Testimonials

My aviation journey began at Ardmore Flying School, and I'm grateful for the excellent foundation it provided. The school's outstanding reputation and high flight training standards made it the obvious choice for me. Located in Tamaki Makaurau near breathtaking places like Waiheke Island and the Auckland CBD, the training environment was both unique and challenging due to the variable weather.

Ardmore Flying School's state-of-the-art facilities and aircraft catered to all my training requirements. The instructors were exceptional, going above and beyond to ensure my success. I cherished my time there, forging lifelong friendships and valuable industry connections that paved the way for my career. I wholeheartedly recommend Ardmore Flying School to anyone pursuing a career in aviation.

Ardmore Flying School proved to be an excellent place for my studies, boasting amiable and experienced staff. Its convenient location allowed me to explore the breathtaking coastal scenery of the North Island. During training, I faced diverse weather conditions and flew over various terrains. Thanks to the comprehensive training and invaluable experiences at Ardmore Flying School, I felt well-prepared for my first job as a First Officer with Susi Air.

I trained for my PPL and CPL, then moved on to IFR training. This is a big step from VFR to IFR, and everything was so different. During the whole training, I sometimes felt that it was hard to get through and I was quite depressed. But the school’s managers and instructors always looked after me and encouraged me. They were especially patient and used different ways and different thinking to help me overcome it. It made me feel that I had made the right decision to come to AFS because it’s like a family, not only a school for me. At AFS, instructors are not only training students how to fly, but more importantly, how to have a good attitude and understand the concept of time management. This is crucial for a pilot.

After close to 2 years of training, I decided to join the AFS C-Cat instructor course. The reason I want to be an instructor at AFS is because I really like the school, the good environment and the managers and instructors. I want to teach my students the way that my instructors taught me. I not only want to be a good pilot now but also a good instructor - to teach students to have a good attitude, good behaviour and to be good pilots. AFS gave me the opportunity to start my new career.

Before starting my pilot training, I thoroughly researched different flight schools, and I recommend others do the same. When I visited Ardmore Flying School, the instructor answered all my questions professionally and comprehensively. Ardmore Flying School stood out as the best choice, and I began my training with them. Now, after completing my training, I am a First Officer on a Boeing 737 in India at Akasa Air.

What a way to enter aviation! Right from day one, the professionalism and ethos of Ardmore Flying School was clear.

Right throughout the theory and practical lessons/assessments, I found the staff of AFS to be ever helpful, always welcoming and consistently supportive.

Through the school's dedication and wealth of knowledge and experience, I was able to obtain my PPL, CPL and MEIR.

Their effective teaching regime and impressive resources made them my first choice of school, and I have not been let down once

An instructor's passion is a very important part of motivating a student to succeed, and here AFS did not falter. Every classroom brief and flying lesson has been a new opportunity to grow and learn, and I have consistently witnessed this in both myself and my peers.

I hope to complete a C-Category Instructor rating with them soon, as I wish to continue to be a part of their professional culture and develop my skills further.

The instructors at Ardmore Flying School are incredibly approachable offering their support and knowledge both in and out of the classroom. In the last 2 years, AFS have ensured my pilot resume is one to be proud of. Recently I completed my Category C Flight Instructor rating and was promptly offered a job with AFS. Feeding off the enthusiasm, passion and friendships during my time as a student has made this journey one filled with great memories and big goals for the future.

My training at Ardmore Flying School has been a fulfilling experience to say the least. Right from the get-go I was impressed by the quality of training offered to me as well as the help and support provided by the staff at Ardmore Flying School.

I feel that I was most definitely equipped with the resources to complete my Diploma in Aviation. I am now an employed Flight Instructor at the School and I would recommend Ardmore Flying School as the school of choice to advance your career.

Ardmore flying school was the perfect place for me to pursue my flight training. The environment at the school is very friendly and approachable, with an emphasis on constant self-improvement both from the students and all staff. Whether it be in the cockpit or on the ground, the instructors always went above and beyond, ready to help through any and every step of your training. My time at AFS has given me the skills, knowledge and confidence to pursue a career in aviation at the highest level.

Flying was always something I had dreamed of doing, although it seemed quite far away, not being a mathematician or extremely gifted in the field of physics. Despite this I decided to visit Ardmore Flying School to see what was required to train for a pilots licence.

While I was there I received an introductory flight, where you can go up with an instructor and take control of the aircraft. After this I was hooked, I knew that this was what I wanted to do.

As I was looking to continue with aviation as a career I found Ardmore Flying School to be the best fit for me with a more structured environment than an aero club and a vast amount of experience throughout the instructing staff. The availability of factory new Cessna 172’s was also great, with the option of training on the new G1000 glass cockpit aircraft. Its locality was also very convenient with many student flats and accommodation available just down the road from the school.

Throughout my training the instructors at the school were extremely helpful and were always available to answer questions or sit down and explain concepts no matter how busy they were. I soon discovered that as long as you have the drive and motivation, flying can be a reality for anyone. The instructors I had for my training were great and made learning to fly an awesome experience. Many of them now fly for airlines within New Zealand and around the world.

The other side of a training organization like Ardmore Flying School is meeting all the people who are going through the same experience as you; most of them becoming mates for life. From the first day of theory course where you know nothing about aviation to holding a commercial pilot licence with an instrument rating is a great milestone to reach, even better being able to reach it with those same people you sat with on day one.

I would recommend Ardmore Flying School to anyone who is looking for great training with great people, learning to fly is a great experience you won’t forget.

I graduated from Ardmore Flying School with a Commercial Pilots Licence, with the addition of Multi Engine Instrument and Flight Instructor Ratings.

Studying to become a commercial pilot demanded hard work and commitment but has been one the best experiences of my life. My instructors were dedicated, reliable and friendly. Ardmore’s proximity to Auckland was a major benefit and I enjoyed flying in the schools modern fleet of Cessna Aircraft.

The school did an excellent job of preparing me for a career as an airline pilot.

They gave me the stepping stone of my first paid position in aviation, employing me as an instructor which greatly developed my flying abilities. While working as instructor I completed the required ATPL examinations and from there my experience qualified me for placement within an airline.

It is for these reasons I would recommend seriously considering Ardmore Flying School if pursuing flight training.

The moment I started my PPL theory course I knew I had embarked on a career that would not only take me to the most interesting places, meet new people, but most importantly a job that I love and enjoy doing each day.

One of my favourite memories from Ardmore Flying School is my first solo. I remember it like it was yesterday. The feeling of flying an aircraft all by yourself is literally out of this world. Having the support of fellow peers and the instructors around you really gives you the feeling that if you put your mind to it, you can achieve your dream of becoming a pilot. I found all the instructors and staff at Ardmore friendly and always willing to help no matter what the question is.

During my time at Ardmore I was lucky enough to be the first student in New Zealand to sit my Commercial Pilots Licence in May 2006 using the Garmin 1000 Avionics (Glass Cockpit). This really set me up for my airline career.

I was also lucky enough to complete my instructors rating with Ardmore Flying School, this took me through to B-Cat level and instructing on the Multi Engine Beechcraft Duchess. I loved my time working at AFS. It seemed everyone at the school loved what they were doing, whether it was instructors at work or students learning, the atmosphere was always buzzing with people passionate about their aviation careers.

Ardmore Flying School allowed me to gain the valuable experience that allowed me to fill the seat I have today. Not only did I learn to fly with some of the most experienced instructors in the country but also had access to the latest in technology and resources. I would recommend Ardmore Flying School to anyone, whether you just want to become a private pilot or follow a career in aviation. I look forward to hopefully coming back in a few years and sharing my experience and passion for aviation with future students.

I attained my CPL 2007, MEIR in 2008, C-cat in 2008, B-cat in 2009 and finished instructing Feb 2012.

The best thing I loved best about my time at Ardmore Flying School was the people. I made some great friends. I flew with two instructors and I enjoyed my time with both of them.

Ardmore Flying School prepared me and set the foundations of my career. Friendly environment made learning very enjoyable.

I would absolutely recommend my family and friends to come and study at Ardmore Flying School

Prior to choosing Ardmore I had looked at other options. I went to the open days and spoke to both students and instructors from other schools, however I liked Ardmore’s environment the most. In my opinion, Ardmore is very open and sociable while still maintaining high professionalism. Contacting people at Ardmore to ask further questions that weren’t covered at open days was also incredibly easy with fast, friendly and informative responses.

I did a lot of research as to where to go for the flight training. Through the research and the advice of my friend of where the best place to learn and become the best pilot possible, Ardmore Flying School was the best option. Already after being with Ardmore since August 25, I can see why. The sheer knowledge of the pilots, especially the instructors is incredible. The knowledge they have does not depend on who you are talking to or asking questions to, everyone has the same level of high standards, level of detail and understanding. Funnily enough, because of this and the maturity of everyone in the school, I find it very hard to guess anyone’s age. The people of Ardmore who may only be the age of 21 have more maturity than even 50+ year olds I’ve worked with in high-ranking logistics roles. That’s how I know I’ve made the right choice coming to this school.

At the end of last year, I was assessing my options in terms of what my choice of flying school would be, of the options in Auckland. I looked at all options and went for 2 trial flights. I chose Ardmore Flying School because it’s part of Ardmore Aerodrome, which is a massive operation and felt like a buzzing centre of activity. When I visited, it struck me as busy, and felt to me like a large-scale, professional institution that had lots of students with momentum in their training. Upon researching the course structure and pathways to complete my flight training, I also felt that Ardmore had a really structured course progression, and an actual pathway through to being an instructor and eventually to an airline job, as this is my long term goal. Another major factor for me was the word of mouth, and reputation of the school. A couple of years ago, through my band I met an Air New Zealand A320 Captain who was very kind and helpful and gave me plenty of advice regarding the best way to go about flight training. He strongly recommended Ardmore, as in his mind it was the best flying school, and this meant a lot as well, coming from someone like him.

In January 2025, I made the decision to choose AFS because the values, environment, and quality of training aligned with what I was searching for at that stage of my aviation journey. One of the key reasons was the culture the school is grounded in. Aviation itself is a culturally diverse sector built on inclusion, respect, professionalism, and accountability, and these are values I have consistently seen reflected since the start of my PPL ground school. Furthermore, this culture is fostered by the team, and by the students, highlighting discipline, integrity, and high standards. Over the past eleven months, my training experience at AFS has only reinforced that this was the right decision, particularly through the quality of instruction, detailed de-briefs, and the high standards consistently expected through being properly prepared for each flight.

I felt that Ardmore was the perfect fit, and I decided from then on that I would study there. I've had a couple of trial flights at Ardmore Flying School in the last few years to really make sure it was what I wanted, and while saving up to pay for the course has taken the better part of 4 years of hard work, I haven't changed my mind once. For me the style that Ardmore teaches and the course structure fits me very well. As someone who already works in aviation and for a large airline, the discipline is what I want and need to get the best out of myself and perform at my best. It's also what I've come to expect from my limited experience in the airline industry, and I know that adopting this approach will best prepare me for a career as a pilot.

My experience at AFS so far has been a net positive, as in my PPL ground course my instructors showed a great wealth of knowledge and allowed the class to ask questions purely out of curiosity but still managed to get the primary points of the lessons across. They made sure that the class understood everything that they needed to and would go into detail when required. I’ve also enjoyed the culture at the school as the more senior students and instructors were always friendly and willing to help if I had a question about anything. I also admire the safety first mindset at AFS, which is something I have always believed to be of most import in aviation. In terms of practical flying training, I have been assigned a great instructor who has been teaching me very well, and getting to fly has cemented my passion for flying and has reassured me that a flying career is definitely for me. I enjoyed attending the monthly town hall meetings as they help me keep up with the school’s operations and shows me that the school wants the students to know what’s going on and what can be expected. I also find the monthly safety reports to be very insightful as they have helped me see what is happening locally at the Ardmore aerodrome in terms of near misses and incidents, and how they could have been avoided which I believe will help me avoid making those same mistakes.

Ardmore Flying School – I was greatly influenced by the quality and professionalism of their responses during the enquiry process. I found communicating with their staff easy, and they were effective and supportive, giving me confidence in the school's professionalism. Because of this, my initial impression was that Ardmore Flying School values both structure and professionalism, with a genuine desire for their students to excel. Qualities like this were fundamental for me when choosing where to train. Additionally, Ardmore Flying School’s size and training capacity align with my long-term pathway and I already had familiarity of Ardmore Aerodrome through my prior involvement with Young Eagles at the Auckland Aero Club.

Leading up to enrolling in Ardmore Flying School I did significant research considering which flight school would help me best. I considered a number of options before deciding on Ardmore Flying School. I wanted to ensure the school I chose had a professional environment and cared about the quality of the training provided to its students. After speaking to a friend who is currently training at Ardmore, he assured me I would get a professional training environment. He spoke highly of Ardmore’s reputation within the aviation community for delivering high quality training. Combining the assurance from my friend with my own research gave me a lot of confidence in Ardmore. My expectations have been exceeded. My instructors have shown a genuine interest in our training, organising extra classes and sending additional material we could find useful for the exam. The combination of professionalism and relatability has made it easy to engage with and understand the material. The student culture is also very strong at Ardmore, with more experienced students quick to share their experiences and advice.