School charging you asking questions they can't answer?

[aviran9111]

I got to rant this out:
I have contacted a school regarding a flight instructor rating.
The CFI, a fresh class 1, said there is another class 1 instructor who might be able to conduct the training, but as far as he know, his schedule is 3-4 (Three on, Four off). He doesn't know much more and has no idea if the instructor does ground first or mix it with the flight portion. He didn't even knew which days he works. I made it perfectly clear I am lookin for accelerated full time study.

He said he'll make an appointment for me to ask that class 1 all the questions, and I noted - I will be coming from the other side of the country.

So I had the appointment with this class 1. Turns out he only works TWO DAYS a week, out of which he can only do one appointment per day, and MAYBE the other class 1 can fill in the rest of the days, but uncertain.

We ended to conversion, and afterwards I get bill for 0.4 of his time (!!). How desperate a school has to be to bill someone for merely seeking details about their instructor's availability (which again, I wouldn't need the appointment for if the CFI was aware of what happens in his school). Mind you I was NEVER informed it will be billable, it was THE SCHOOL that offered to have that appointment, while every other school had that info available through their dispatch or CFI. I would NEVER EVEN BOTHERED to book it had I knew he only do 2 days a week. I will be spending more money on housing than I need to.

I am extremely disappointed Canadian aviation business are this shady

[DanWEC]

Went across the country eh? So what school was it?

[aviran9111]

Went across the country eh? So what school was it?

A. I didn't said I went, I said I am going to.
B. Are we into naming and shaming business?

[DanWEC]

You started the post, so if not what was the point of it?

[aviran9111]

You started the post, so if not what was the point of it?

To rant and vent, and see if it's a common bad practice or not

[Adam Oke]

That can't possibly be real. I can tell you one thing, if I asked questions about an instructor's availability as a potential client and I received a bill, I would be tearing that invoice up in their face.

Ground Instruction is charged for ground instruction, not asking how much their fuel costs or if the FTU is a suitable fit for your schedule etc.

[rookiepilot]

You started the post, so if not what was the point of it?

To rant and vent, and see if it's a common bad practice or not

Because the OP deals with his problems the way most of society does.

Instead of addressing the issue professionally, directly with management right up to the owner to seek a resolution….complains on social media instead. Cowardly. Pick up the phone.

Either you get a resolution or there is more untold to this story. Frankly I favour the latter probability.

I deal directly with my issues with any small business. Man to man, as it may. Learn to communicate. Never had to ever take it anywhere else.

The exception to this rule IMO might be with large companies , quasi monopolies of which Canada has its share, who won’t respond to direct overtures, won’t ever pick up the phone, if there is even a phone number, and social pressure is required.

And yes, I have complained my share about Canadian airlines and such here. But there is no one who will listen directly as there is in a small business, so it’s mainly me lamenting.

[aviran9111]

You started the post, so if not what was the point of it?

To rant and vent, and see if it's a common bad practice or not

Because the OP deals with his problems the way most of society does.

Instead of addressing the issue professionally, directly with management right up to the owner to seek a resolution….complains on social media instead. Cowardly. Pick up the phone.

Either you get a resolution or there is more untold to this story. Frankly I favour the latter probability.

I deal directly with my issues with any small business. Man to man, as it may. Learn to communicate. Never had to ever take it anywhere else.

The exception to this rule IMO might be with large companies , quasi monopolies of which Canada has its share, who won’t respond to direct overtures, won’t ever pick up the phone, if there is even a phone number, and social pressure is required.

And yes, I have complained my share about Canadian airlines and such here. But there is no one who will listen directly as there is in a small business, so it’s mainly me lamenting.

The owner does not seems to care.
First they are saying they can 100% accommodate full time accelerated training, than they are not even aware of their own instructor's on-off schedule, and than their CFI is not even aware of what is going on in his own far limited purview (compared to the owner).
And not only that, it was the owner's spouse name on the invoice.

I think that sums it up that the owner is either aware or worse - does not care.

[aviran9111]

That can't possibly be real. I can tell you one thing, if I asked questions about an instructor's availability as a potential client and I received a bill, I would be tearing that invoice up in their face.

Ground Instruction is charged for ground instruction, not asking how much their fuel costs or if the FTU is a suitable fit for your schedule etc.

It is real, and it's not just a bill, it's a bill for 0.4 of "their time". You know, the time they should have taken inquiring with their own instructors, rather than sending me on a fishing expeditions.

[North Shore]

*If* you were just inquiring about the possibility of your doing an instructor rating there, and scheduling, and how that would work, then I'd do as others have suggested - phone the school, tell them that you won't be doing your rating there, and to take their invoice and stuff it.

[aviran9111]

*If* you were just inquiring about the possibility of your doing an instructor rating there, and scheduling, and how that would work, then I'd do as others have suggested - phone the school, tell them that you won't be doing your rating there, and to take their invoice and stuff it.

On one hand I really want to do it, on the other I don't want to burn that bridge (If I can't find instruction job anywhere else, it's still an option), and it's really a small community school, which is what surprises me more, but also what I like as I got most of my licenses in a small school