Absolutely where you DO NOT want to go for any flight training or rental experience. Loosely run operation and the owner is an absolute nutcase, and anything but customer-oriented. Aircraft are duct-taped together, a hodge-podge of avionics and modifications. The instructors are trying to do the best that they can with the limited resources that they have. I felt fortunate to be paired up with a nice young man, Nick, who did everything that he possibly could to make our flights productive. Completed a BFR and got checked out there, but I'd never return. Unfortunately, I haven't found a place in the Memphis metro area where I feel comfortable in the environment or the aircraft! read more

Downtown Aviation - This is Nick - a very patient man and good instructor - Flight Instruction Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Great instructors & great atmosphere for folks learning how to fly! Come prepared & be ready to fly....no spoon feeding here. Quals are earned, not given. Don't think just b/c you are a mil rated aviator that the FAA evaluators are going to give you anything. On previous reviews: disagree with the previous review from the C-17 pilot: I had well more than 3 strikes on day 1 of the ground eval, but it was evident that I put the time into study. The study material although could use an update was acknowledged by the IP and didn't hold any "outdated" info against me. He did what an IP should do....correct the info on the spot so I knew what to study walking away from Day 1. Based on the easy and straight forward study material, I suspect the C-17 pilots were woefully unprepared....good pilots DO NOT make excuses, they perform no matter what is thrown at them and make sh!t happen. Pilots that do not put appropriate effort into studying are DANGEROUS and have no business operating aircraft....they should just buy a ticket and remain passengers. read more

MILITARY PILOTS: This place comes advertised as a very "military friendly", cheap, 2- day ATP course. However, I would highly recommend spending the little bit of extra money to go to a better organized program. Please feel free to message me with specific questions. Upon scheduling, you will receive 50 jumbled pages (in 8 separate documents) including everything from the Beech Duchess wing area in sq.ft. to out-of-date reviews from previous military pilots (2014/2015). The first problem with this layout, is nowhere in the documents does it clearly state what you absolutely need to have memorized before showing up on your first day. That being said, a fellow C-17 pilot and I drove 8 hours for our first day of ground instruction, answered about 75% of the systems knowledge correctly (all the big-boy Aviation topics were discussed no problem), and after 45 minutes we were told we wouldn't be continuing the training at that time. Expect the first day knowledge discussion to be more of a "3 strikes & you're out" evaluation. Having given the chance, we could have easily taken a lunch break and come back reciting every fact they asked about the Beech Duchess. And without a doubt, we could have mastered the "need to know" information that night before showing up for the checkride the next day. The outdated reviews make it a point to tell you that Downtown Aviation understands military pilots have probably never flown the Beech Duchess light twin before, but they understand the high level of competency in military pilots - false. They were unwilling to work with us for scheduling the following few days and insisted we would have to drive 8hrs home and come back another time. As we packed up to leave, the instructor stated he would typically need to charge us for 9hrs of his time EACH (that's 18 hours of instruction fees for 1 hour of his actual time), but agreed on 9 hrs pay total for the two of us. We understand you had the time "blocked out" in your schedule, but if we are expected to pay for that time we expect you to use it for instruction - not just telling us better luck next time and cutting us short. Another instructor in the club passed through where we were having our ground discussion, and felt it necessary to make it known that myself and the other military pilot were an "embarrassment to the profession" - this place is unbelievable. DO NOT waste your time or your money read more

The previous review was made by a military pilot who showed up woefully unprepared and discovered that, while DTA is both "military friendly" and a great value, the instructors and FAA examiners still follow FAA regulations and don't simply hand out ratings because you're a military aviator. If you show up unprepared then you deserve to be sent home. You're fortunate they didn't continue your training because it certainly would've resulted in a pink slip and check ride failure for you and your partner. read more

I agree with Stanley G and others. Downtown Aviation charged me $1,000.00 in advance and then put me off... So then I thought that they were going out of business or something. Had to buy an airplane ticket to go out there, rent a car, hotel -to find out what was going on. Owner said I was full of _ _ _ _. I do not think he should be running a flight school. Students and customers beware! read more

Great place to get your ATP. When you sign up they give you study material (which isn't much or cosmic) and as long as you study you'll be good to go. They spend their time and due diligence to prep you for the check ride and won't push you to it until you're ready. Did one flight and a check for a total of two days. Great experience. read more

They have been wonderful in assisting my great niece begin her private pilot lessons. They've helped select her instructor, talked with her about flying. We look forward to many more trips there as our young aviator continues her path. read more

My son went in after booking his test to sit his private pilot license, he was refused from taking the test after a 1.5 hour drive due to not having a prior test paper with him. I explained that as per 61.49 all he needed was to be signed off in his log book as per his instructor after the additional training. The owner Jay King told him to get out of his office and that he doesn't care he needed the test paper and that had to be signed off. That was when our instructor was on the phone and explained that as per the above code that is just not the case. I tried to rationally discuss this with Mt King and he simply hung up the phone. do not use this flight school we are filing a formal complaint with the FAA AND THE TESTING ORGANIZATION. read more