hear What Our Customers Say About Us.

When you begin flight training at Above All Aviation you enter into a community of aviators that are passionate about flying. You'll find new students hanging out in the office before and after their flight lesson, talking about stall technique and airspace. You'll find former and current commercial airline pilots talking about their most exciting and harrowing flights. You'll find students soloing and passing their check rides on a nearly weekly basis. The excitement and support at Above All Aviation is palpable, but don't take it from us. Read on to hear what our pilots say about Above All.

“Great flight school with friendly staff. The folks here are great fun, personable, and get you in the air quickly! Safety is their top priority and their planes are well maintained. I recommend even just going and hanging out in the lobby and talking with Bill, Shawn, and the rest of the staff and students that pass by. Good fun.” - Stanley F. / Private Pilot, complex endorsement

I stopped by today to go fly to Camarillo; however, the weather didn’t cooperate. While I was waiting for the TAF I chatted with Meghan, Steve and Ryan in the lobby. The assistance and kindness I have felt from all of them was wonderful. Ever since I started with Steve, I have always felt welcome. You have really created an amazing family atmosphere!! - Alex A. / Private Pilot

“I am extremely grateful for all the help over my 6.5 weeks with Above All Aviation, as it has made it possible for me to achieve my goal of flying by obtaining my private pilot certificate at an unusually fast rate. Your willingness to override the schedule to make sure I had a plane, giving me tips and pointers, as well as encouraging me to maintain a positive attitude, even when the weather gods were giving me a beating, made my experience at Above All nothing less than stellar, and I am truly appreciative of that. The learning environment and atmosphere they have created is seemingly unrivaled and I am glad that I made the decision to come to Above All. I look forward to renting over the course of the next couple years prior to, hopefully, beginning my aviation career in the military.” - Mike M. / Private Pilot

When my daughter wanted to take flying lessons, I checked out flight schools in the Santa Barbara, Ventura/SoCal area and by far, none compared to Above All Aviation. The owner, Shawn Sullivan, took the time to answer many questions and although it has a family friendly atmosphere, it is certainly a professional one as well. Shawn has personally worked with us for each certificate earned (private, instrument, commercial, instructor) and found ways to make it as affordable as possible without compromising quality and safety.

I have never regretted my choice in choosing Above All Aviation because they truly are ABOVE ALL. - Glenda R. / Parent

“Thank you for hosting this year’s summer camp. It was really a fun experience and I learned a lot. You guys did a great job of keeping me safe, and organizing the camp in an orderly fashion. I feel that I got to learn a lot, get lots of flight hours, and be 100% safe. Also, the trip to the fire station was fun. Thanks for helping me gain more knowledge, get hours, and get a flight bag, instead of Megan this year (thanks to Shawn and Steve for rigging the competition - jk).” - Nick S. / Summer Camper 2021

“ Thank you for opening and hosting summer camp, while keeping me safe. The summer camp was definitely my highlight of the year…I would like to be a pilot, and you guys are helping me achieve this goal and improve literally everything I do. I really had a lot of fun at camp, and I really enjoy the competitiveness that you insert into the camp. The only part I didn’t like was losing in the Poker Run game. Maybe you should rig it for me so I can win…Thank you for hosting camp, I really loved it because I didn’t socially distance myself ! (JUST KIDDING) I love everything about this camp, especially the amazing instructors. I’m looking forward to the next year.” - Nick S. / Summer Camper 2020

"I love this place. The people here are personable and feel like family. If you ever have a problem, it's easy to talk to the owners, they are here almost every day. My PPL cost me around 7-9k which is not only fair for a pilot’s license, but when I did my instrument training with ATP, they set me up for success. You really can't beat this flight school. It's the best on the field and probably the best on the central coast. Also, I heard they have an incredible pass rate, they have instructors that teach because they like teaching, not just to get to the 1500-hour mark to work at the airlines" 

- Hannah L. / Commercial Pilot, instrument rated, multi-engine rated, CFI-MEI

"After checking out several other flight schools in the area, nobody beats Above All Aviation! I really like everyone I've encountered there, and after a lesson I will often hang out for a bit, chatting with whomever is in the office. I've never felt rushed, and everyone has been very friendly and professional. Highly recommended!  - Jason C. / Private Pilot

“Thank you for putting on the summer camp this year! I had so much fun and gained so much knowledge. I hope all of you guys have fun and I hope to see y’all next time. :)” - Megan S. / Summer Camper 2021

“I want to thank Above All Aviation for putting on an amazing flight camp this year. Every year that I attend I always learn new cool facts. Due to the circumstances this year, we couldn’t travel anywhere, this camp was the exception. This camp was the highlight of mine and my brother’s summer…Every year I enjoy going to your camp, getting the hands-on experience with flying planes. Thank you for keeping us safe and hosting your super fun summer camp!”

- Megan S. / Summer Camper 2020

“Really great and knowledgeable people. Would highly recommend them for flying lessons.”

- Mark B. / Student Pilot

“Above All Aviation is a great place to learn to fly. Their instructors are top notch, their staff are friendly, their aircraft are well maintained, and their prices are fair. I’m very happy with the integrity, value, and quality of instruction at Above All Aviation.” - Arthur R. / Private Pilot

“A great intro to flying, they also went above and beyond to schedule my lesson!” - James H.

When you join Above All Aviation you are not just gaining flight certificates, you are gaining a family and a new group of friends. Shawn, Bill, Joel, Jessie, Mikey, John, Matt, Ken, Julian, Lucas, Donna, Patrick, Hannah and Juliet all welcome you with open hands. They have hands down what I would call A+ in customer service. They are always finding a way for you to save money, that's right a flight school that will save you money! If you need hours, they pair you up with another student that needs hours, they have promos, study groups, constantly working with aviation groups to keep people Informed, a flight simulator, they love to help with sponsorships, and if you just need a place to hang out and talk about aviation their door is always open. Not only do they have a flight school, but they have a maintenance shop which is just a fun place to hang out and learn about plane innards. I have gotten all my ratings here from private pilot to commercial multi-engine instrument and now have a job working for a charter company. You know what they still can't get rid of me because I still come by just to hangout and talk about aviation. I love Above All they are my family and friends, and they always have room for more!

- Topaz G. / Commercial instrument multi-engine pilot

“Our son has been taking lessons here for several months. Everyone at Above All is professional, friendly, and patient. Our first concern is, of course, safety. This is a top-notch operation, and they don't cut corners. They take the time to communicate effectively, they don't get in a hurry, and they truly care about their students. Our son has received excellent instruction both in the air and on the ground.”

- Genese I. / Parent

"We just took a scenic flight of the Santa Barbara area. It was definitely a memorable trip, worth every penny. Our pilot, Danny, was very knowledgeable of the area and showed us some great places. I recommend this place to everyone." - Nathan P. 

"The quality of instruction, professionalism of staff, and the general fun atmosphere at Above All Aviation is one of the reasons I believe this is the best flight school around. The fleet is diverse and well-suited to a variety of different pilot needs. One of the best things about the school is the fact that unlike the other flight schools at SBA, Above All Aviation maintains its own planes with a facility right on the field. Anytime I found an airworthiness issue with one of the planes, I could just taxi it over to the maintenance hangar and they could fix it right up. The staff is friendly, professional, and holds students to very high expectations-- there is no allowance for sloppiness, and that makes for good pilots. I think what makes Above All stand out amongst flight schools nationwide is its focus on creating skilled, thoughtful, community-conscious, and conscientious pilots--not just pilots who can pass a check ride. I'm glad I chose Above All for my initial flight training, and now that I have a Private Pilot Certificate, I know that when I pursue advanced ratings, I will do so through Above All. I heartily recommend this flight school to everyone looking to earn their wings." - Alanna G. / Private Pilot

Above All Aviation is like my second family.  Shawn is an incredible Flight Mamma and treats every customer as if you were her own child.  From my discovery flight over 2 years ago to my Multi-Engine Commercial Instrument rating, Above All has the resources, the caring instructors, and the equipment to get you where you need to go!  They are a full-service flight school with unparalleled professionalism mixed in with that family feel for an absolutely perfect atmosphere for learning.  100% committed to safety & the care of their aircraft, I wouldn't hesitate to send any family member in the air in their equipment and with their instructors.  Don't even bother looking at the competition, they are all playing little league.  If you want to learn from the good guys, just talk to Shawn, she'll get you set up!  From the rest of us, we all bid you a very warm welcome to our family! - Will B. / Private Pilot, Instrument rating.

Above All has been great.  I didn't check out the other two schools, but I have no reason to.  If you count the students in the air, I'm not sure how the other schools are staying in business.  Above All's fleet consistently dominates the skies of KSBA. The instructors are all great.  I've flown with 4 different ones and enjoyed and learned a lot from them all.  The hardest part is picking one when you get close to a milestone for sign off. It feels like you are part of a club there.  The owner / operators are always around, and everyone is always happy which makes it a great place to hang out and absorb information.

-Jeffrey L. / Student Pilot.

"Above All Aviation has been my family since I walked in the door. I worked with the instructors and the owners on every rating through commercial instrument multi-engine while in college and ended up with a jet rating and a corporate job at age 23. Couldn't have asked for better instruction or equipment and Above All having their own maintenance facility is just the cherry on top. I still time build with their 150 and 152 and rent the Travel Air or Cessna 198 for all my trips, not to mention spend all my free time hanging out in the flight school, just for the company...and maybe some free coffee and food. :) Since I gave them their first dollar in 2010, I have flown higher, faster (pun intended) than I ever thought possible. They offered me the flexibility and availability to fly during school, nights and weekends, and I could not have been as successful in my flying career today without all their help and support. So, I would recommend anyone to stop by and check it out. There is always a smiling face at the desk to answer your questions and show you around. Chances are, I will be there too, for no other reason than it is an awesome place to be."

- Andrew P. / Commercial, instrument, multi-engine pilot. Citation V and X ratings

This an excellent flight school owned and run by very caring people.  Not only do they provide an excellent rental fleet and outstanding flight instruction, but they are also a very caring group that is always there to help others. For the past 2 years they have volunteered their planes and instructors to give kids free rides as part of the Experimental Aircraft Association's (EAA) Young Eagle Program.  They do this knowing that very few of these kids will ever be able to take flying lessons, but they still want every child to experience the thrill of flying a plane. - Carl H. / Private Pilot

Thank you Above All Aviation and all of the staff for a 5-star education, instruction, and professionalism! You guys rock! - Jessany, R. / Student Pilot

I've been favorably impressed by everyone I've dealt with at A.A.:  Jason, Ken, Shawn, Bill P. 

- Larry R. / Private Pilot, Instrument-rated

I began my flight training in Boston, where I bounced between a number of flights schools before finding East Coast Aero Club - an excellent flight school with a well-kept flight-line, and experienced & personable instructors.
As I began traveling to Santa Barbara more often for work & eventually ended up moving here, I took up the opportunity to continue my flight training with Above All. My first flight with Above All was in 2014, and I have never looked back. Since my 11th hour of flying through my first solo, Private Pilot Rating, multiple endorsements, private aircraft familiarizations, and now my Instrument training, I have received an exceptional training experience. Having experienced a number of different flight schools on the east coast and found ECAC to be the best that the Greater Boston Area had to offer, I can safely say that Above All has equally high standards - and with a more personal touch.
In experiencing the same, a close friend of mine from Brooklyn, NY, even chose to spend 6 weeks staying with me in Santa Barbara at the beginning of last year - specifically so that he could complete his Private Pilot training with Above All.
Every instructor with whom I've trained at Above All over my past 5 years and multiple levels of flight training has taught me the skills I've needed, not just to meet the FAA requirements, but also to fly safely in a wide variety of conditions that the FAA requirements do not address. Above All's instructors have countless thousands of hours of experience, and they share the wisdom they have gleaned from that experience with their students with tips, tricks, frameworks, scenarios, and other advice that extends far beyond the curriculum for a given rating.
Above All offers a range of aircraft to suit different budgets - from two-seat trainers for those on a budget, through conventional four-seat Cessna 172s, to a high-performance airplane and a twin for those seeking more speed, comfort, equipment, and skill. I trained in a 152 for most of my Private Pilot training - an airplane I loved so much that I placed its tail number, 17L, in the diagrams of a book that I co-authored, "DIY Drones for the Evil Genius"!
Having trained at other flight schools prior to finding Above All and having considered Above All's rates vs those of other flight schools when I was looking into training options in Santa Barbara, I found that of the quality flight schools around, Above All's rates were by far the most reasonable. Further, they have remained this way ever since.
Moreover, I cannot speak more highly of Shawn's level of care for her students and customers. On several occasions I have found myself either stuck at a remote airport due to weather, caught up in a scheduling conflict, or with some other extraneous need. On every single occasion, Shawn has gone over and above to arrange alternative transport for me to get home safely, resolve scheduling issues (even when they're my fault), and otherwise ensuring that I always end the day safely at home rather than stuck somewhere! For context, I have never seen another flight school do anything like this - and certainly not at the owner level.
Safe to say, Shawn's level of care for her students, staff, and rental customers is unprecedented. I have complete confidence in saying that you will not find a flight school that will look after you any better, both when things go to plan and when they don't.
My friend & I have Above All to thank for equipping us with the certificates, skills and experience needed to realize our love for aviation, our 600+ hours of safe flying around the country in all sorts of different aircraft, and for the freedom we now enjoy of taking to the skies both for convenience and for fun.

- Romi K. / Private Pilot