I just graduated from HAA via Alaska Airline’s Ascend Program and now have my first aviation job as a CFI. I highly recommend the program to anyone considering a career in aviation. I finished the program in 14 months from zero time, flying at least five times a week. The program requires dedication and hard work. If I ever needed help with anything, the school staff was always there for me. It was amazing to meet people from all over the world. I have formed some friendships that I think will last a life time!

Summary: There's much better options than this disappointing, soulless institutionalized company that takes zero pride in shaping future aviators. There's such a strong air of indifference & lack of tact to the point I could cut it with a knife. Things to work on: - Basic Communication - Consistency to scheduling - Overall environment

The current chief pilot in office is a very experienced aviator, communicator, and professional pilot. I have flown countless hours with the school and rented their planes on many of my own adventures across the Pacific Northwest. Their planes are updated with wonderful new GPS units and they have an excellent Director of Maintenance. He keeps there planes to a tight maintenance standard. Wonderful people there and always a pleasure to drop in and say hi or fly.

I did both helicopter and airplane training with Hillsboro. The training is done in a safe training environment with skilled and friendly flight instructors who want you to succeed as a student and in a future job. This is one of the best flight schools in Oregon. You will learn a lot about weather, but you will also become a really good pilot while having the ability to fly in diverse weather or low visibility conditions. It was one of the reasons I chose this school as I couldn't get that experience anywhere else. They have a very large fleet of helicopters and airplanes and also have a safety management system/director of safety so you can rest assured that safety is their biggest priority. You'll feel supported by everyone you meet, and those who play a part in your direct training from your first flight lesson to your first FAA checkride whether in airplanes or rotorwing. Admin staff, admissions, chief instructor, asst. chiefs, mechanics, dispatchers and instructors are all very friendly and make you feel like you are part of a community even though it is a large flight school. Customer service is great with every department, and you always have someone to help you if it's needed. I had no problems in my training and I highly recommend this school for airplane or helicopter training, or in my own case, both. You'll be very satisfied with the decision to fly at Hillsboro as you'll get the best quality training in the industry.

As an international student, I would not recommend Hillsboro Aero Academy if you're coming from countries like Brazil, India, Pakistan, or Sri Lanka. The academy has a partnership with Japanese airlines, and Japanese airline students get first priority. If you’re an independent student, your training will often take a backseat. I experienced frequent schedule changes, sometimes up to three times in two days, as they constantly accommodate airline students to finish their training quickly. On top of that, Oregon’s weather seriously hampers VFR flight training for about seven months of the year, from late October to early June. The poor weather leads to frequent delays and gaps in training, making it very difficult to maintain proficiency. If you’re an independent student, I would strongly recommend looking into flight schools in Florida. I have friends who trained there, and they completed their courses much faster and with better success due to the consistent weather and uninterrupted training. It's important to note that many of the positive reviews for Hillsboro Aero Academy come from current and former employees who were asked by their employers to write favorable feedback. This practice raises concerns about the authenticity of the reviews, as they may not accurately reflect the experience of independent students. Be cautious when reading overly positive reviews, as they might not give a true picture of the challenges you could face as a foreign student, especially regarding scheduling priorities and the weather-related delays.