Diverting to an alternate

[Beefitarian]

I'm going to be mean here and say the real price is he's going to become a crappy pilot that shouldn't be around moving objects like cars and airplanes.

[Big Pistons Forever]

I have the huge luxury of teaching part time. I have another full time flying job that pays the bills and so I can instruct on my terms. That means I can be very selective on who I train and I simply fire students that don't demonstrate an interest in being the best pilot they can be. I also have a reputation on the field for being a very demanding instructor. This does a very effective job of scaring off the lazy and unmotivated students

Working full time in a flight school means you have to deal with everyone who walks in the door, which makes life a lot harder for the instructor. But at the end of the day every instructor has a professional duty to properly prepare students to be safe pilots. That to me means students don't get the choice of doing just enough to pass the flight test. It may also means an honest discussion with a student that a repeated unwillingness or inability to meet an acceptable standard will result in the cessation of flight training.

My nightmare scenario is if one of my students killed his passenger(s)
in an accident that was caused by a lack of flying skill or knowledge.

[Shiny Side Up]

That to me means students don't get the choice of doing just enough to pass the flight test.

Sure they do. They (as above) can always find someone who is willing to do just that for them. Unbeknownst to most, but there is an avenue where students who feel that they are at an acceptable level can petition transport to do a flight test and written tests without the reccomendation of an instructor or a school. TC, while they insist that we go above and beyond the standard (as should be our want) doesn't back you up if you insist on holding a student to it and the student decides to press the matter with them.

[Big Pistons Forever]

That to me means students don't get the choice of doing just enough to pass the flight test.

Sure they do. They (as above) can always find someone who is willing to do just that for them. Unbeknownst to most, but there is an avenue where students who feel that they are at an acceptable level can petition transport to do a flight test and written tests without the reccomendation of an instructor or a school. TC, while they insist that we go above and beyond the standard (as should be our want) doesn't back you up if you insist on holding a student to it and the student decides to press the matter with them.

If there were no "someone" then that wouldn't be an option. My plea to all instructors is don't be that guy/gal!

You are right if the student is bound and determined to be a crappy pilot he/she will probably find someone to lower themselves to that level.

I can not control the actions of other instructors but I can control my own and I truly believe that my students will get sufficient training to be good pilots. The day I can't live up to that promise will be the day I stop instructing.

[Shiny Side Up]

If there were no "someone" then that wouldn't be an option. My plea to all instructors is don't be that guy/gal!

You missed my point BPF in that there is "someone" and they aren't an instructor. Keep in mind all the student has to do is get time with an instructor, they don't have to follow the instructor's wishes. I can't take back dual time I've given, regardless of whether the student decided to perform that day. Something for you to think about, even with all the students who maybe have switched away from you as an instructor, they still have that hour in a logbook and can still count it towards a license.

It been my experience that a lot of people feel having a pilot's license is a right that they have rather than a priviledge they have to earn and upkeep.

[Big Pistons Forever]

It been my experience that a lot of people feel having a pilot's license is a right that they have rather than a priviledge they have to earn and upkeep.

A sad but unfortunately very true observation.........