I am writing this to warn any prospective students considering Total Flight Solutions in Moore County. I attended this school for over a year and a half, invested well over $30,000, and made significant personal sacrifices - including moving to part-time at my job - only to walk away with a complete loss of trust in their instruction and school management. I had 60 flight hrs and never got to solo. Lack of Structure and Professionalism My experience started well with an experienced CFII, but once he left, the quality of training plummeted. I was assigned a brand-new CFII, Kim, who was consistently unprepared and overworked. Zero Game Plan: There was never a clear path to my check ride. Disrespect for Time/Finances: On multiple occasions, I would show up for a noon flight only to find the helicopter still in the hangar and not fueled. This prep work should not be cutting into expensive lesson time. Unethical Billing: During one instance involving an R44 maintenance issue, CFII's swapped students mid-lesson. I was charged full instruction and flight rates to sit in a running helicopter or hover aimlessly with a stranger while my actual instructor used my scheduled time to troubleshoot aircraft issues in the air with another student. Serious Safety Concerns The breaking point was a dangerous incident during a low rotor RPM recovery on a high-wind day (15–17 knots). The Incident: After My instructor initiated low rotor rpm conditions the engine dropped below 80% and the rotor RPM to 87–89%. We lost altitude quickly. Poor Reaction: Instead of following standard emergency procedures - dropping the collective fully, performing a slight flare, or prepping for an autorotation - she hesitated, stating "ummm" while repeatedly throttling the engine to force the governor to engage and to increase power. Poor Judgment: We were heading toward a forest when a clear field was available with a slight right turn. No attempt was made to avoid the obstacle. We recovered at a dangerously low altitude purely by luck when the engine recovered and governor finally engaged. No mayday calls, no prep for a possible Autorotation. I don't believe she ever reported this situation to anyone. Kim also flew with another student right after that in the same helicopter. Her common phrase was "Do what I say, not what I do," which is a terrifying philosophy for a flight instructor. Logistical Failures The school’s management seems to have no regard for student timelines or finances. They frequently bumped my training flights for school events, leading to constant cancellations. Furthermore, their fleet is limited (only two R22s) at Moore County, meaning any maintenance issue or scheduling conflict completely halts your progress. My Advice: If you choose this school, interview your CFII extensively. If they are a low-hour pilot, demand someone with more experience or go elsewhere. Aviation is too expensive and too inherently risky to settle for "unstructured" and "chaotic" training. I would not recommend this program to anyone who values their safety or their hard-earned money.
Carthage, North Carolina · KSOP
Total Flight Solutions
4.1 from 12 Google reviews
Total Flight Solutions is a flight school in Carthage, North Carolina. A full write-up of this school has not been published yet; the contact details and Google reviews on this page are current as of the last sync.
What students say
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