Fly Around Alaska - Palmer, Alaska

Callan G.

I had such a great experience getting my private pilot rating here, Communication and instruction from my instructor Reese was awesome, he was good at telling me what I needed to work on and giving encouragement for things I did well. Unfortunately weather got in the way several times trying to get my Checkride scheduled but this would've happened at any other school not just fly around Alaska, given the winter here in Alaska was exceptional this year. I would (and have) recommend other students wanting to get their pilot certificates to go here- I would just be aware that the weather in the winter months can affect the timeline. I'd also like to say they run a safe operation and have a mechanic that is there to maintain the planes as well as run over to fix or check out any concerns with the airplanes, I could tell safety is really important to the owner and the instructors which is not something to be overlooked. I will definitely be a returning student and if you're thinking about doing an accelerated program, this is the place to go!

Tyler N.

Fly around was awesome!
Went through their PPL program and came home a pilot!
Storey is great with scheduling, and makes sure to do everything in her power for you to succeed!
I had two instructors, Chanta, and Robby. Both of which were great! Highly recommend Fly Around to anyone that wants to fulfill their dreams!

Josiah R.

Hard to think of a prettier place to learn to fly! Especially in the changing colors of autumn with fresh snow on the surrounding peaks.

Felt like everyone here cared about my success and was helpful and accommodating in preparing me for my PPL checkride.
Taking me from zero hours in the cockpit to passing in under 3 weeks with weather days included.

The town of Palmer has been a great place to stay in with friendly people and good coffee and kombucha!
There’s even a foot and bicycle path that goes right to the school from town.

I would recommended doing your training here!

James S.

Absolutely awesome school where everyone wants and will help you succeed!!! Couldn’t be more grateful I got the time to come out to Alaska and achieve my PPL Certificate! Everyone from the office managers to the CFIs work nonstop to help you achieve your goal and creates such a great learning/fun atmosphere!

Kimberly R.

This place is awesome! I completed their 14-day accelerated private pilot program. I can first hand say if you study before you arrive, take the written exam and continue to study up until the start date, like they advise you to, their program is a solid curriculum. Even with weather and transportation delays (unexpected 24 hour lay over from the commercial airliners) they still managed to get me through and finish a day early! I passed my check ride after only 11 days because of how efficient and thorough their training is! 🙌👏 The owners are genuine and truly care about what’s best for the students, when it looked like weather would prevent my check ride from happening, one of the owners offered to pay the commercial airline change fee to allow me to stay an extra day. Just this small offer alone, helped alleviate stress because he wanted to be sure I could focus my full attention and efforts on passing the check ride instead of stressing about getting home.

I am thoroughly impressed with this school and will definitely come to visit and rent planes from if I’m in the area again 🙏🙌

J D.

I completed my Pilot training here with their accelerated private pilot's license program. Everyone you deal with is very professional, and encouraging, and very much want you to succeed. Would and have already recommended Fly Around Alaska to anyone interested in becoming a pilot.
Also, the views in and around Palmer from the left seat of a cessna are hard to beat 😉

Gary

I purchased fly around Alaskas professional program for $66,385. The program was advertised as zero time to commercial pilot in 3-6 months (I included CFI). I was assured by the owner that I could fly as often as I wanted because they had multiple aircraft and multiple instructors available all the time. I was actually discouraged from purchasing my own plane and using fly around alaskas aircraft because I was told by the owner if your plane breaks it will take months to fix- if our plane cant fly; you can just use another one of our air planes. I was sold on their program and was eager to begin my education. I soon found that what I was sold and what services I received were not the same. I struggled to get flight time due to lack of instructors and lack of aircraft. I approached fly around alaskas owner and requested a refund. I was denied a refund and was told by the owner that well get you through the program. As you can imagine- this made the rest of my time at fly around Alaska boarder-line hostile as I was seen as a problem instead of a customer. I struggled for years trying to get on their flight schedule and it was consistently difficult to find aircraft availability and instructors. It got to the point to where I waited several months for an operable aircraft. When the aircraft became available I couldnt fit into their schedule unless I took time off of work. I wanted to finish the program so I scheduled time off of work. About 5 days before I was finally able to continue my education- Fly around Alaska sent me a new contract that they were requiring me to sign. It included up charges and avenues for them to discontinue my education. I was not about to sign the ***** new contract since I already paid in full for the program I was in. It didnt matter anyways as I was cancelled (again) due to lack of flight instructors. Fly Around Alaska has caused me and my family significant financial hardship. Ive asked several times for a refund

Connor S.

Best experience I have had with a flight school so far

An honest review, from an exceedingly satisfied customer

One thing I can say about Fly Around Alaska is that it is an extremely professional company that works relentlessly, and efficiently to help their students get their ratings, and licenses done on time!

If I could have started flying here 3 years ago instead of spending thousands of dollars on a Part 141 College program for flying, I would have gone here in a heartbeat.

Maybe your story is similar to mine...

After deciding to leave my 141 Flight School in the Lower 48 I came back home to Anchorage, and started searching all over for Flight Schools that could help me get my ratings done. I reached nothing but dead ends, and wasted thousands of dollars attempting to fly out of Merrill with various instructors that all taught differently, and in different aircrafts.

This literally all changed when I called Fly Around Alaska.

I was immediately helped with a friendly voice the first time I called, and was told that I had two options for choosing how to do my Instrument rating. I could either do the Guaranteed Accelerated Program, or the Guaranteed Program. I was ready to dive in, and told them I wanted to get my Instrument Rating done as fast as possible so I went with the Accelerated Program. I spent two weeks studying the Instrument Written at home, absorbing as much as I could so I would be ready to fly, and was literally in the plane the day after I took my test.

Not only did I have the same Instructor, and aircraft every day, I had a guaranteed time slot that was mine in an aircraft that was maintained extremely well. This was the reassurance I was looking for.

I built more time flying here in one week than I would average in two months down in the Lower 48. The people who work here are professional, kind, and I enjoy the focused, yet also laid back environment.

This is hands down the best experience I have had with a Flight School, and the owner has done an excellent job structuring it around great prices, and even better instruction.

If you want a no BS Flight School that will teach you how to be a safe, competent, and proficient Pilot. This is the School for you.

Hopefully this helps those who are asking the questions I once did!