The Flying School Ltd - Stourbridge

Craig A.

Absolutely amazing company, from booking, to speaking to people on the phone to the pilot, everyone is so friendly, informative and easy going. I booked a flight for my 10 year old boy and Andy our pilot was so patient and chatty with him, he talked him through everything he was doing, let him take the controls for abit and smooth landing (better than Ryanair, one of them will know that joke) HIGHLY recommend this for anyone, thank you so much guys, you made an experience he will never forget

Dafydd T.

Fantastic company, really nice people always very friendly. Lovely relaxed and welcoming environment. The aircraft want for nothing and perform exceptionally. I’m so glad I done my PPL, night rating and currently IR(R) at the school. Nothing is ever a problem and the staff are always happy to help and offer support and bountiful knowledge on tap. Cannot fault them. If you go elsewhere you will be missing the best learning experience possible.

Nafeesa K.

It was a 14th birthday surprise for my daughter. The staff at the school were very polite and gave very clear instructions. It was my daughter’s first time but she enjoyed every moment (so did my husband and son as they were the passengers). The instructor (Jason) was very polite and soft spoken. He throughly explained everything and then boarded the plane for the full 60minutes lesson. My daughter had the control most of the time even at taking off and landing.
The school even booked the trial lesson at the time which suited us, so I would 100% recommend this school as I wasn’t disappointed at any point.

Hamza K.

The service and the hospitality of the team was at the highest level, flew before with many different flight schools but I haven’t seen a service like this. The instructor Mark is a really top lad, patient and caring.
I Highly Recommend it.

Josh

Everything about this flying school is fantastic the aircraft are always in good working condition and safe to fly, the instructors are very knowledgeable and always happy to help nothing is ever an issue the prices are very reasonable considering the nature of the business I can’t imagine a better school.

perry S.

Got booked into a test / trial lesson very quickly over the phone extremely easy to book spoke to a very knowledgeable lady who was very professional. Fast forward to the trial lesson booked in with mark, such a professional gent great communication and info very welcoming! Would recommend to any one interested in flying!

David B.

Had been given a gift voucher for an hour flight in the 2 seater and booked a suitable date , however the day before I was due to fly they phoned to cancel as the plane needed maintenance and we were told to phone again in about 2 weeks ?
We then arranged another day but this time I was offered the 4 seater as the 2 seater was not available for that day . The week before the pilot contacted us as he had been double booked for that time and could we fly later in the afternoon which was not a problem to which we agreed.
However again the day before they called to cancel for maintenance on the plane (seems to be a common theme here )
Expressed our disappointment and and asked for our money back as we are now going into the winter months so the weather is now beginning to be a factor his reply was there will be a fuel surcharge for cancelling?
Obviously we disagreed and asked for someone with authority to ring .
Nobody rang although a day or so later received an email asking for a our bank details for a refund !!
No apology came with it
Would not bother booking this place again and will now look for another flying school for a taster session

JDC

I write this review as both a Pilot and a former student at the school undergoing IR (R). At the time of this review, I had been with the school for approximately 3 years and had enjoyed both a good and overall pleasant relationship with many of the Instructors and students alike. It was a fantastic place to train and complete a licence. It is on this basis, that much of this review is written with somewhat of a heavy heart, but nonetheless, is wholly justified and valid given how I was treated.

As of around a month ago of writing this review, I made the conscious decision to leave the school by request of my training records and to take my business elsewhere, following on from the appalling manner in which I was treated by two Senior members of training staff - one being the schools CFI, the other a Senior Instructor. The nature of this largely extended on from a complaint I had made which comprised of two key areas:

1 - The manner in which I was spoken to and subsequently made to feel in front of other customers by a Senior Instructor.
2 - The continued complications and inconsistency regarding the training aircraft.

I’m not going to go into the complete and ins and outs, but the first aspect of the complaint was the real game changer in making the decision to leave the school. At no point was any level of reasonable or fair understanding had by how myself, a customer was made to feel, particularly from a professional standards standpoint. The response following on from my complaint, lacked any form of accountability and in many regards, professional maturity. It is clear that there is a clear incapability to recognise another customers or indeed persons view point when things don’t go to plan and a complete refusal to come to any form of accountability or understanding to try and put things right. Things are all very well, when money is being handed over, but when problems invariably arise, the approach to be had by the school is not helpful in any way. My father, a Senior Captain for a major UK airline, spent many years prior as an Instructor and even by his experience is somewhat shocked at this entire situation and the lack of professionalism surrounding it. From a monetary standpoint, a PPL, Night Rating, some hour building and mid way through an IR R was completed with the school, which clearly in terms of the money and loyalty invested counted for nothing.

From the standpoint of the aircraft, there has not been any information as to when certain training aircraft will be back up and running and as a result this has impacted the continuity of students training, mine included to an extent. Thankfully, I have managed to find another school where it can be completed. First and foremost, all clubs have issues similar to this, but placing an expectation on students to simply jump straight into a different type of aircraft, with notably different flying characteristics is not in my view, acceptable, particularly at a fairly inexperienced level. This coupled together without any knowledge or warning, prior to a lesson.

Given the tone and overall manner of the response I received following my complaint and wider concerns, I don’t have a tremendous level of faith these matters will be positively resolved and actively considered on a fair and objective basis going forward should other people encounter a similar problem. At no point, could particular individuals, whom represent the school hold their hands up and acknowledge failings which are so abundantly clear. As a younger person, I rightly called out certain behaviours that I felt were wrong and this is sadly a reflection of that. All I can is that, I hope this can be looked at by someone with a level of emotional intelligence and humility for at least the new people trying to embark on training.