CFI Flight Academy - Claresholm, AB

Aryan S.

I had the privilege of completing my Private Pilot License (PPL), Commercial Pilot License (CPL), and Instrument Rating (IR) at CFI Flight Academy, and I can confidently say that my experience was nothing short of exceptional.

From the very beginning, the team at CFI Flight Academy was committed to ensuring that I received the best possible training. The instructors were knowledgeable, patient, and dedicated to helping me master the skills required to become a competent and confident pilot. The training environment was professional yet friendly, making each lesson enjoyable and highly productive.

The fleet is well-maintained, which is crucial for both safety and effective training. The aircraft were consistently in good condition, with regular maintenance checks ensuring reliability and minimizing downtime. This high standard of maintenance allowed for uninterrupted training and contributed to building confidence in handling the aircraft.

A special mention goes to Business Manager Pamela, who was instrumental in making the administrative side of my training smooth and efficient. Pamela’s professionalism, responsiveness, and dedication ensured that all my needs were promptly addressed. Her exceptional support significantly enhanced my overall experience at the school.

One of the standout aspects of my experience was the personalized support I received, especially from the Chief Flight Instructor (CFI), Bruno. When I encountered issues with my multi-engine rating, primarily because I had to return to India and needed to complete the rating on the Piper Seneca, Bruno went above and beyond to assist me. Despite the challenges, he helped me arrange to complete my multi-engine training at another school that had the Piper Seneca, ensuring that I could continue my journey without significant delays.

This level of dedication and support is what sets CFI Flight Academy apart. They genuinely care about their students success, not just in obtaining their licenses but in ensuring they are well-prepared for their aviation careers.

I highly recommend CFI Flight Academy to anyone looking to pursue a career in aviation. Their commitment to excellence and personalized approach to training make them an outstanding choice for pilot training.

Ben J.

Great place to do your flying training. Came here after my PPL from another local school a bit disheartened but Bruno was awesome, gave me a very clear pathway to achieve my goals and we got it done ( multi IFR and CPL ), his instructors are top class too. A very family orientated school where you always feel welcome. Highly recommend !

juan A.

I had the pleasure of training at CFI Flight School Claresholm, and I must say it was a wonderful experience. As at the beginning of my training, it was clear that the instructors were professionals, patient and well dedicated towards the students.
They were always patient, understanding, and willing to go the extra mile to ensure that I had fully understood each concept before moving on. Their approach to training was methodical and well-structured, which made it very pleasant for me to follow and retain the information.
Another key aspect of CFI Flight Academy is the International student program. From my first experience with the ground courses to the flight training, everything is well-structured and organized. Having a PGI before each section of flight made my progress throughout training much easier.
Bruno designed PGI’s to cover all the necessary topics and skills required for the different stages of flight training, and the instructors, especially Devon and Bruno who were always there to answer to my questions.
Another notable feature of CFI Flight Academy is their location. The airport is located in a great area for flight training, with minimal traffic congestion, which makes it perfect for practicing various maneuvers. In particular, the airport is uncontrolled. This allowed me to do more circuits in a more efficient way “no line up in taxi, airborne within plus or minus five minutes”. Another advantage of the location of the aerodrome is they are the only flight school in the area.
Another outstanding aspect of CFI Flight Academy is their multi-engine flight training program. Prior to getting into the cockpit, the instructors made sure I received SIM training where the instructors made sure I was fully prepared for the real deal up in the air. I rehearse necessary procedures and checklists for multi-engine flying. This made a significant difference in my experience.
I was particularly impressed by how well the instructors, Bruno and Hugh, worked together during my multi-engine training. Which helped me build confidence and proficiency as a multi-engine pilot. Their communication and patience were remarkable, making it pleasant for me to learn and progress quickly.
In addition to their excellent teaching methods, CFI Flight Academy also offered great flexibility in scheduling towards me in scheduling my flight training.
excellent training provided by the instructors, especially a shoutout towards the instructors who made it happen.
As someone who loves flying, I appreciate the way CFI Flight Academy takes care of its students to ensure they get the most out of their training. I was impressed by the emphasis placed on efficiency and making the most of every hour of training.
I cannot overstate how much I appreciated this aspect in my experience with CFI Flight Academy.
To state one of my many wonderful experiences, there was an occasion I was pressed for time and eager to push for a flight. However, Devon and Bruno wisely and calmly advised me against flying when weather conditions were not optimal, as they knew that it would not give me the best possible experience and progress.

Pamela, who runs the school in my point of view from the start toward my graduation, ensured me a wonderful time and made all my paperwork ready in time. Even on bad weather days you will see Pamela always with a positive attitude and her lovely smile which make the atmosphere in the school much better.

Furthermore I can only put the emphasis on the fact CFI flight Academy is more than a school is a family from the moment I started till the moment I finished I knew belonged here.

Skye H.

Passed my multi IFR flight test today! I did my training with the CFI and he was able to get me up to flight test level very fast, I find it when the instructor is easygoing it really helps to learn. The location is also good compared to Springbank, way less traffic and you get more stuff done in less time! Very friendly for beginners (no grumpy controllers lol)

Oscar M.

There are many schools all over Alberta, the reason I wanted to go to CFI Flight Academy was because it was close to Calgary, and the airport was small and far enough from a major centre that there would be little to no interference from other traffic... and I knew that I wouldn't have to spend too much time on the ground, waiting for an opening in a busy circuit at Springbank or Red Deer. We would start and within minutes we were airborne, getting the most out of a limited budget. The academy is clean, and spacious. The aircraft are well maintained. The lessons are well explained, there are several instructors of differing qualifications. The Chief Instructor is a professional naval aviator with thousands of hours flying multi engine maritime patrol aircraft. Is very patient with the explanations and very courteous to all the students. The accommodations of out of town students is in town which is 5 minutes away, a car is required and the local hotel (Lazy J) gives excellent rates to CFI Academy students, and breakfast is included. Also I was able to schedule my time to carry out up to 2 flights per day and compress my training to maximize my learning. EXCELLENT!!!

Alex W.

This flight school sets the standards high. After an awful experience with a flight school in the Okotoks area, I had to stop my commercial training. But after I reached out to CFI in hopes of finishing of my training, the stress that had been built up just dissipated from me. They took me in and treated me like I was one of their own.

The environment - unparalleled to any flight school in Alberta. The entire terminal is spotless. They say you can tell the state of a business by how clean their facilities are. This is a perfect example. The terminal building houses 2 bathrooms, a shower, a kitchen, a couch area, a simulator, a navigation station, a classroom, and one of the nicest hangars I've seen. Every one of these spaces is maintained under the meticulous eye of the owner with the standards of a military sergeant. On-top of the physical environment, the emotional aspect of the school is such an important factor. And again they punch a hole through any experience you could get at another flight school. Every member of their staff makes you feel right at home. You can feel comfortable enough to get personal with them and yet have no inkling of a feeling like the professional side of the training is diminished. Truly a unique opportunity in flight training.

The staff - Bruno is the kind of person you want to train you. He has added a military touch to civilian aviation training. When you get the chance to fly with him you can see what I am trying to describe. Knowledgeable, friendly, and most importantly -patient. If you are doing something wrong in a maneuver, he will be quick to correct you. But he gives you a chance to find the error first before he give you a friendly slap on the wrist. Coddling isn't in his vocabulary, which again is a hugely important trait you want in a flight instructor. He is teaching you how to fly, but to do it safely. Just wait for the post flight briefing for any praise you may be seeking after one of his lessons. Pamela handles the financials of the school. I can guarantee that when you walk inside the terminal and she is there, that you will see one of the friendliest smiles you've ever received. She will send you invoices promptly and without any prodding. Consider her the organizational backbone of the whole operation. I've received all my bills and receipts on time and in order with breakdowns of the costs. At my old flight school, I had to consistently poke at the owner to give me proper billings. And a receipt? If I was lucky and sent a couple more emails. Pamela has wiped away my previous terrible experiences regarding this side of aviation training at my past school with her professional layout at CFI. Grant is one of the instructors at this location. The only smile who can hold a light to Pamela's is Grant's. If you want an instructor who is passionate about flying, he is the guy. You can tell that he enjoys being in the industry and shows up to work everyday being a role model for aspiring flight instructors. Many flight schools claim to be a "family". But this is the only flight school I know where this rings true. I was a real priority to them. Some flight schools lose this care for the students once the money starts rolling in and their eyes glaze over the names of students until they become numbers to slot in a spreadsheet. But not here. Your name stays a name and not a simple entry in the logs. In fact, you usually can count on earning a nickname after you are at the school for awhile- be warned that it will stick!

The plane - Their Cessna 172, GUIM is the gem of the area. This queen of the fleet has been given a fresh breath of life that puts it at the top of my personal list of any plane I have flown before. Its been beautifully coated in a striking paint job that gives you the feeling of climbing into an airliner plane. Performance wise, she stands up to the call as well.

Overall - They honestly saved my flight school experience. I couldn't recommend them enough. If you have any questions about the student experience here I'd be happy to answer them.

Leo L.

The staff truly care about training the best pilots possible, as well as preparing you for the Transport Canada flight tests, and will ensure that you meet the standard. The instructors also teach as much as possible in a flight, in order to maximize the use of training time.

This school has very friendly and efficient staff. The CFI was a Naval Aviator so he runs a very smooth operation. Flight planning, briefing, and aircraft sign-out are all very easy to do, and I like how there are very few delays at Claresholm Airport.

I live in Calgary and was willing to drive to Claresholm just because of how good this school is.

Thank you to the team at CFI Flight Academy!

Yevhen H.

Exelent place to get professional pilot training! Professional team with an individual approach to each student. No unnecessary flight hours. No wait list. Safest place for solo flight compared to busy airports. It was the right choice to reach my goal. I have experience of flight training in different FTU and this one is the best. Very Grateful to Bruno and Devon for helping me!