This school has probably the best SLSA trainer in the Bay Area with their Vans RV-12. I'm not…read morefamiliar with their Cirrus program, but if you're a Light Sport pilot who doesn't want to fly around in a Skycatcher all your life check this place out. Patrick and Will have been great in accommodating my checkout and now I have a great platform for improving my skills. If someone leases back a taildragger Kitfox or a Champ then this place will be paradise for me.

I'm an instrument-rated pilot and have been flying out of Gnoss field with my dad since I was 12…read moreyears old (1978), when Vindar was still in business. My last flight was in 2003 - when I quit flying to do "other things" (including starting a family). When I decided to start flying again in 2017 I went to Scanlon Aviation "to see what had changed and to learn about Cirrus airplanes..." (I was attracted to the enhanced safety of a whole-plane parachute.) Boy was I in for a re-education! Patrick has been phenomenal! A true professional. And I now call him a friend. So much has changed since 2003, I don't know where to start. I went through Cirrus Transition Training in his SR-20 (N150SA) and gained more confidence and professionalism than I've ever had (and that's saying something since my last airplane was a highly-modified Cessna P210N - not exactly a walk-in-the-park to fly). I recently purchased my own SR-22 (with help from Patrick and team) and couldn't be happier. Flying airplanes safely and professionally requires dedication, training and introspection. It's thrilling, fulfilling and humbling all at the same time. I can think of no better mentor than Patrick and the team at Scanlon Aviation.

This is not your typical flight school. I spent a year getting certificates and ratings through…read moreSmith Aviation in order to further my career in aviation. I successfully earned my private pilot, instrument, commercial, and CFI (flight instructor) ratings/certificates through them. They had me prepared enough each step of the way to pass each of my checkrides the first time. It's really common in the flight school world for people to start flight training but hit some kind of a wall that they can't get pass and they stop training. People here are watched over and supported quite a bit and as a result, they don't have this problem. Additionally, they have a very high pass rate. Lastly, they coordinate and work with DPEs (outside pilot examiner) to ensure people are able to get checkrides (think of it as a final exam before a certificate or rating is issued). People at other schools have told me they have to schedule their checkrides 3-6 months in advance. I have so many good things to say about Mike Smith Aviation. Please feel free to reach out to me and I can tell you more. I give Mike Smith Aviation 6/5 stars!

A few years ago I took my sons for introductory flying lessons. I was the first one to go up in…read morethe plane. I must admit at first I was scared. Being confined in a small space and so high up was not something I was used to. We flew over San Francisco. At first that was scary. But soon I got used to it and actually enjoyed flying.. My first son went up after me. He really enjoyed the ride. My younger son went after him. Now he gave the pilot a real scare. The pilot told me that my younger son was fearless and really took him for a ride he wouldn't soon forget. I thought for sure my son would want to follow after his uncle and be a fighter pilot when he got older. Luckily it never happened.

I've been renting from PPTC for the last 6 months after getting my PPL with their help. If you're…read moregoing to be flying a lot it's good to join their club for better pricing or buy hours in bulk. They keep the aircraft well maintained and although some of the planes are older, they do the job safely. The prep they provided and the help scheduling the DPE was invaluable and I passed my first check ride. I strongly recommend them for your PPL training

I've utilized PPTC several times now for their instruction, aircraft checkouts, and Redbird…read moresimulator. I recently got checked out in their G1000 172 and received some instruction in it to check some boxes off for my commercial certificate. I'm an IFR-rated private pilot with about 320 hours. My impression is that their aircraft are kept in tip-top condition. It helps they're owned by the maintenance company who does all the maintenance on the aircraft; so nothing is left unfixed. I've seen some pretty long-in-the-tooth rental aircraft at other local airports. Rates are fair both for rental and instructors. You spend a little less on the hobbs flying out of O69 as opposed to towered airports due to less taxi distance required, closer practice area, and less waiting for other traffic to clear. Overall I've gotten the impression PPTC is a professional outfit with a high standard for their aircraft.

Everything was perfect, first time trying it, Allie was really nice, she explain me everything,…read moregive me options for the flight and she let me fly most of the time(of course not the time she was talking with the tower control) what a beautiful views and she let me fly over the golden gate was so nice. I really recommend it 1000%.

Beware‼‼ Some kind of scam…read more Bought on their website through Yelp intro lesson as a surprise present for my husband, later I called to confirm the time and date, did not send any confirmation. They said that their pilot will call. A pilot called asking about my U.S citizenship and later offered illegal schemes for exchanging flights for weed. I do not know is it a new way of scammers but I am freaking out because their pilot keeps calling and harassing me. I blocked number but I left my address, full name and phone number on their website so I am terrified. I am this close to calling police.

Some of my favorite memories are flying with Zoë, Rob, and Tim out of Healdsburg. I would not have…read moregotten my pilot certificate without them. I started training because I was afraid of heights. It took a lot of work to breakthrough that fear. Zoë, especially, had enormous patience and clear, helpful instruction, both for the technical aspects and the pilot mindset. I became a better person training with her. That first solo is a moment I will never forget, the sense of freedom, responsibility, and trust, that I have what it takes to navigate the air and land. This had enormous rewards both as a pilot and in my work as a director. I have used the mindset I learned to navigate tough moments on set, and life. If you choose RAM Aviation, know that you are in good hands. I would recommend it, one hundred percent!

RAM Aviation now also has a location at the Charles M Schulz Sonoma County Airport. An excellent…read moreset of instructors. Whether you need some recurrent training or a checkride or even if you're just beginning to work on your PPL, they will serve you well and make flight safety a front-of-mind subject for you. They have nicely maintained and well equipped aircraft, including several IFR birds with moving map GPS, waas and ADS-B.

East Bay Flight is a great flight school and rental operation…read more Their location at Oakland airport couldn't be better. There's plenty of secure parking, and they are situated right in the center of the North field, so you spend less time taxiing and more time flying. I flew with Pat, one of their CFIIs and the school's owner, to get my high-performance endorsement in their Cirrus. Pat was an excellent instructor: fun to fly with, extremely knowledgeable, and always patient in explaining concepts in a clear and approachable way. The fleet is top-notch with well-equipped Archers and a beautiful SR22T (which I think might be the only one available on this side of the Bay). Every aircraft is meticulously maintained, safe, and comfortable, and the rental rates are more than fair. Whether you're learning to fly, adding new ratings, or just looking for a trustworthy place to rent a solid airplane, I highly recommend East Bay Flight.

This school truly deserves all the praise. From a CFI pov, I can confidently say the aircraft…read moremaintenance is among the best -- if not the best -- in the entire Bay Area. As someone who also frequently rents planes here, I really appreciate how smooth and professional the rental process is. It's simple, efficient, and way less of a hassle compared to other schools. I genuinely love flying here, everything from the people to the planes just makes it a great experience every time. The instructors here are also top-notch: professional, supportive, and truly passionate about aviation. And shoutout to Pat (the owner and operator of the school) ,he's one of the kindest people you'll meet in this industry. Don't be shy to talk to him, he's always open and happy to help! Also, huge thanks to KOAK ATC, you guys are incredibly helpful and make flying in and out of Oakland a smooth and enjoyable experience. Whether you're training, renting, or just looking for a great aviation community, this is the place to be.

Ken Levins. Explosive temper. When I screwed up he treated me as an idiot…read more He screamed at me to turn in my OAK badge. I did as complied. He failed to tell OAK when I mailed in my badge to OAK. Literally cannot fly out of there because we had "words."

Great rates and instructors but found it difficult to get security deposit and an inadvertently…read morecharged $500 fine returned. Board is highly unresponsive and takes 5+ follow ups over multiple weeks for a response. Though it sounds like I am not alone in difficulties with club leadership based on a few other reviews.

Desiree helped me today as i was inquiring about pricing from where I am to CFII. Very respectful…read morepolite, and a pleasure to speak with! Thank you and I look forward to getting my certs with you guys~!

This isn't a review of the training program at Wings Flight School, but rather of one their…read moreemployees, Preston, who was extremely helpful to us today. We had flown into Nut Tree from San Jose and was refueling at the pump, when our Grumman Tiger's starter broke. Since it was a Sunday, there weren't any mechanics around on the field to fix it. Fortunately Wings Flight School was open and we came across Preston, who then proceeded to help troubleshoot the problem and put us in touch with a shop that could do it. Preston went above and beyond in helping out a fellow pilot in need and he is a great credit to Wings.

OH. MY. FREAKIN'. GOODNESS. Doing this was fabulous!…read more Standing on the top platform, strapped in and someone holding you from the back as your leaning over the platform with both hands on the bar...I didn't know what I was thinking when I organized a group of people to come here and learn to swing like they do in the circus. I know I was thinking it'd be fun and that indeed, it was. For $35/person (cash or check only), you get the basics in learning the safe and correct way to swing on the bar, letting go of the bar, doing a back flip as you land and last but not least, being "caught" by a Trapeze Pro staff member. Marek and his staff of Daryl, Hope and another lady were so friendly, encouraging and patient that they make you feel at ease as your fear of falling or hurting yourself sinks in as you climb the ladder up to the platform. They're first concern is your safety and of course, making sure you have fun. What I learned is that you gotta give 110% trust these guys. They've been doing this for ages and when they bark their orders, you just gotta do as they say without thinking about it...even if the order is to let go of the bar so you can fall down to the net. The location is definitely lovely. A giant trapeze rig in the outdoors, surrounded by trees and sometimes, rattlesnakes and mountain lions (we had the fortunate pleasure of not seeing either). There are picnic benches and seats for you to sit at. You can bring food but they just ask you to dispose of your own waste. There's a port-o-potty on the grounds as well. Come wearing track pants, sweats or leggings and flip flops or sandals are ideal since when flying, you should be shoe-less or you can wear socks. T-shirts are fine, but since you'll be hanging upside down, you'll either want to tuck in your shirt or you may be flashing your fellow friends. My group of 8 got around 8 swings each on the trapeze. Group are usually 7-10 people and if you have more than 10 you get a 10% discount. In planning a group, I suggest you collect money from everyone BEFORE you arrive because if someone bails out last minute, at least you've gotten their money and aren't stuck paying for them out of your pocket (which is what happened to me). So hold onto that white trapeze bar, look at the Tibetan flag and when Hope says "Ready!" you make sure you bend your knees so that when she says "Hep!" you jump up and there you are...swinging on a trapeze.

Some of the best things in life are the experiences that follow you through your life. I am a…read moreperson absolutely petrified of high places. I am also someone in control of my daily destiny, as well as that of others. This makes for a double whammy with the Trapeze Pro experience. . . Enter Marek (Maw-Rek) and his incredible crew. First, the location is set in the beautiful back country area of Sonoma. You can't help but relax as you drive through the trees to your destination. Everything is set up outside, so YES, you are going to be flying up in the trees (well not IN the trees, but with them). There are trampolines and other hanging apparatus to enjoy yourself with while waiting for your class to begin. Second, Marek, and the entire staff are all so very nice, funny, and encouraging. You feel safe, and you "know you can do this". . . Instructions are clear and concise. Listen to the instructions, . . then turn that logical (which will suddenly become illogical when fear strikes you) brain off, and listen to your instructor! They know exactly what they are doing. I feel for Sharon, as I had a tendency to 'freeze' while on top of the platform. But, she would keep talking, and I would eventually get myself back in order. Keep Smiling!!! . . . You can do this!!! And, Marek, scolding me for 'trying to think it out'. . . Let go of the control button, and just listen to your instructor! With a couple practice swings to get you familiar with the process, and comfortable with actually being on the trapeze, you will find yourself getting excited to complete the process, which will be to release and have someone 'catch' you. It's very exciting, it's very scary (at first), and it's all very much worth your efforts. You will leave with a bit more confidence in what you can accomplish.