Discovery Flight today...unexpected results

On Mon, 11 Feb 2008 07:53:25 -0800, "gatt"
wrote:


"DGS" wrote in message
.. .

Another thing that left a bad taste in my mouth. After the flight was
over and we'd taxied back to the hanger he was climbing out of the
plane and realized he didn't have his seatbelt fastened. He laughed
about the fact that he had forgotten to do so.


He'd have failed his private and commercial checkrides, not to mention the
CFI pratical. Your pilot didn't have his head in the cockpit. Seatbelts
are right there on the checklist.

I dunno, I guess it's not a big deal, but I really kind of want someone
who maybe takes it all a
little more seriously.

Even if he -hadn't- gotten you up doing stalls, it's a big deal. Had that
turned into a spin you guys would have been all over the cockpit. 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.

-c


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. Had he used a checklist,
he would have remembered our belts (and again I will state
emphatically that I know for a fact that no checklist and NO seatbelts
were used). After we were done I should have notified the manager of
the FBO.

At this point I'm obviously looking for a new instructor. 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.

"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

On Mon, 11 Feb 2008 11:04:05 -0600, DGS wrote:

At this point I'm obviously looking for a new instructor. I'm torn on
whether I want to go through the bother of reporting this to the FBO.

I'd say no.. the chief pilot is likely aware of this instructor's style
and if it's an ongoing issue, chances are he'll be looking for a new job
soon enough.

If the FBO has several instructors, just call in again and tell whoever
answers the phone that you didn't think the chemistry was right and you'd
like to try again with another instructor. Consider describing what you
would like in a good instructor, FBOs are usually small places and the
person answering the phone could help you match up with someone else.

Why not try the other school first just to see what they are like? But
again, try to describe the type of instructor you'd like.

--
Dallas

Dallas wrote:
On Mon, 11 Feb 2008 11:04:05 -0600, DGS wrote:

At this point I'm obviously looking for a new instructor. I'm torn on
whether I want to go through the bother of reporting this to the FBO.

I'd say no.. the chief pilot is likely aware of this instructor's style
and if it's an ongoing issue, chances are he'll be looking for a new job
soon enough.

Dallas. You are so wrong on this that it is scary.


If the FBO has several instructors, just call in again and tell whoever
answers the phone that you didn't think the chemistry was right and you'd
like to try again with another instructor. Consider describing what you
would like in a good instructor, FBOs are usually small places and the
person answering the phone could help you match up with someone else.

Why not try the other school first just to see what they are like? But
again, try to describe the type of instructor you'd like.

On Mon, 11 Feb 2008 11:53:07 -0600, Gig 601XL Builder wrote:

Dallas. You are so wrong on this that it is scary.

Ok... I'll defer to your greater experience.

--
Dallas

Dallas wrote:
On Mon, 11 Feb 2008 11:53:07 -0600, Gig 601XL Builder wrote:

Dallas. You are so wrong on this that it is scary.

Ok... I'll defer to your greater experience.


Damn It!!! that is not how USENET is supposed to work.

On Mon, 11 Feb 2008 16:34:32 -0600, Gig 601XL Builder wrote:

Damn It!!! that is not how USENET is supposed to work.

You gotta pick your battles.

:- )


--
Dallas

"Dallas" == Dallas writes:

Dallas On Mon, 11 Feb 2008 11:04:05 -0600, DGS wrote:
At this point I'm obviously looking for a new instructor. I'm
torn on whether I want to go through the bother of reporting
this to the FBO.

Dallas I'd say no.. the chief pilot is likely aware of this
Dallas instructor's style and if it's an ongoing issue, chances
Dallas are he'll be looking for a new job soon enough.

I agree...don't report it. It was a single incident, not terribly
egregious, and your first flight. Just move on.

BTW, is there a flying club at a local airport? You might have much a
better experience in a club than an FBO. Probably cheaper, more
comaraderie.
--
"He is not only dull himself; he is the cause of dullness in others."
-Samuel Johnson

Bob Fry wrote:
"Dallas" == Dallas writes:

Dallas On Mon, 11 Feb 2008 11:04:05 -0600, DGS wrote:
At this point I'm obviously looking for a new instructor. I'm
torn on whether I want to go through the bother of reporting
this to the FBO.

Dallas I'd say no.. the chief pilot is likely aware of this
Dallas instructor's style and if it's an ongoing issue, chances
Dallas are he'll be looking for a new job soon enough.

I agree...don't report it. It was a single incident, not terribly
egregious, and your first flight. Just move on.


Do own or run a business Bob. I have and do and I sure as hell want to
know when my customers get less service than they expect. When I find
this out I either do what I can to change those expectations or make
changes to get the service up to those expectations.

Any business that doesn't do that won't be in business long.

Do own or run a business Bob. I have and do and I sure as hell want to
know when my customers get less service than they expect. When I find this
out I either do what I can to change those expectations or make changes to
get the service up to those expectations.

Amen. There is nothing worse than having a customer simply leave, and never
come back, without explaining their reasons for choosing a competitor.

The owner of the FBO deserves to know what his employee is doing to ruin his
business. I know that sounds harsh, but that is precisely what this guy is
doing.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"