Review of Arizona Aero-Tech's 5-Day IFR Finish-Up Course…read more I signed up for the five-day IFR finish-up course at Arizona Aero-Tech after seeing an advertisement in the AOPA magazine, promising an accelerated program for pilots ready to complete their IFR training. With the required prerequisites met, I was excited to finish the final steps toward my IFR certification. Unfortunately, my experience was far from what was advertised and left me extremely disappointed. Here's why: 1. Lack of Structure & Planning Upon arrival on day one, I expected a clear and structured curriculum, especially since this was supposed to be an accelerated course. However, there was no set schedule, no clear roadmap to guide me through the process. Instead, the entire approach seemed unprepared and ad hoc. I was told, "we'll figure it out as we go," which is completely unacceptable for an accelerated course designed to get a pilot ready for a check ride in just five days. If you're enrolling in a course like this, you should expect a clear plan to meet your goals. There was none. 2. Inexperienced and Unmotivated Instructor When I signed up, I specifically told Rosa, the person handling my enrollment, that I didn't want a very young CFI or one who was close to leaving for the airlines. Unfortunately, I was assigned Sam S., who had already met the required flight hours to leave for the airlines, and his attitude reflected that. It was clear from the start that he was unmotivated and saw this course as just another stepping stone before he could leave teaching for a more lucrative airline career. His lack of enthusiasm, combined with the way he complained about not making enough money to one of the other instructors, set a negative tone for the entire experience. Instead of being a coach and mentor to help me succeed, it felt like I was just another hour on his logbook that he was counting down to the finish. I left feeling like I wasn't getting the attention or dedication I needed to succeed. 3. Money-Grab Tactics It became apparent that Arizona Aero-Tech wasn't focused on student success, but rather on trying to upsell me. After the first couple of days, they suggested extending my course from five days to ten, which felt more like a way to milk extra money out of me than a genuine attempt to meet my needs as a student. Adding to this frustration, the check ride was scheduled for day six, but due to scheduling conflicts, I was told the DEP (Designated Pilot Examiner) wouldn't be available until February 2025--rendering the check ride impossible within the course's original timeframe. 4. Lack of Accountability I'm someone who takes my flight training seriously, and I expected Arizona Aero-Tech to do the same. Unfortunately, the lack of structure, the unprofessional attitude of my instructor, and the overall lack of care demonstrated by the staff made it clear that the school's primary focus was on making money rather than actually helping students reach their goals. This was a money grab, pure and simple. 5. Conclusion: Would I Recommend Arizona Aero-Tech? Based on my experience, I cannot recommend Arizona Aero-Tech. The lack of a structured curriculum, the disengaged and unprofessional instructor, and the overall feeling that this was more about collecting tuition than student success made this a very disappointing experience. If you're looking for a professional, structured, and motivated environment to finish up your IFR training, I would suggest looking elsewhere.

From the owner: Flight Training! Private - Instrument - Commercial - CFI -…read moreCFII Pilot training for Certificates.

Very best in Tucson. I was tired of getting assigned to multiple instructors. Accelerated was…read morevery efficient and pleasant with one dedicated instructor. Also, they will teach you in your own aircraft. I highly recommend them.

From the owner: Specialize in student owned aircraft.read more

Had a fantastic first gliding experience! Not only was it fun but I learned so much during the…read moreflight. Highly recommend!

This was a really amazing experience! My first glider ride, and I look forward to going up again in…read morethe future. Phil was great about explaining the process and sharing about all the spots we were soaring over. A wonderful birthday gift, and a good way to experience something exciting and unique!

Needed my Private Pilot before Spring semester started. They were Great nice clean newer planes and…read morethey adjusted the schedule to fit my time. Very professional CFI's are very helpful act like they really like there jobs. Highly recommend!

Appears it's not just me.. They also took my block time. Evidently playing a shell game by changing…read moretheir name to Noble Air Aviation. They used this as an excuse to not honor the block time purchased with Marana Flight School. I flew my kid thru solo, and said I'm not flying you again until you finish Ground School. I return back to start flying, only to find they just ate the money I had remaining in block time. It's gone. Many other problems too, but this just seems illegal. Appears they disable comments on their Facebook page so folks cannot be warned. Lol

Erwin is a truly great instructor and mentor, he took my lesson plans for my CFI initial checkride…read moreto the point where they were checkride ready and they impressed the examiner. The examiner commented specifically on multiple changes Erwin helped me make. Erwin gets more students checkride ready than any other instructor I know. He also works with multiple different examiners so he knows how to teach for any examiner not just "teaching the gouge" on a specific examiner. This school will get you to your goals faster than anyone else if you're willing to put in the work.

Passed the checkride for my private in just 10 weeks from starting. Only at this flight school with…read morethese knowledgeable instructors can you expect this result. They actually care about teaching and not just racking up houses for themselves. Loved every second of it! Going to start working on my instrument next! Would highly recommend.

I trained at multiple flight schools for over a year and unfortunately was unable to complete my…read morePrivate Pilot License during that time. In September 2025, I transferred to Alpha Kilo Aviation, and within just two weeks I successfully earned my PPL thanks to Dale's professionalism, structure, and excellent preparation. In November, I completed my Instrument Rating with Chris in only 14 days. His instruction was organized, thorough, and focused on real-world flying, which made a huge difference in my confidence and skill level. On December 12, I earned my Commercial License with both Chris and Dale. Their teamwork, consistency, and commitment to student success truly set this school apart. The best way to describe Alpha Kilo Aviation is professional, efficient, and student-focused. The aircraft are well maintained and reliable, the instructors genuinely care about your progress, and the training environment is motivating and supportive. I highly recommend Alpha Kilo Aviation to anyone serious about flight training and advancing their aviation career.

I gave my 13 year old son an introductory flight for Christmas. His instructor Dale was very…read morepolite, knowledgeable and as my son put it, easy to understand and very comfortable instructing a teenager. The whole experience was amazing for me as a parent too. I didn't fly with him but I was able to watch him take off, fly around and land. Dale gave us so much advice and instruction on what our next steps should be. My son has wanted to be a pilot for years and Dale helped my son see that his future is attainable. My son left feeling empowered and confident. We're looking into enrolling in the flight program now. You won't be disappointed in Alpha Kilo Aviation. Best experience and great people!