My name's Sam, and I'm the owner of Aces High Aviation. I took my very first flight lesson in 2003 at the age of 14, on a solo trip out to visit Paul over summer break.
I flew my first 60 hours alongside my brother Paul, and I was instantly hooked (even if my landings weren't at first).
I officially completed my flight training in 2008, and not long after, made my way into the growing aviation community at Long Beach Airport.
In July 2010, my brother Paul teamed up with fellow instructor Cody to start Aces High Aviation with one airplane, a whole lot of hustle, and very little idea of what it would grow into today.
My goal is simple: deliver high-quality flight training in a flexible, student-first environment, the kind of place where instructors are happy to show up, and students feel like they're part of something bigger than just checking boxes.
I personally meet every student before they start training. I like to know your name, what rating you're going after, who you're flying with, and how it's going.
If something breaks, doesn't make sense, or needs attention, I want to be the one to help.
(The office number literally rings to my cell.)
This school means a lot to me. I've worked hard to build a space where students can succeed, whether that's your first solo or your final check-ride.
I love putting graduates' photos on the wall and watching people go from nervous to natural in the left seat.
We keep our training costs lower than most other schools not because we cut corners, but because we genuinely care about making aviation more accessible.
Flying should be challenging, but not impossible. Especially on your wallet.
Thanks for taking the time to learn a little bit about me and Aces High. If you have questions, need advice, or just want to geek out over airplanes, I'm always around.