Conscience Question(ing) + Update

sorrygottarunway

sorrygottarunway

Well-Known Member
Hi folks, haven't posted in a long time, but feel a little internet friendlier now that my flight time in the past month has really gone out the window with the weather we've been having in the Northeast.

I've managed to have a very good first 4 months of instructing- I enjoy my students, and have learned more that I probably would have liked to with the many experiences. I've also continued my "original" job behind the front desk to help out the flight school, and have pretty much "lived" at the airport, if not to fly, to help with flight school ops and just be a helping hand to the several part-91 charter ops we have out of the same premises. I've exhausted myself, but I have managed to develop some darn good relations with everyone around here- one group that gave me a B100 manual as a thank you for helping out with their spreadsheet.

Tonight as I was with Tim06 closing the flight school up, one of the king air captains from this afore-mentioned group approached me and asked if I would like to join him on a flight tomorrow...

My conscience quandry is that I have 3 students tomorrow, as well as my 2nd job (a requirement to be a CFI is the 2nd job
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) teaching violin at a local music school.

Looking at the TAFs for the next day shows a morning fog advisory turning into possibly better conditions by noontime with winds gusting to 22kts.

KHPN 122332Z 130024 VRB05KT 3/4SM BR OVC003
TEMPO 0004 1/4SM -DZ FG VV001
FM0400 VRB03KT 1/2SM FG OVC003
TEMPO 0408 1/4SM -DZ FG VV001
FM0800 VRB03KT 1/2SM -DZ FG VV002
FM1000 VRB05KT 1/2SM FG VV002 WS020/24040KT
FM1500 17008KT 2SM BR BKN003 OVC015 WS020/23045KT
FM1900 19013KT 4SM BR OVC025 WS020/22050KT=

My urge is to cancel my students in advance (we probably wouldn't be flying anyway) and then call in "sick" to the music school, even though there is a possibility of getting my 12-2pm lesson in a C152 off the ground.

I am in a bit of a quandry about it, weighing all sides here, but being a CFI that has been weathered into the briefing room more than he would like to admit, it would be a nice change. I consider this an opportunity as well as a treat to learn some new systems and experience a new type of A/C.

I guess I am mainly wondering if I would be able to log any form of multi-time in my logbook for the flight. The B100 MTOW is 11,800 well below the 12-5 requirement for a type rating. If not, then might as well not ruffle feathers and do my violin lessons for the afternoon, even though the little brats I teach probably would rejoice at a day off.

Sooo... HELLO to everyone again, happy new year!
 
The violin thing I'll leave up to you, but as a student I always understood when my instructors wanted to reschedule because they had an opportunity to fly a charter in a King Air. I hoped to be in their shoes someday and have students just as understanding as I was.

On a couple of those occasions I was able to fly with another available instructor and work on things that needed working on, so nothing was lost. It was actually nice to get another instructor's perspective.


Mike
 
In the FWIW department...

Who is paying your salary? You owe them that which they pay you for. If you don't want to do that, tell them and go off and do what you want.

In my book it's called integrity. Be honest...period!
 
Ohh man, you're gonna love that windshear tomorrow....Just make sure you can handle that NDB approach! haha
 
IF I go... thats freaking me out, but I probably will learn a lot on the flight. An extra set of clothes is a must.

Still haven't decided, I'll probably just hit the bed and reexamine the TAFs in the morning. The violin job always takes a back seat to flying anyway... However, I might just reschedule with him just so I don't run into the problem of being stuck somewhere overnight and haven't to cancel on students for Friday- if we have respectable weather (HAHAHA, Northeast)
 
Respectable weather here in the winter is 2000 broken, wind 310@ 7 gusting to 18.....gotta love it. Oh and sunday, you are going to fly left seat again for part of the flight
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[ QUOTE ]
part-91 charter ops

[/ QUOTE ]

Thats an oxymoron, dude.

As for your dilema, here is my opinion. If its a 135 flight, stick with your students, you can't do anything on it or log it anyways. It would be good experience no doubt, but the captain will ask you again if you just tell him you already had students scheduled. That shows integrity, as a lot of instructors would heave a full day's worth of students out of the way to raise and lower the gear on something new for free.

Sure, the weather is going to be bad. I almost always made my students come in anyways, flyable or not. There's always something to be done, and those students had plans and possibly rearranged their schedule to be there. Showing that kind of integrity to both the King Air captain, and to your students will probably pay off more in the long run than a few [possibly] unloggable hours.

It's your call though.
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My $.03.
 
If you are empty for any leg of the flight, it is loggable if you are with an MEI or are multi-rated, right?
 
If you are that concerned. Bring it up to your students, tell them what you are going to do - tell them you will make it up to them - but this flight is important, and you feel that you should take it.

I would understand this if my instructor told me.
 
I agree completely with EatSleepFly, and additionally, I wouldn't call in sick to the violin lesson. That's a flat out lie. If you want to go on the King Air, just tell the truth to everyone involved.
 
One thing I just thought of that I haven't seen mentioned is the fact that you brought up your conscience. If it is bothering you that much to ask or dwell over it for a long period of time, then you probably think it is something you shouldn't do, but really want to.

No one is going to be accountable for your actions but you. If you want my opinion, I don't think it is a bad idea as long as you don't make a habit out of it. If you think these trips are something you will be doing on a semi-regular basis, then you need to drop your violin lessons or whatever arrangements you need to make to be available any time they ask.

I had an instructor once that cancelled on me about 10 times in a row to fly trips and look for another job. I wanted to stick with him because I liked him and thought he was good for my learning process, but in the end I couldn't excuse his complete disregard for me and my priorities for flying.

In the end, you gotta do what you gotta do, and be ready to deal with the consequences!
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[ QUOTE ]
Let me say this. . .if you were my instructor, I would be p/o'd .

[/ QUOTE ]

I wouldn't.

You'd be amazed the sh*t students come up with for missing/skipping/cancelling lessons.

At least this he is doing something to further his career. This flight will more than likely be a great learning experience and he'll be able to pass that on to his students.
 
If you were my instructor, I wouldn't care. If the weather is going to be bad anyway, and I couldn't fly, I'd probably be relieved I didn't have to sit for two hours and discuss NDB holds or steep turns. As for violin, can't help ya there. But I think this is a pretty good opportunity to see another side of flying, and whet your appetitte for more. A motivational day of sorts. I know we all sometimes need a kick in the pants to keep positive about things, and this might do that for ya. Go for it.
 
In my private training my instructor called me and told me he was taking a flight to atlantic city and might, or might not be back for our lesson. i didnt say anything but it made me realize where his priorities lay. about 2 weeks later i got a new instructor.
 
Didn't go... weather is below mins at all airports along the way, nearest VFR is China...

Instead, I will enjoy giving ground school to one of my victims.

These things can be rescheduled.

So back to point one of my post: happy new year people!
 
Hey Brendan, just wanted to say as one of you flight students, that I would have understood if you wanted to cancel to do that. There's always another day.....
 
I wouldn’t mind if my instructor had to reschedule a lesson, but I would appreciate if He/She tells me in advanced.
Anyways, on a different subject is a type rating required for a PART 91 flight on an A/C with a max takeoff weight of 12500.00 lbs? Or is it for all A/C of over but not including 12500.00lbs.
 
I, like many others, had a few times throughout my PPL where my instructor had to cancel to pursue other opporitunities (ie. flying charter, etc.). I completely understood, when he called me a couple days in advance. But, one of these times I went to the airport (20 min drive) and he wasn't there. I asked the secretary and she looked at me like I was stupid. "He's been gone all weekend on a charter". Oh, thanks for telling me! This is quite a large FBO as well, and I still get sick of them not giving a rat's arse about rental/instruction. The money must be in the charter business.

However I feel about the FBO, this instructor I greatly appreciated, though. I understood because I want to be in his spot someday and I will look at the reality of it and see that his proioities aren't w/ instructing. They probably should be, especially if his customers weren't carrer-oriented guys like me. Dedication to your job is un-excusable, but it also depends somewhat on what kind of students you have. SOmeone like me understands that he is working toward a goal, so a little off-putting of the CFI thing is ok. But for Joe Citizen who just wants to learn to fly his super-jet-hypersonic Mooney around for the rest of his life, it might not be excusable since the CFI is his job.
 
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