Snohomish Flying Service

Quality of Aircraft	3		Quality of Instruction	1
Availability of Aircraft	1		Availability of Instruction	1
Cleanliness of Aircraft	3		Facility Amenities	3
Community Atmosphere	1		Friendliness of Staff	2
Professionalism of Staff	1		Value of Training	1
Overall Score: 1.7/5

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Employee(s) worked with: Jim Crone

Reason for visit: Flight Training

I recommend this flight school: Yes

Pros Newer aircraft

Cons Zero loyalty to student Flight Instructor submitted false anonymous tip to FAA.

My Review of Snohomish Flying Service:
I gave Snohomish Flying Service a considerable amount of business since 2018. Over the years, I earned my Private, Instrument rating, and commercial pilot certificates. All total, I must have paid well over $60,000 and some change to this company. And why not. I wanted to attain my dream of becoming a commercial pilot and they had the means to get me there. Or at least that's what I thought. I never in my wildest imagination thought that a rogue CFI would go off and report to the FAA Medical branch that I had a disqualifying medical condition when in fact I did not.

I have on very good information that one of the instructors at Snohomish Flying Service (Jim Crone) submitted an anonymous tip to the FAA Medical Office about my qualification to hold a medical certificate. This tip came in to the FAA around 2/24, which was two days after a flight I took with Mr. Crone in which we had a conversation related to the tip that was submitted to the FAA. I clearly indicated to him on 2/22 that I didn't have a disqualification, and offered to provide medical evidence to support this. The basis of his position was completely unfounded. This instructor stated to the FAA via an anonymous tip that I told him I had Vertigo, and as a consequence I am at risk of losing my first class medical - along with a waste of over $60,000 paid to this outfit. Luckily my extensive medical records prove that I do not have vertigo, and this issue after considerable time and expense will hopefully be resolved in my favor. Hopefully this reckless act will not destroy my career - especially since the anonymous tip was based on this instructors opinion and not supported by any medical fact.

This flight school has zero loyalty. Why would an instructor make an anonymous tip to the FAA? If there was a question as to a medical condition of mine, why wouldn't they talk to me about this first before making an anonymous tip to the FAA? And if they honestly had the best interests of the aviation community in mind, why wouldn't this instructor report using his real name ? I even provided SFS with documentation to support my position that I do not have vertigo. Apparently this fell on deaf ears because four months later, I get a letter from the FAA in the mail. After giving them a considerable amount of business, this treatment is absolutely horrible. I wasted a lot of money with this company when there are far better, more professional schools that can accomplish the same goal.

There are many other flight schools out there. I cancelled my training with Snohomish Flying Service and moved my business to a well respected and highly professional outfit in Texas - where I was able to finish my training on time and under budget. My CFI training in Texas came in $4186 under budget. Conversely, training at Snohomish yielded training that consistently went over budget. My private pilot went over by just over $600. My Instrument went over by $246. However, my commercial went over by over $5000 and my multi engine went over by $5500 due to inadequate training and instructors that would not follow the prescribed lesson plans. I recommend future students look elsewhere.