Frustrated

F

Flyingbrick32114

Well-Known Member
Here is my situation. I'm currently in the process of working on my intial CFI i've been working on it for about 6 months i've got both my written done and pretty much have lesson plans for every maneuver and technical subject area. My flight school has only 1 complex airplane and it's been down since january 20th. It was supposed to be up again last friday but they've cancelled all my reservations for the week saying they still have to reinstall the engine and i can't get any answers on what's the problem. Does anyone have any recommendations?
 
Are there any flight schools with a complex around that you can rent for the checkride? Are you Pt 61? If 141, you're pretty locked into that school, but you could go to another school with your logbook and notebook, etc., and possibly get it done with them in a few hours...I know it'll cost some money, but it doesn't sound like they are going to have it up for a while. Try to find another school or another a/c are about your only two options.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.
 
I've been in the same spot before. I know how much it sucks.

How far away is the nearest complex aircraft that you can rent? Also, what type of problem was your flight school having with the aircraft? Does your flight school have a history of an unreliable fleet?

If the problem is an ongoing problem that is likely to come and go, I'd recommend trying to do an intense couple days of training in another school's aircraft and get the rating finished off. That will be a lot cheaper and easier than continuing to start/stop/plug along at your current school.

However, if the plane is going to get repaired and stay up and running for a while, I'd stick it out where you're at. If your school has treated you pretty well up to this point and this is only one occasion of poor service, you're better off staying with them.

Also, a point to consider, is how much would you tick them off by going elsewhere in order to finish? Would it affect your employment with them as a CFI once you get your CFI ticket?

When I was in a similar situation it was during my commercial training. Over the course of my instrument training I'd had numerous irritations because of their maintenance program. Then, during my commercial training I ran into even bigger problems. The Arrow I was using had recurring landing gear problems. It would go into the shop for repairs, be down for several weeks, return to service, then go down again a few days later because they never found the true source of the problem. While all this was happening I had been doing ground work for my CFI.

After three months of hassle I was fed up enough to leave. I spent a week and a half in an accelerated program and finished off both my commercial and CFI. The first school wasn't especially happy with me, but they were shorthanded enough on instructors that they hired me anyway. I did my CFII with them later and it's all good now. I don't regret any of my decisions and I would do it all over again the same way if I needed to.
 
It depends on what you mean by re-installing the engine. If the plane is getting a new engine, there will be a period of break-in which is time consuming. If you can wait that out, I would say wait. If you mean just a short delay, wait and don't show them that you are frustrated.
 
I went through the same thing with my schools only complex. Damn thing was down forever with a nose gear problem so I did nothing but ground stuff and studying for weeks. (Oh, and my spin endorsement in the 150.) Finally the plane was fixed, did all my flying, and then on the last flight before the practical, we failed to get a down and locked indication on the way home. Did a fly by of the tower who told us the gear "appeared" to be down, but we didn't want to risk it. Finally, after circuit-breaking and recycling a bunch of times, we finally got a down and locked light and landed with a parade of emergency vehicles to greet us. Plane went to maintenance and was thankfully down for only a few days.

At any rate, I feel your pain!
 
Hey guys thanks for the feedback. The situation with the plane to be more specific is my instructor and i were the last people to fly the airplane we wrote it up because i kept having the right seat push to talk button stick and it was also going in for its 100 hour inspection. Since then i have no idea what they might have found. This is the only problem i've had with the school so far and if I do well on my progress check with the chief pilot they will offer me employment.
 
I had to wait on my school's seminole for over a year...I was told every two months, "very soon, within the next couple weeks"

Talk about frustration
 
I think just about most ppl who have flown a plane have been in a similar situation. My school wanted me to start and finish a ~50 hour cross-country course in 2 months. I was more than willing, but after one flight the plane was in for MX. It wasn't until 5 months later that the plane was repaired. About every week the mechanic told me it would be ready next week, but of course it wasn't. Wasted about 3 months sitting on the ground when I should have been flying.

So my advice, find a plane that you can use and get the thing done! Stop waiting.
 
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