"DGS" wrote in message

Your problem here isn't you, it was the so-called "instructor" who busted
an
important safety regulation and demonstrated poor attention to detail in
his
very first flight with you.

Agreed. What I *should* have done was ask the instructor why he
wasn't using a checklist, however being totally new to real world
piloting I was intimidated and didn't do so.

Yeah. On a discovery flight, however, there should be no such expectations
of you whatsoever. The minute you find yourself in a situation like that,
the roles have been reversed. One would expect that from an instructor
doing a BFR for a pilot. "Say...shouldn't you be using a checklist?"

I'm torn on whether I want to go through the bother of reporting this to
the FBO.
There are only 2 in my city and I hate to burn a bridge.

Think of it in terms of how it will help the instructor become a better
pilot. Again, not your responsibility but in the end it might save lives.
An anonymous note to the FBO indicating your experience would probably
result in a pointed memo to the entire staff rather than one guy getting
called to the carpet, although in this case the latter would certainly be
deserved.

I expect your next experience will be much more satisfactory.

-c