Channel Islands Is Tops; It Can't Be Beat As a pilot who has flown for 58 years and accummulated more than 27000 hours in 320 different types of aircraft, I have had occasion to rent airplanes and receive training at innumeable flight schools in the United States as well as at many overseas. Never have I encounted one operated as professionally and efficiently as Channel Islands Aviation. Their airplanes are relatively new and maintained in top-notch condition. Their personnel and instructing staff are friendly, enthusiastic, and eager to help in any way they can. As a retired airline captain (TWA), I am pleased to add that the training provided at Channel Islands is as effective and efficient as any general aviation pilot could hope to find anywhere.

I’m so lucky to be training at Channel Islands Aviation. My instructor, Mike Lozano is simply amazing, and my experience with all the other instructors has been nothing but wonderful. The planes are meticulously maintained, and the flight desk folks are warm, friendly, and really, really good at what they do. I live in North Hollywood, but gladly make the drive to Camarillo to this top notch, A+ flight school. Thanks, Sarah for running such a great operation!

I live 15 minutes from Van Nuys Airport and drive 45 minutes to the Camarillo Airport due to the prime location, friendly/professional service, expertise, and safety that CIA provides. I’m confident that with CIA I am in the right hands for all my aviation needs.

I've been dreaming of becoming a pilot since I was 6 years old. Channel Island Aviation has helped me to finally see that boyhood dream become a reality. Channel Islands staff and instructors have made me feel very much at home and part of what I consider a very elite group. The Pilot. There is no better place to learn how to fly and fly out of, than Channel Island Aviation. Thanks guys, your the real dream-makers!

A Positive Experience Since 2002 I started my flight training in 2002 at CIA. Seven months later I had my Private Pilot certificate. Shortly after that the Instrument rating came. Then in December of 2005, I picked my brand new Cessna 182 (Skylane) which I bought from Channel Islands Aviation. To this day, CIA is the only one who has ever done the maintenance on my aircraft. I have had very many positive experiences with CIA. They have done many things above and beyond the normal good service category. One example is when my plane was going to be down to wait for a part to arrive. I had a two week family trip planned. The got a part for me to use and replaced it with a new one when I returned. There renting policies are also the best in the business. Not to mention the newest and best maintained aircraft of any flight school. I have rented planes from other parts of the country. CIA has the best fleet in the world.

Instruction, Fun, and Airplanes After 25 years of flying in the sunshine I decided it was time to get an Instrument Rating. I visited every FBO within an hour's drive and chose Channel Islands Aviation for their large number of newer airplanes and large number of instructors. Even with my crazy schedule I was able to get an instructor and an airplane when I wanted one. My instructors, Brooke (now a pilot with American Eagle) and her husband Kevin, made sure I was ready to go when I went for my checkride (did I say how great they are?). Even better are the fun flyouts with about 15 airplanes piloted by students and renters to interesting places: Napa Valley for wine tasting, Sedona, AZ for the red rocks in the sunset, Catalina Island, Big Bear, Furnace Creek Inn at Death Valley for brunch, and even Mexico for the weekend. Over the past few ... After 25 years of flying in the sunshine I decided it was time to get an Instrument Rating. I visited every FBO within an hour's drive and chose Channel Islands Aviation for their large number of newer airplanes and large number of instructors. Even with my crazy schedule I was able to get an instructor and an airplane when I wanted one. My instructors, Brooke (now a pilot with American Eagle) and her husband Kevin, made sure I was ready to go when I went for my checkride (did I say how great they are?). Even better are the fun flyouts with about 15 airplanes piloted by students and renters to interesting places: Napa Valley for wine tasting, Sedona, AZ for the red rocks in the sunset, Catalina Island, Big Bear, Furnace Creek Inn at Death Valley for brunch, and even Mexico for the weekend. Over the past few years, I also purchased two new airplanes from Janie which I have flown back and forth across the US several times and even down to Mexico with the flyout from Channel Islands. What started out as a place to get a new rating has ended up being a home away from home when I get back to the west coast

I began my instrument training at Channel Islands Aviation in the fall of 2006. Having earned my degree and private pilot certificate earlier that year, my search for flight schools to complete my professional pilot training brought me to CIA.

Everything from the technologically advanced fleet, to the always friendly staff, and the impressive FBO facilities told me that this was the right place for me to launch my aviation career. Camarillo’s location just outside the busy Los Angeles airspace provided great experience in a high workload instrument environment. The one-on-one training throughout the entire program allowed my instructors to tailor my progress and our schedule to my individual needs.

In less than a year, after earning instrument, commercial, multi-engine, and CFI ratings, I was prepared and proud to join the team as an instructor. This experience, especially teaching in G1000 aircraft, has proven invaluable in helping me transition to the next step as a regional pilot, flying similarly-equipped glass cockpit aircraft.

And if career prep wasn’t enough, the great people and lasting friendships – often facilitated by CIA’s always creative fly-ins – are equally invaluable. (Don’t miss Mexico if you have the chance!)

Thanks again to all who helped launch me toward my goals

I've trained with, rented from, and instructed for Channel Islands Aviation. I've been flying for over ten years, and CIA is by far the best in the game. Channel Islands is more than a flight school; it's a community. Having flown for SkyWest Airlines and now becoming an aviation attorney in Ft. Worth, Texas, I'm simply amazed at how many CIA "alums" I run into all over the country. Many great things in my life started with touch & go's on runway 26 in a Channel Islands plane (N2384L). If you want to learn to fly right, this is the place.

I have taught at many different flight schools and have to say that my experience at CIA has been by farr the most positive and rewarding of all. CIA helped launch my career as a corporate pilot in ways that I only dreamed. I owe where I am today to CIA.

Though I live in Santa Monica, I chose Channel Islands Aviation as my flight school when I began the flight training for my private pilot certificate. It was a very good choice. I was also lucky in having Travis Eshpeter as my instructor. Under his tutelage I have received a solid base of theory and practical flying skills. As well as learning how, he also made sure that I understood why. He’s a natural pilot as well as a natural instructor: competent, patient, and understanding. He was always upbeat. He made me sweat sometimes (well, okay, many times) but it was worth it.

I also flew with Mike Lozano, David Koble and Sarah Rosenthal for phase checks or when Travis was on vacation. All of them clearly wanted me to succeed and helped me with good tips and guidance.
I have recently begun lessons for a multi-engine rating with Sarah Rosenthal. I didn't want to go anywhere else than Channel Islands to add on that rating.

Besides good instruction and a very helpful flight desk staff, another comforting aspect of Channel Islands Aviation is the rigorous maintenance schedule for the planes. One is always assured of a well-maintained plane to fly

I began my career as a pilot with Channel Islands Aviation at the age of 16. After enrolling in their professional pilot program I was able to earn my commercial pilot license, instrument rating, multi-engine rating and eventually my flight instructor ratings. As a commercial airline Captain at the largest regional airline in the Unites States I can personally attest to the quality of Channel Islands Aviations instructors and training. Their aircraft are well maintained, and the facilities are top notch. Learning to fly at the Camarillo airport exposes students to a dynamic learning environment, well suited for preparing students as professional aviators. Channel Islands Aviation helped me jump start my career and provided me an outstanding learning environment with a clear path to becoming a commercial airline pilot.