey and he was absolutely phenomenal. This is a small flight school meaning you get treated like royalty and they don't nickel and dime you. Bailey knows his stuff and what's better is that he knows what's important and what's not so important so you don't get bogged down with useless information. Many flight instructors will give you the impression that landings, takeoffs, and various other flight techniques are like following a recipe from a cookbook -- follow the steps, don't deviate, and you'll generally be fine. Bailey will help you understand how to assess each situation and understand airplane dynamics so you can adjust your procedure to give the best possible outcome. I absolutely learned new things in the time I spent with Bailey and those are tips that I will take with me for the rest of my flying years. This is no nonsese flight instruction and I couldn't recommend it more.

    Photos
    South County Aviation - Romeo in action

    Romeo in action

    South County Aviation - SCA

    SCA

    South County Aviation - 210 cross country.

    See all

    210 cross country.

    Trade Winds Aviation - Have fun with your friends

    Trade Winds Aviation

    4.4(34 reviews)
    48.0 miEast San Jose

    This school is unethical. One of their customers rented their airplane and died, after trying to…read morecontrol the uncontrollable airplane for nearly 3 hours. The first thing the school did was try to shed any blame off themselves by suggesting/speculating intentional pilot actions. Their airplane that crashed, N5203H, was also previously totalled in 2016 but they kept flying it anyways. If you love life and care about your loved ones, I'd avoid this school. There are plenty of other schools that won't turn their back on you if you have an accident.

    One has to wonder why all of the reviews are more the 3 years old. The biggest mistake made by…read morepeople interested in getting their PPL is naivete. They don't know what to ask. Understand that less than 20% of students actually achieve their PPL. The challenges are cost, availability of instructors and planes, weather, instructor objectives, personal availability, and other minor obstacles. Instruction quality can be both lacking or superior depending on who is teaching. If your goal is to get your PPL quickly, a flight school is a bad choice. Do some research before you decide. I didn't and I've spent over 4 years, $90K, and have had 5 instructors in pursuit of my PPL. If you're not in a rush and are just curious, it will work for you. It isn't easy and requires commitment. Get some guidance and explore the alternatives. Instructors have to complete your training and sign you off for your check ride. If they leave for better opportunities, you have to start over. At $300 and hour for rental and instructor cost, it gets expensive fast.

    Photos
    Trade Winds Aviation - They let our 1 year old join the flight on my lap (I was a passenger) during my husbands lesson! Great memories!

    They let our 1 year old join the flight on my lap (I was a passenger) during my husbands lesson! Great memories!

    Trade Winds Aviation - Why drive when you can fly!

    Why drive when you can fly!

    Trade Winds Aviation - Kinda neat picture, smoke finger from Santa Cruz over the hills on the way to Harris Ranch.

    See all

    Kinda neat picture, smoke finger from Santa Cruz over the hills on the way to Harris Ranch.

    North Aero - flightinstruction - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...