Why Choose SDFTI

SDFTI OFFERS WORLD CLASS TRAINING & PROVEN SUCCESSFUL!

We appreciate you as a customer and understand that you expect the safest and best possible instruction with the flexibility to train around your demanding schedule.

FLEXIBILITY

You have the ability to train seven days a week and at almost any hour with the exception of your Private Pilot course which is mostly taught from sun up to sunset. Our privately owned fleet is meticulously maintained and kept in excellent flying condition by our own chief mechanic and his staff. We can show you how to maximize the schedule to your needs.

SAFETY

Our instructors are on a career path in aviation and have advanced training and a passion for flying. Their training and our philosophy is based on safety first. SDFTI has a perfect safety record of keeping our students out of harms way. More importantly we will show you how to exercise the type of decision making that will make you a safe competent aviator.

TRAINING ENVIRONMENT

AT SDFTI you benefit from the Southern California Flying Experience which gives you the greatest opportunity to log hours day after day. In San Diego you have the greatest opportunity to fly year-round in comfort. 

DIVERSITY OF TERRAIN

In a single flight you can easily go from 70 miles of ocean-front beaches to inland valleys to mile-high mountain peaks to the desert parks of the Anza Borrego to the agriculturally rich Imperial Valley and Salton Sea.  You have the opportunity to experience more here than anywhere else.

VARIETY OF AIRSPACE AND AIRPORTS

There is more variety within 20 miles of SDFTI than any other school on the planet.  From multiple Class Bravo commercial and military operations to class 8 controlled civil aviation runways to small uncontrolled strips.  Here you have the opportunity to be exposed virtually anything you will find in your travels.  We also have one of two “tower enroute” corridors available in the United States.

NEWEST AIRCRAFT

SDFTI owns, operates, and maintains a 19 plane fleet.  This includes  twin and single engine complex craft, and the newest collection of Cessna 172s in the region. We offer four trainers with the Garmin® G1000® equipped glass flightdeck.