Bad instructor stories

wha happen · Post by **wha happen** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 11:28 am

Just a question/ vent for anybody out there. What is your worst story/ incident with an instructor?

TheCheez · Post by **TheCheez** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 11:48 am

Not really an instructor, more a school

Spring break I book a plane starting thurs before and going to friday during. (Plane booked in October)

Week before my trip the school books me for a flight the friday morning after I should have left. (College program, I dont book my lessons)

I don't bother looking at the schedule because I know I'm flying Thursday and thats that.

Call them up from Texas to let them know how we're getting along and end up on the receiving end of a rant about no-shows and how I'm being charged $50 because I didn't make the lesson earlier that day. Infact, the first thing they asked when I identified myself was, "Oh Mr. X where are you and why aren't you at your lesson?" despite the fact that I was in the middle of putting 50 hours on their aircraft between myself and some other students.

This one still rubs me in the wrong place.

Miss Mae · Post by **Miss Mae** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 2:00 pm

When I was going through my commercial training my regular instructor was off for vacation. While we was gone I booked with one of the new instructors to do a dual cross country. What an expeirence!....from engine start to stop the guy bad mouthed and cut down not only my instructor but every other instructor at the school...bottom line was that the guy needed multi time and wanted me to do my multi rating with him...what a class act eh?

bizjet_mania · Post by **bizjet_mania** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 4:41 pm

My instructor milked me $4 grand to get me ready for a flight test, I switched instructors 2 flights later did my flight test and passed with flying colours....worst $4 grand wasted and 8 months... if you're out there you know who you are you sonofa.....

Northern Skies · Post by **Northern Skies** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 4:56 pm

had a cfi who wanted a bigger "buffer" between my experience and the actual minimums for the CPL before he would sign it off, even though the numbers were all certified and correct.

I cancelled my membership there, walked into the transport office a few days later, and walked out with a fresh new CPL.

That's just the most recent one....... but most of the time I have had great experiences with excellent instructors.

I'll take a LOT of of shit, too, but I won't put up with any of that crap when my hard-earned money is involved.

Northern Skies · Post by **Northern Skies** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 4:59 pm

here's another recent one: I wanted to do a checkout at one place..... 2 flights. They made me buy a 2 month membership for $80! 2 flights! And I had already done the flight when I found out. Otherwise they would have been told to f*ck off.

Highflyinpilot · Post by **Highflyinpilot** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 8:22 pm

Here's one, didnt happen to me but to someone I knew. He was gettting ready to go out flying, so he does the preflight checks, run-up, all that good stuff. Holding short of the runway and getting ready to taxi into position, the instructor turns to him and says "I dont like the looks of that weather lets taxi back". He still got billed for it.

bizjet_mania · Post by **bizjet_mania** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 9:53 pm

happens. weather and wind changes very quickly i did touch an goes once. runway at 330, winds were 310 @ 24 gusting 28 then on my second i got 290 @ 31 gusting 33. After the second one I called it a day.

Cool Rythms! · Post by **Cool Rythms!** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 7:02 am

When I was doing my private pilot's course, my instructor was overcharging me for preparatory ground instruction. Not only that, he was also charging me for debrieings as well. When the CFI found out about this, he was furious and made this guy pay back every dime for the debriefings as well as the amount he was overcharging me. I'm surprised he wasn't fired for that. Needless to say, I changed instructors. If only I knew then, what I know now. I was busy trying to learn and that SOB was busy trying to rip me off.

bob sacamano · Post by **bob sacamano** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 8:02 am

Not meaning to highjack this thread, is it outrageous for instructors to charge for de-briefings?

Tango01 · Post by **Tango01** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 8:18 am

My CFI fell asleep during my Pre-flight for my PPFT. Left a greasy stain on the door window from his head that you couldn't see anything. I pushed the nose down and he jolted and looked at me all confused, he was pale

Who issued this guy his medical?

Panic · Post by **Panic** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 8:20 am

bob sacamano wrote:Not meaning to highjack this thread, is it outrageous for instructors to charge for de-briefings?

Not when it adds value. However, I had an instructor who would charge me to fill out my PTR...he would write a lovely paragraph (or two....or three) about how the lesson went. Often pausing to reflect while I sat there and watched - no discussion as to what he was writing and what that meant for future lessons.

That lasted for two lessons and I found another instructor.

bizjet_mania · Post by **bizjet_mania** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 8:22 am

bob sacamano wrote:Not meaning to highjack this thread, is it outrageous for instructors to charge for de-briefings?

Yes its bad ethics. Does your college/uni teacher charge you if you stay after class to ask some questions or so he/she can tell you how you are doing in the course?

patter · Post by **patter** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 9:00 am

Of course it is ok to charge pre and post and prep briefing. Seldom do I charge less than .2, and never a complaint. Why because I am worth it.

bizjet_mania · Post by **bizjet_mania** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 9:02 am

patter wrote:Of course it is ok to charge pre and post and prep briefing. Seldom do I charge less than .2, and never a complaint. Why because I am worth it.

ok there buddy, time to come back down to earth.

Right Seat Captain · Post by **Right Seat Captain** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 9:11 am

bizjet_mania wrote: Yes its bad ethics. Does your college/uni teacher charge you if you stay after class to ask some questions or so he/she can tell you how you are doing in the course?

They get paid a salary. Instructors generally do not.

So bizjet_mania, do you propose that instructors should work for free? Because it sounds like that's what you're saying, that it's bad ethics to be paid to work.

No Conflict · Post by **No Conflict** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 9:26 am

Right Seat Captain wrote:
bizjet_mania wrote:
So bizjet_mania, do you propose that instructors should work for free? Because it sounds like that's what you're saying, that it's bad ethics to be paid to work.

Might as well jump in here..

Instructors should not work for free, but there are limits. My post-flt was normally 10-15 minutes (Unless it went really bad or they wanted to clarify something), but if it was only 13 minutes, say, I would not charge .3 or .4 (walking out from the briefing room and asking how the family is was considered billable time to some), as I have seen some instructors do. As long as you keep it fair for both parties, it's all good.

Highflyinpilot · Post by **Highflyinpilot** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 9:32 am

Bizjet wrote

[quote]happens. weather and wind changes very quickly i did touch an goes once. runway at 330, winds were 310 @ 24 gusting 28 then on my second i got 290 @ 31 gusting 33. After the second one I called it a day.[/quote]
_________________

Ya but at least you got off the ground. ang got something out of it. I think it would have been ok if they took off and maybe flew to the practice are, but on the way turn back because of weather, or like your situation, do a lap and then call it quits. I dont even think you would put times in the daily journey for that(when you dont get off the ground that is). I could be wrong though.

[/quote]

Right Seat Captain · Post by **Right Seat Captain** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 10:05 am

No Conflict wrote: Might as well jump in here..

Instructors should not work for free, but there are limits. My post-flt was normally 10-15 minutes (Unless it went really bad or they wanted to clarify something), but if it was only 13 minutes, say, I would not charge .3 or .4 (walking out from the briefing room and asking how the family is was considered billable time to some), as I have seen some instructors do. As long as you keep it fair for both parties, it's all good.

That I agree with. If you're talking about family or the girl you picked up last night, that should definately not be billed. But if say there was a 10 to 15 minute debrief talking of legitimate subjects pertaining to the flight or the lesson, it could be billed. If you think about it, when you consider an instructor has say 4 bookings in a day, that's an entire hour they wouldn't be being paid for.

Personally speaking, my debriefs are generally very short, or done on the taxi back in, or as we're walking back from the plane, so I generally don't bill that time.

bizjet_mania · Post by **bizjet_mania** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 10:39 am

if ur student is one of those that don't study their material and u have to show them again then they should be billed. but if its brief, i don't see the reason to.

Shiny Side Up · Post by **Shiny Side Up** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 12:34 pm

Worst instructor I had was a class 1 when I was getting prepped for my Class 4 ride. The guy could never remember my name on each of the bookings I had with him. That and he would constantly cut me off during briefings to tell stories.

Best part was a few years down the road was when he asked me for a job. Unfortunately for him I don't forget names. Last I heard he was applying to work for TC...

bizjet_mania · Post by **bizjet_mania** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 2:45 pm

His initials weren't J.F. were they because I had an examiner like that and hes working at TC now.

Brew · Post by **Brew** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 3:31 pm

What gets me going are these Instructor/DFTE guys that fail you for no valid reason just to get another check for $250 bucks (let's face it, flt tests are so subjective that if someone wants to fail you, they will find a reason). Watch out if you book a ride with one of these types during a really slow instructing month.

And I too have had these instructors that get off topic during briefings such as talking about their Harley and then have the nerve to charge you for it! Change instructors fast, these guys are a complete waste of money.

Pugster · Post by **Pugster** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 5:09 pm

I've seen a few...

Had one instructor that thought farting was the funniest thing on earth. He'd wait until we were right in the middle of something stressful (usually entering cloud, shooting an approach in nasty weather, etc.) and then he would let one rip. Poor guy still suffers this day with a broken arsehole. The best part was that he would laugh at his own farts to the stage that he had tears in his eyes. He's still a good buddy of mine, just got a job flying a jet, and still laughs hysterically at his own farts (they are pretty funny...he used to wait until a quiet time in a movie theatre and

haha).

Had another instructor that threatened to punch a student in the arm if he wandered off of altitude enroute. Guy wandered off 300 feet...and whammo! Lucky he didn't get fired. He's still a buddy too, flies jets, and no doubt punches his captains in the arm.

Now that I think about it, I've had it pretty lucky...even though my shoulder still hurts and I don't have any nose hair left.

Dyck Hertz · Post by **Dyck Hertz** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 8:22 pm

wha happen wrote:Just a question/ vent for anybody out there. What is your worst story/ incident with an instructor?

if youre a hot chick with a good bod, low cut top and wanna take som flyig lessons all cozied up next to an instructor with large roving hands come flying with me....garanteed you'll have a "bad instructor story"
heheheeheheheh!!!!

Bad instructor stories

Bad instructor stories

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