I have been very fortunate over the past decade to teach flying to some very fine individuals whom I would probably never have had the pleasure to meet if I were in any other line of work. I am grateful for so many good reviews and would like to share them with you.
_"Dominique Yarritu is not only a terrific instructor who emphasizes flying safely, but she is thoroughly professional.  I admire her decision to further her already extensive knowledge base about aviation by attending Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University for a Master of Sciences degree in Aeronautical Sciences.  As true of all excellent pilots, she is forever a student as well as an instructor.  Dominique is also always ready to help a fellow pilot.  In my case she provided valuable edits of a small book on flying that I wrote some years ago.  Dominique is among the best of the best!"

James Spudich, Ph.D., Douglass M. and Nola Leishman Professor of Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 

_"Dominique got me through my private pilot airplane add-on and I have enjoyed flying with her. I have found her to be patient, aiming for the highest standards in flying and training while making it fun. She is very reliable and will spend as much time as you need to ensure that you understand what you are doing or need to do. She is also very efficient and sensitive to each student's learning style. Throughout the training, she makes sure to simulate many of the conditions you might find yourself in when you finally get your certificate. I am planning on training for my instrument rating with her."   

Danny Lui  

_
"Dominique knows her stuff, knows how to teach it, and knows how to teach you how to teach it. I chose Dominique as a CFI instructor after attending her ground school class because of her highly methodical approach and clear, succinct presentation of the material. Her knowledge down to the smallest detail on aviation topics compares only to her full attention to the student pilot. Dominique simply hones in on the areas that require improvement, and quickly finds ways to help the student improve. Even as an experienced pilot, and as a former teacher in academia and in different extreme sports, I learned a lot from Dominique, both about flying and about teaching. Plus, Dominique made me laugh during the lessons. But make no mistake, she will keep you on your toes, demanding the utmost performance and keeping you to the highest standards.  I'd highly recommend Dominique to any student, for any pilot certificate."  

Dan Tzur,   CFI

_"Dominique is a great CFI. She teaches above the standards and makes sure you stay there. She always makes sure you get the right answer to your questions. She also makes sure you understand the reason why it is the right answer. It's fun to learn to fly with somebody who enjoys flying so much."   

Paul Mikesell

_"Already holding a European PPL, I flew with Dominique to get an unrestricted FAA license. It was a very pleasant experience, she is always joyful and can take the stress out of the whole experience. She is very involved in the training, she accompanied me all the way to the beginning of the checkride, making sure everything was in order in terms of requirements, flights, paperwork... She even did an awesome job squaring away a last minute issue with some paperwork I had forgotten :) I'd recommend her to anyone I know who wants to take on flying!"  

Matthieu Laban

_"After one year of flight training, totally discouraged by my lack of progress, I took some time off from flying. When I took the decision to complete my training one year later, I knew I wanted a different type of instruction: one that would both help me identify the areas in need of improvement and would bring results. The difficult task for Dominique was to find all the gaps in my previous training while keeping me motivated and building a personalized, structured learning program. Right from the beginning my skills improved and I had a breakthrough: I progressed fast enough to pass my private pilot certificate on the first try in a very short time. Dominique always went above and beyond to motivate me, boost my confidence and create a learning environment where I could strive. She also fosters a great culture within her students’ community whereby everybody is really nice and tries to accommodate others when schedules and exams require so. I look forward to starting my instrument rating with Dominique."   

Isabelle Guis   

_"I have dreamed of being a pilot for as long as I can remember and in 2010 Dominique helped me finally achieve this goal. I knew within 5 minutes of our first flight that she was going to be a great teacher and she quickly gained my trust. Her attention to detail, demand for safety, and unparalleled desire for her student’s success are some of the things that make her stand out from others. Dominique was able to identify my particular learning style and she adjusted her curriculum to better meet my needs. This resulted in me progressing through the program more efficiently, which increased my skills and lowered the overall cost of training. I work 50 hours a week in San Francisco which made finding time for flying difficult, but Dominique was flexible and worked with me on a schedule that worked for both of us. With her expertise and guidance I was able to complete the training and pass my private pilot check ride in a little less than 8 months' time. Dominique was always honest with me and if she said that she would do something or be somewhere I always knew that she would follow through. She is an amazing pilot and I thoroughly enjoyed my time learning from her. I am planning on completing my IFR training in 2011 and I very much look forward to training with Dominique again soon."   

Josh Inman 

_"Since I don't actually live in the Bay Area my schedule for flying is very tight and compressed. Even with short notice (and me also having lots of work to do besides flying), Dominique has been able to add me to her schedule and taught me a lot of the basics in only a few weeks.

She adapted the lessons to not just get ready for solo, but also introduced me to things like night flying before I had to head home.

The lessons were both educating and enjoyable. Unfortunately I haven't been able to spend that much time in the cockpit yet, but even now that I'm at home, Dominique is available for questions via e-mail and responds to them very quickly."   

Wilmer van der Gaast
_"I started learning with no prior experience in small planes, no experience with flight simulators, and English as my second language. Dominique has made my dream of flying come true! Dominique is an amazing instructor who is patient, helpful, and organized. She always keeps a positive athmosphere in the cockpit and she knows the material for the private pilot at her fingertips. For each lesson, Dominique sets a clear goal which she explains in detail. After the lesson, we debrief and discuss what went well and what needs improvement. Dominique sets a very high standard for herself as a flight instructor. She has a great attitude, is encouraging and is very adapt to each student's learning style. I am now close to my checkride for the Private Pilot's license, and this accomplishment I truly attribute to Dominique's patient and passionate teaching! I highly recommend anyone to take flying lessons with Dominique."   

Marit Berre