Testimonials

What our customers have to say

"opened up the world to me"

The preparation for the course with Susie was an essential part of the process of getting back to flying and enormously useful in discovering and beginning to address exactly what it was that was preventing me from flying and scaring me! It also meant that I approached the actual course day with the right attitude and enthusiasm. I very much enjoyed the actual day of the course and would have got on a plane immediately after if I could have done, although I hadn’t flown for 7 years! I think the reason that it worked for me is that both Susie and the pilot had taken a great deal of time to tailor the day for me personally and I felt that they really knew me. The course has now equipped me with the tools and motivation I need to be able to fly and has once again opened up the world to me, which quite frankly I thought would never happen!Susan Gent

The course was everything I hoped for

I liked Virtual Aviation because of the one to one approach. I didn't want to share my anxiety with 50 other people! The course was everything I hoped for. The undivided attention of two pilots was just what I needed. They explained the basics of why flying was safe and then I bombarded them with questions. None of the questions were met with anything other than complete professionalism. I no longer go into panic mode when we talk about holidays and I'm actually hoping to fly to USA and possibly America.Jill M

I've got my life back

Learning about the plane and how it worked, and not having the pressure of having to do a real flight on the day meant that I could concentrate on acclimatising myself to getting back on a plane. My positive action in going on the course has extended to other aspects of my life and at the moment I'm planning a round the world trip. It seems strange for me to be able to say that and not be nervous. It sounds trite but I feel like I've got my life back because it has been on hold for 6 years. Thank you doesn't cover the gratitude I feel.RK

First-class service

Virtual Aviation provides an absolutely first-class service. The flight simulator experience is like nothing I have ever seen, and gave me a whole different (and safer) perspective of flying. It really opened my eyes to how controlled, accurate and safe the actual flying process is, and as a result my confidence in flying is greatly increased. 1000 times better than I had experienced at other fear of flying courses.KJ

I slept for a lot of the journey

To say that the flight went better than usual is a massive understatement given the fact that I slept for a lot of the journey. This has never happened before because I was far too tense to allow sleep to figure.Lorna H

Help my specific fears

I felt that you all really tried to understand and help my specific fears, something that I definitely hadn't found anywhere else. The fact that I was 90% relaxed for the whole twelve hours was really a feat considering that my last flight was 50 minutes to Ireland and I had cried the whole way!Alex M

We went out and celebrated

What a fantastic experience the course proved to be! We can’t thank you enough for your understanding, patience & time spent answering the myriad questions! I've told anyone who'll listen today so guess they'll get fed up with hearing about it soon. We went out and celebrated last night and had a toast to you all.Jacky B

A profound effect on my life

My lasting memories of the simulator will be the professional, calm and matter of fact way the pilots went about flying the plane, while explaining what was happening and talking me through my fears. Together with my determination and willpower I feel that this experience has had a profound effect on my life, turning around my thoughts and attitudes to flying. Thank you all very much.Jenny H

Flexibility and individuality

The flexibility and individuality of the programme is fantastic and the amount of personal time you all dedicate to this work is a true reflection of how much it means to you to help people with all levels of fear. Understanding and experiencing the stages of flying that go on throughout the journey has been really important and helpful. I now understand a lot more about why my fear started, but more so by how it was perpetuated by me just trying to cope with the anxiety symptoms and not understanding the issue and relearning my approach to flying using a range of techniques.Frances F

No problem at all

Well, a few weeks ago I did fly down to the South of France to meet my daughter. My son came with me and we had an amazing time! My first time on a commercial airliner was no problem at all.Paul D

Stop at any time

We went into the simulator which was incredible! Maybe pilots take these things for granted. We did several take-offs, but we were constantly reminded that we could stop at any time. The simulator feels exactly like a real plane so if there were any unfamiliar sounds or sensations we could immediately halt and talk through what was causing them, then repeat the manoeuvre until I was comfortable with it.Lucy Rogers

Today I feel like a success story, I got on a plane!

I have tried so many different things over the years to help me overcome my fear, which have not worked. I am certain that the thing that helped me to get on that plane was taking the simulator course and having knowledge about the noises, sensations, safety features, etc. The patience and kindness everyone showed me at Virtual Aviation was beyond compare and I am eternally grateful. Today I feel like a success story, I got on a plane!Dawn D

Visualise the pilot's perpective

As I got on board the aircraft, I noticed that the cockpit door was open. Looking in there bought back the perspective I'd had in the simulator, and I found it really useful during the flight to imagine what was going on from the pilot's view (obviously basing this on having already been in the simulator). Being able to visualise the pilot's perspective was incredibly helpful, and took away the sense of powerlessness I'd had in the past. It's much easier to dismiss noises and movements when you learn to regard them as the expected result of actions the pilot is deliberately taking.Rachel B

Understanding of my fear

After spending a morning with the team, the word 'flying' and 'normal' now go together. No magic, no hypnosis and no certificate at the end, just an understanding of my fear, flying and what is normal. To anyone thinking about taking this course, go ahead and give it a go. Yes it's expensive but compared to the cost of never flying again, it is a drop in the ocean.Mark Strode

Speak to experienced airline pilots

One of the most helpful aspects of the course for me was the opportunity to speak to experienced airline pilots. Since the course I have flown to the USA, Ireland and Turkey and am shortly to fly to Melbourne. I cannot recommend the course too highly, many thanks to all involved for your kindness and understanding.Sarah H

The opportunity to experience the feelings of flying

As you know, I had never flown before. The simulator flight gave me the opportunity to experience the feelings of flying whilst remaining in a safe environment, knowing that I could get out quickly if I needed to. The course really gave me the 'push' I needed to get myself onto a flight. It made me confront my fears, rather than pushing them to the back of my mind, as I had been doing for years.Heather W

Visualise the simulator

I did get a twisty feeling in my tummy when the engine noise changed suddenly but I was able to visualise the simulator and relax into the knowledge that it was not a mechanical problem. During the flight I practically forgot I was even flying until we had a few bumps, but then I now know it was only very mild turbulence and that the creaking and groaning was just the luggage bins. I was not aprehensive in the days leading up and didn't check the weather at all with the flight in mind.Samantha B

The calmest person on the plane

On Wednesday I flew back from Madrid and the flight itself couldn't have been better, nice and smooth with perfect visibility and even a little excitement on landing - about 10 minutes before arriving in Birmingham the captain came on the tannoy announcing we had a small technical problem, nothing to worry about! Unbelieveably, I was probably the calmest person on the plane, even reassuring the seasoned flyer that was sitting next to me.Paul B

I no longer check the weather conditions before flying

I have flown many times since my day with you. Last year I went to Belgium and I have just come back from a fantastic Christmas in Dubai. I no longer check the weather conditions before flying, take off and landings are a breeze - no more sweaty palms! I was unable to fly at night before and coming back from Dubai was a night flight, I always think about everything Mike told me on the course and it is amazing how having a small amount of knowledge gives you so much power, understanding that the noises in the aircraft are normal makes a big difference. Change your perception of flying and change your life! Thank you so much for such a wonderful course, I would highly recommend it! Many thanks and best wishes to you all. Katy W

I didn't believe it was possible to ever get on a plane again

I can’t tell you how grateful I am to everyone there, the pilots who took so much time to explain everything, something which helped me specifically when taking off, Susie and James for their encouragement. I feel so proud of myself and a whole world of experience has opened up for me. I didn’t believe it was possible to ever get on a plane again but taking your course was the first step I needed to make. So once again thank you so much, I think you're doing a great job.Vicky R

A very romantic proposal on the beach

If I could choose just one bit of advice I learnt from your training day it would have to be knowing how exactly the planes stay up in the air - I found that very reassuring to repeat to myself, on both my long-haul and island-hopping trips. All this combined to give me really pleasant flights throughout my holiday. No traumas at all! It made such a difference! I could relax and relate to how I used to feel about taking a flight, before I became so nervous. And I had a wonderful holiday, not at all spoilt by flight nerves or panic attacks. Thank you! I'm definitely pleased to have made it as my partner had planned a very romantic proposal on the beach one night, under the stars! I would have hated to have missed that because I'd been put off taking the holiday because of my fear of flying.Kate F

It was quite amazing - I wasn’t nervous at all!

was absolutely MAGIC, beyond my expectations, and the flights were okay - a bit boring on the return! We had a delay on the latter, and a replacement plane by another airline, but even that didn’t throw me! I went up 3 weeks ago in Chris’s partner’s small plane, and he put me in charge of the controls once at cruising altitude. Susie, I absolutely LOVED it - we flew out over the sea at Southport - could see for miles - Blackpool tower, the Lakes mountains, Snowdonia, the Isle of Man - I went up again in the afternoon too. It was quite amazing - I wasn’t nervous at all! Crazy, isn’t it? Anyway, I just can’t thank you enough; as you know, my trip in the simulator was just what I needed. Many, many thanks, and very best wishes to you and James - life will never be the same again!Mary W