Amazing school! I searched Multiple flight schools before making a decision on where to spend my money. I am glad I stuck with CAS, Leo and Raquel are very experienced in the industry and maintenance is top notch at CAS. I owe all of my success in the industry to California Aviation services. If you have any doubts, don't.. read more

I agree with a couple of these comments. This school does not deserve to be called a "141" flight school, which usually calls for more structure, and high quality in thorough flight instruction. There is an extreme lack of consistency, organization and professionalism. I am always bumped around the schedule and switched off between different flight instructors who hardly know where to start because they're not sure what I've done, what I need help on, and how to even organize a thorough flight training session. Many CFIs even rush through preflight procedures if the student is taking too long. I've only been there for a little over three months, and have already been with six different instructors. I'm only still here because I made the unwise decision of putting lump sums on the flight training account, assuming that this school would be great(they have a policy that does not allow students to take money out of the account once it has been deposited). They do not follow an organized curriculum, as a 141 should, and prioritize the foreign students because they "pay more" and are set for a "faster career track" despite you paying a great deal of money too (heard from a discussion between CFI's). Edit (reply to owner/comment below): I asked if I could possibly take the money out the account, and was told that California Aviation Services does not allow that. I never said you had an "upfront policy", rather, I said you had/have a "no-refund policy". This is the only "item" you seem to clearly disagree with. Yes, you agree that you prioritize other/full-time (foreign) students, which is what I said. However, if you're 141, which is what I searched, asked about and paid for, then students shouldn't have to compete for time/flight spots. If a paying student makes a flight reservation, they should not be bumped to another time, rescheduled to another day, or put off entirely for a week or two, simply because of another student. I literally sat on this school's wait-list for three months so that I could (from what I was told) be given promised time and a set/consistent schedule for flight training. Also, I've never seen or discussed a syllabus/set plan to follow through with for flight training. Most of the flight instruction I've had does not seem thought out/planned, but rather random "go with the flow". I just recently met and hardly see you, much less see you review any flight/ground instruction during sessions. What's nonchalantly checked off by some CFIs does not equate to following or assure of a set plan/syllabus. I appreciate your refund for the remaining funds on my account. read more

This is a wonderful place to learn to fly. I didn't really know what to expect when I first walked in here, but I was very pleased with my introductory flight. And excited for more. The company is owned by Leo and Raquel, who are truly wonderful, easy-going people. The price of this school, obviously a big thing to take into consideration when doing something like this, is actually somewhat cheaper than a lot of the schools in the area. Also, considering that this school really wants you to be prepared for the checkride (aka private pilot final exam) by 35 hours when the national average is somewhere in the vicinity of 60-70 hours, tells me they don't plan on wasting your time (and money!). They want you to get it done too. I just passed my checkride and I have to say that my instructor, Trevor, and this school, were the reasons for that. Ok, yeah, I did it too, but to me, the quality of instruction is imperative to a student's success. I am so glad I had him as my instructor, harping on me for not using enough right rudder or not doing something correctly, because now I don't forget. All my lessons were to the point and the hours wisely used. I remember reading an article about a student pilot at some other school who "got tired of performing the maneuvers" and would just "fly around." He stated that was the reason it took him well over 70 hours to pass the checkride. I couldn't believe that, thinking what kind of an instructor would allow that to happen? Not mine luckily. The planes flown here are two Cessna 172s, which I really enjoyed flying. In my opinion, getting to fly in two different planes, while both 172s, is beneficial to the student. It teaches you to start to get a "feel" for flying, not for an particular airplane that you'll probably never fly after you graduate. I should also note that this school does a lot of helicopter training as well. Everything is based out of the Riverside Municipal Airport which gives you good experience practicing communications with the air traffic controllers (who know a lot of us are just student pilots and don't always understand all the directions right away). I also liked that I was always able to practice communication procedures every time I flew. Overall, I was extremely satisfied with my experience here. If in the future I wanted to pursue any additional training, this is the place I would go back to. read more

Disappointing! Sums it up in one word. This school is so unprofessional. My new life adventure is to get my private pilots license. SO EXCITING!! To say it short and simple - this school does NOT have there sh*t together! I have had 5 hours of flying time and they wanted to put me with my 3rd instructor! High turn over here. The first 40 hours are crucial for consistency in training. Your instructor should be aware of your strengths and weaknesses. There is a HUGE amount of trust you put in someones hands when you sign up to fly with them. My breaking point was when the school wanted to send me up with a newly hired instructor - who didn't know the plane at all and I barely know it. I passed. He was flagged by a MAJOR tower later that day for unsafe flight maneuvers while teaching a student. Yeah. Great. I tried to convey to the owner of the school my frustration with the constant hire/fire/new instructors situation and how uncomfortable I was feeling. To say he was indifferent to my concerns was putting it mildly! He clearly did not care. I'm now going to a new school in Redlands and have an instructor with over 40 yrs flight experience. He has been with the company for over four years. He will be my only instructor I'm told. Boo on California Aviation Services. This school sucks. PS. I was notified in November that the school had taken on three full time students and the two (2!) planes that they had were available for the full time students only. Part time students (there were a lot of us!!) would have to wait for any available flight time in December!!!! WTF!! Their joking right???? NOPE. Thankfully I was at my new school where there are six (6!!) planes and I usually am on the books for 4-6 hours of flight time a week!! It took a month to get 5 hours of flight time at CAS because they kept canceling my flights for numerous reasons. Plane down, to windy, rain, fire 3 towns over...... sigh. They must have bad insurance or something. At my new school you show up no matter what!! They have never canceled on me and if it is unsafe to go up, you study and do class room training with your instructor. Save your hard earned $$$$$ and avoid CAS!!! They will rip you off. read more

We had paid you so much money Leo!! I feel you stole from us and from our family. I get so upset knowing you sat across from us at your office and lied to us when you told us a sorry story of how your R44 was broken and therefore, YOU could not provide a helicopter to finish off the very small hours needed. You even said you would call us as soon as the R44 got fixed...You NEVER DID! You even had the audacity to tell us to go to another flight school that YOU knew in El Monte and finish the small amount of hours needed to complete your program. You even gave us the name of the gentleman and phone number of the school you were telling us about. You are pitiful, a liar, a cheat, and dishonest. One day I PRAY to God that you see how much you hurt our family financially and emotionally. read more

I can't say enough great things about this school. If you're looking to get your flight training done in a great learning environment with supportive, experienced instructors, this is definitely the place to go. I tested out 3 different flight schools before settling on this one and I could not be happier. The instructors at this school are very knowledgeable and they prepared me a great deal in becoming a competent safe pilot. I walked in their doors on 5/13/2015 and walked out on 6/6/2015 with Pilot License in hand. If you are willing to put in the work and ready for a fast paced program that will prepare you to be a safe, knowledgeable pilot then this is the program for you. read more

Just completed my second flight today. I love flying so far, and this program allows me to work at my pace. I can go as fast or as slow as I wish. It's all catered to what I can take and how much I am enjoying it. The owner is very up front and honest and very approachable. They threw me through all the paces on the first flight. These guys run a program that gets you through the Private Pilot program in roughly 35 hours. This will definitely get me prepared and save me some money! Give these guys a chance, I promise you wont be disappointed. read more

Best Helicopter demo flight! Great school very affordable prices compared to other schools. The helicopter career program is working very well for me. Everyone needs to go on a demo flight once in their life. Thank you CAS read more

Well this school sucks .very unprofessional .very young and rude instructors.i went outhere november the staff is rude ,but when it comes to taking your money .im hispanic and felt as if i was been raciali discriminated .i served in the military doing my combat tours ,and to me been discriminated because of my ethnic background is extremly insulting .any way .i was training on the R22 and my instrutor Martha .was very rude and demanding .but as soon as she got another student (non Hispanic )she'll change to a different person .book studies were frustrading .she would tell me to study a chapter and comming back she'll be on a whole different chapter .it look as she was trying to set set me up to failure .i complained to leo he didn't care .he told me to find another school .and i did .don't go to this school the only thing they want from you is your money . read more

I bought my husband a demo flight for his birthday and he absolutely loved it. The owner took time to personally talk to him and show him around a bit. It was a great experience all around. Thanks for the awesome customer service, it made my birthday surprise really special. read more

I began my aviation CAREER 18 years ago as a student at California Aviation Services. I've flown professionally, accruing more than 5000 hours of flight time in airplanes and helicopters since then. I owe much of my success to CAS, Leo and Raquel Bell. I also own an airplane. I've recommended CAS to many others who have begun professional pilot careers and recreational pilots alike. I recently had a student pilot with over 90 hours who was at another local school ask me if it was normal to take so long to finish a private rating. He was one of only two students at the other school and they were obviously milking him. I set up an evaluation for him with a CAS instructor and they had him licensed in about a week. This is a very busy flight school and aircraft and weather can be fickle animals, so delays in training do occur. The only explanation I can see for some of the negative reviews are impatient people or personality conflicts. The Bell's are honest business owners who care a great deal about the quality of pilot that their school produces. Your success and your safety are paramount. In my experience most of their students become lifelong friends of Leo, Raquel, and California Aviation Services. read more