After my VFR phase with a different school, I was transferred to Aero Locarno for my IFR and Multi-Engine. I received excellent training and support throughout these phases by well experienced instructors and they contributed to a pleasant learning environment.

The freedom and possibilities within Aero Locarno make it a very professional school which closely represents modern day aviation. After being on trips to Italy, The Netherlands, France, Corsica, Croatia, and Germany my experience grew immensely. Seeing, not only the local airspace, but many different airspaces made the course much more diverse and enriching.

In Aero Locarno the concern is not just about providing students with the legal hours by performing repetitive flights in the same area. On the contrary, I felt the school’s interest in providing me with different challenges and experiences to make me a better pilot and improve my decision making (from mountain flights to night stops and long IFR navigations all over Europe). I experienced thoroughly the increase in my skills with the help of very experienced and dedicated instructors and I found a team and a family focusing first on the students.

This is a top European ATO, and I couldn’t be any prouder of having been a student there!

When the pandemic came in, I had to choose another school to continue my flight training since the one I was attending closed its doors. I’ve chosen Aero Locarno due to its fleet, geographical situation and the confidence Stefano and the team provided me during the numerous calls I had with them.

Expectations were already high, and I am pleased to say they were highly exceeded.

Flying solo VFR through the Alps is not something many pilots are fortunate to do. My first solo flight was to Sion Airport (where business jets land so people can go to the best Swiss ski slopes) and my 300NM solo flight to Venice (Venice!!).

IFR was also on another level, approaching many international airports and sharing the airspace with commercial airliners, which made me feel very close to already be a commercial pilot without even having my license yet.

I couldn’t be happier with my choice and would definitely do it again. Twice.

Flight training with Aero Locarno was an amazing experience for many reasons. You have the possibility to fly in a really professional environment where all the instructors have airline experience and around the alps which is the perfect training area with a lot of challenges that help you to grow as a pilot. Not to mention the beautiful view of the lakes area and the Alps that really gives the training a plus.

During the IFR part you have the possibility to start the training on a FNPTII simulator which really put you in a modern cockpit and gives you the real possibility to experience airline operations, (especially during the MCC course it will result very useful to practice many detailed scenarios). You will continue the IFR operating in Milano area and around Europe to simulate an airline scenario with all its challenges and giving you the possibility to fly in different environments to give you the real taste of what is flying IFR in the most beautiful airports in Europe.

Last but not least all people working in Aero Locarno are really helpful in case of any problem and are completely available for the best training experience you can have.

My training with Aero Locarno was the best route to the cockpit in commercial aviation! Due to its geographical location and dynamic operation it’s the perfect combination to prepare you for your first job as a professional pilot.

The location in the mountains make you familiar and comfortable to execute and plan VFR flights through the beautiful Swiss alps. The combination of flying to airports in the mountains and bigger controlled airfields across Southern Europe makes you comfortable with preparing for any unknown airport in the future.

The IFR training being partly completed on a state-of-the-art simulator gives a huge advantage for the transition to any aircraft type for your future airline.

Although Aero Locarno is growing this has not affected the social relationship with the staff and instructors who makes you really feel at home and has become like a second family.

I started my training with Aero Locarno back in February 2020. My classmates and I got transferred to Aero Locarno, because the original school we went to, L3 Portugal, had massive delays. Going to Locarno was a breath of fresh air.

Straight from the get-go we got started with the training, which was at a fast, yet comfortable pace. I was very happy with the quality of training received. Focus was put on real-life operations, so instead of going back to just several fields, we actually travelled around Europe, from the south of Italy all the way to London. This made me feel very comfortable to use the IR rating after I passed the skill test. Also, the training area provides great opportunities, from the mountains of the Alps to the busy flat airspace of northern Italy.

What I possibly liked the most was the personal contact with the Aero Locarno team. If there was ever any problem, they were always quick to respond and to deal with any issue. All in all, I had a great time at Aero Locarno, and I would recommend anybody else to do their training there.