CP Aviation - flight training, Santa Paula, CA

A proven record of pilot training

CP Aviation has been training pilots since 1987. We're a friendly, family owned business located at Santa Paula Airport (KSZP), California. KSZP is just a few miles from the beaches of Oxnard and Ventura, and well-known airports like Camarillo and Point Mugu AFB.

While KSZP is a non-towered airport, we're one of the busiest privately owned airfields in the USA, so students are exposed to busy traffic patterns early on. We cater for a wide range of certificates and ratings, from Prive Pilot, to Instrument, Commercial, CFI and more. We also have busy EMT and Aerobatic programs.

Whether you want to train on an aircraft with tricycle undercarriage, or improve your skills on one of our tailwheel aircraft, we have the plane for you!

Vicki Cruse Emergency Maneuver Training Scholarship

The Scholarship started in 2005. It's awarded each summer to a recipient who is a member of the IAC and holds a pilot certificate, and wishes to pursue, spin, unusual attitude and basic aerobatic training.

The scholarship is given in memory of Santa Paula aerobatic champion Vicki Cruse, of member of the United States Unlimited Aerobatic Team and was president of the International Aerobatic Club (IAC).

Are you this year's recipient?

MORE SCHOLARSHIP INFO

Clients review CP Aviation, Santa Paula CA

Everyone at CP AVIATION -from the owners, fuel guys, behind the desk, mechanics, and all the cfi’s - have helped me grow my knowledge. They all step in and help me learn. Sounds sad but I didn’t...

2024-05-16

Keith Harteau

Flight training

My son and I went to CP for a week in October of 2011, to take aerobatics. My instructor was Judy, and she deserves every bit of being a Master CFI. Judy is really good at instruction, not only in...

2020-10-20

Ronald Malavotte

Using the Michael E. Blackstone Memorial Scholarship from the Fullerton 99s was an AERODYNAMICALLY ENLIGHTENING experience. Couldn't ask for finer aircraft or instructor and cannot wait to complete...

2020-06-23

Dana Glidden

So for my 40th birthday my lady got me an aerobatic flight. Something I had always wanted to do. So it was scheduled for my birthday, we showed up and everyone in the front office was simply down to...

2018-12-21

Jon Conley

Needed my spin endorsement for my CFI rating. Mark King did my instruction and he was wonderful. Fun to fly with and very knowledgeable. A highly recommended "eye-opener" course that I believe...

2018-10-21

Ian Shere

Had an introductory Aerobatics flight with CP. Fantastic facilities and Instruction.

2018-08-26

Peter Hodgkins

I was reintroduced to general aviation in 2013 and decided that it was time to get my private pilot’s license. Fortunately, a good friend introduced me to Santa Paula Airport and CP Aviation....

2017-01-23

Lisa Kienholz

Hi Mark, Hi Judy I’m finally back in cold and snowy Switzerland and I would like to say thank you for the great time I had at CP Aviation again. I’m sure I improved my flying skills and made a lot...

Rene

In 2015 I was selected as the Vickie Cruse Memorial Scholarship winner for CP Aviation’s full EMT/Acro course developed by Rich Stowell. I received the news with a mixture of excitement and...

In 2015 I was selected as the Vickie Cruse Memorial Scholarship winner for CP Aviation’s full EMT/Acro course developed by Rich Stowell. I received the news with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. CP Aviation’s reputation is well known, reaching all the way out to New York State where I live and work as a flight instructor. I knew I was being offered an a superb opportunity, but I worried whether I’d be up for the challenges presented by Emergency Maneuvers Training and Aerobatics, especially given some powerfully negative experiences I’d had in the past. I’ve been flying for more than 25 years, and and have made my living in aviation for decades. Over the years, I developed some cynicism about flight instruction, especially when somebody claims to have all the answers. I am delighted to report that CP Aviation exceeded all my expectations. Judy Phelps and her team presented a challenging course that required me to fly at my best, but always gave me the tools I needed to understand the material and succeed. The aircraft were clean and well maintained, ready for dispatch and flew beautifully. With a waivered aerobatic box just a few miles off the end of the runway, we didn’t waste any time shuttling back and forth to the practice area. Most importantly, the teaching was highly professional. The material was presented in a way that provided ample time for discussion, and I always knew exactly what was going to happen before we strapped into the airplane. Judy and Mark (King) stayed focused on making sure I was learning as much as possible, and didn’t waste any time trying to impress me, show off or polish their own egos. They challenged me to think about being “in control” in new ways, and I flew both harder and better than I ever have before. I came away from the experience with a tremendous sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. I know that I am a better pilot and a safer flight instructor thanks to the training I received there.

Wayne Bezner Kerr CFI/MEI/DPE

CP Aviation - flight training, Santa Paula, CA

A proven record of pilot training

Vicki Cruse Emergency Maneuver Training Scholarship

EMT Program

Flight School

Aircraft Maintenance

Local Flying

Instructor Bios

Resources & Links

First Solos

New Certificates & Ratings

Tailwheel & EMT