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September 2023 by Dan Bilodeau
I've got an apple ? that just got her Commercial SEL recently! Ty
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March 2023 by Chris Wood
Absolutely appalling rental prices, even for 2023 and their oldest and most basic 1970s models. I'm renting planes that are half as old for half the price wet, and I can rent a 2022 172 NXi for less than they're charging for a 50 year old steam gauge 172. I can literally rent a twin for less hourly than their 172Ms. This is like helicopter prices for fixed wing training. Highway robbery, and they get away with it because there are so few options in Greater Boston. You would have to be absolutely loaded to afford a PPL at this school - look elsewhere. A "club" in name only.
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December 2022 by Adam Heroux
Great flight school, highly recommend
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December 2022 by Apurva Tripathi
It’s a great school with amazing people. Specially If you are an international student pilot (or want to be one ), they guide you all the way for the process. Plane rental prices is on a bit higher side but they put emphasis on maintenance and safety of the planes that justifies the cost.Any pilot on the east cost will recommend this school due to the good track record they have maintained.
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December 2022 by Peter Geller
I worked at East Coast Aero Club last year and I currently rent from them. The entire operation runs like clockwork. Maintenance and dispatch work together to plan future maintenance which means renters and students always have a plane available. If there is ever any issue, dispatch is very quick to make adjustments to resolve the issue.The quality of instructors is also of note. ECAC has a strong team that work together to achieve the common goal of helping students succeed. If one instructor isn’t a fit, it’s easy to find another that does.As an employee and a renter, I am consistently satisfied with the quality and efficiency of this aero club.
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February 2022 by C. T.
I had begun at ECAC with the goal of completing my last few requirements to complete my private pilot's license and get checkride ready. My friend, who was a flight instructor there, had recommended me to ECAC. With my first instructor, I was surprised by her lack of professionalism and ability to be consistent with plans we set. After a ground lesson didn't cover any of the material we had discussed focusing on in advance, she was unable to explain how what we covered matched the plans we had made. After speaking about this with the chief pilot, Marc Nathanson, he validated these concerns and recommended another instructor and said I should call to ask about getting my money back for the lesson that did not cover what I had agreed on.As soon as I walked into ECAC the next week to meet with my new instructor, I was yelled at by Bob Wall, the manager, in front of clients and instructors. He took my dissatisfaction with the previous instructor personal and mocked me for not already being a pilot, saying I was, "no one compared to the people there." I had done exactly what Marc had told me to do, and was horrified by how I was treated for it. I was there to try and continue as a student at ECAC, but seeing how it was run was embarrassing. It was clear that this was not a place where I could finish my training. While some of the other staff were supportive and sympathized with my concerns, they even recommended that I would get better training at a different flight school.The other reviews which pointed out the poor management of this school were true, and I should have listened to them from the start. I do not recommend this school for its unprofessionalism in management.
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December 2021 by Gustavo Herrera
I live 12 minutes away from Beverly Airport, where there are options for learning to fly. But I drive 35-50 minutes to East Coast Aero Club at Hanscom because of the quality of their instructors, the mint condition of the planes, and the transparency of maintenance (there is a board in the office where you can see the maintenance status of each plane), it's a bit pricier than other flight schools, but worth the money. You can learn in old Warrior IIs, or newer Cessnas 172 with the latest avionics. Highly recommended if you want to become a pilot in a safe and professional environment.
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December 2020 by Mohammad Matin-Nejad
If you are looking to take flight classes on your own paste and book lessons but have a busy work schedule this place is the right place for you. This is one of the three ECAC locations in the state. The Bedford location is where I was able to take my flight lessons. ECAC is by far one of the best flight schools in the state with very reasonable pricing on rentals.The front desk staff are friendly, polite and helpful. They make you feel welcomed and always greet you with a smile.The schedule although at times can be busy with multiple students flying for the day, once you book your introductory class you can then book your flight lessons online as you wish; with however many hours you would like to book in a week. You can book flights until a month in advance which gives you plenty of time to plan your personal life around the lessons or the lessons around your personal life. The website is super simple and easy to use and is very straight forward.The instructors are all very skilled and experienced and know how to teach and make you feel comfortable with the plane. Once you start your solo flights other instructors look out for you and are always there as a resource if you need anything. As you take more classes you are expected to do more and more hands on while the instructor observe and goes a little less hands on to give you the skills you need to fly the plane. Justine and Sophie were the two instructors I flew with and both were knowledgeable, skilled and very friendly. They both made me feel comfortable learning from them and slowly progressing to my solo flights.The planes are very very very well maintained and although some are a little older, they perform amazingly, and that goes to show the good work of the maintenance department with this club. There is a very organized system for when there is any maintenance issues with the plane. Things get fixed and looked at right away.Overall I have nothing negative to say about this flight school and only all positive things. It takes a lot to be a pilot but this place makes you feel welcomed, comfortable, teaches you, gives you the skills, and makes you a damn good pilot.Highly recommend!!!
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December 2018 by E Hazen
Great maintenance shop and flight school! I returned to flying several years ago after a long hiatus. I got a flight review from ECAC and flew their rental planes for several months, then with the able assistance of Mark (the owner) I purchased my own plane and base it at the field. I have all my maintenance done by ECAC and can't say enough about the service. They understand my preferences (airworthy but not necessarily shiny) and have helped me out in a pinch several times.I find both Mark (the owner) and Adam (head of maintenance) to be friendly, helpful and fair.
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December 2018 by Jim Thames
Very well run FBO. In-house maintenance ensures all the aircraft are well-maintained and quickly back online. Wide variety of rental aircraft (high wings/low wing, steam/glass) and professional instructors to choose from. Busy class Delta given proximity to Boston, but what better way to be forced to master your radio work.
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December 2015 by Richard Sweeney
I am a 67 year old student pilot - ECAC instructors are excellent; knowledgeable, safe and patient - I recently soloed and plan to complete my Private Pilot License this summer....
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December 2015 by Nikhil Subedi
Nice and Clear Administration. Will be Starting my Fixed Wing Training Soon.
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December 2015 by Alastair Bastian
Great flight school
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December 2015 by Patrick Sweeney
Great instructors, short-sighted management.I spent probably close to $25,000 at ECAC finishing my commercial ticket, getting my tailwheel endorsement, taking aerobatic lessons and maintaining my aircraft. Some of the instructors like Marc Nathanson former Air Force instructor are among the best in the world.The owner Mark Holzworth, however is short sighted, difficult to deal with and lacks any fiber of empathy or understanding of his clients. I get the feeling he only cares about money. After all the time and money I spent there I would expect to be given the benefit of the doubt, but I wasn't. I had a problem with a credit card. I live overseas and when they tried to run it, it was locked for fraud reasons. I told ECAC I'd get back to them when I had things sorted. I was clear I would take care of it in the next couple of days. I was going to go fly the next day and found my online account suspended. Unreal. No phone call, no curiosity - just an a-hole maneuver over $300.I won't go back because I don't like dealing with people like him and I'm fearful he may treat his employees or suppliers even worse than he treats clients. Buyer beware.
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December 2013 by Philip Greenspun
I learned to fly airplanes here in 2001 and 2002. Then I learned to fly helicopters here. Now I'm an instructor in both airplanes and helicopters. ECAC has been a wonderful community for me and I very much appreciate the maintenance staff that Mark Holzwarth has built up during the past 25+ years.
