ChasenSFO
hen teaser
About 3 months ago, I bought a bunch of block time on 172s at my flying club. It was summer, I was busy, didn't get a chance to fly for a few weeks. Then my BFR expired. A CFI buddy offered to fly with me for free and get me an amazing rate on an Arrow if I could just wait for him to have some free time. This took a few weeks, but I got it done. The very next day, I go to my flying club with a buddy to rent a 172. I look in my logbook and notice it's been 89 days since I last flew a 172, and the club requires a 90 day currency. I'm glad I decided to go flying because the currency process is known to be a rip-off at this club.
I get to the desk to find no one there, during business hours. A CFI offers to help me get my BFR scanned and in the system so I can rent again. When he see's my currency is about to expire, he refuses to rent me a plane. He claims I'm just as dangerous at 89 days as I am at 90 and I need to fly with a CFI. He then goes on a personal attack on how I seem like a slacker and looking thru my history I'm "notorious" for flying the bare minimum to retain currency. I tell him that I do flying in other states and from other airports for much cheaper and I just give airplane rides for the most part out of their club. He goes on to tell me they don't like that and want 100% of my flying. He then randomly goes on to tell gruesome stories of people he knew my age dying in plane crashes. I tell him it is asinine that he feels I'm dangerous the day AFTER my BFR in a complex airplane. When will I ever be more refreshed?
He tells me he'll do his "best" to call the chief pilot and see what he can do for me. When he does call the chief pilot, he insists he grounds me and tells him my log book is full of random airports no where near the area and I need a refresher on flying in this area. Despite the fact all my flying out of this airport includes Bravo transitions that I handle fine. I get grounded, while the club policy says I'm still ok to fly.
It then turns out this CFI is a former CFI with the club who is currently a NetJets captain taking a refresher course on his lap top. Yet they let a non-employee go into the system and ground a pilot. I told West Valley they won't get my money for this move, and I'll do my checkout in Livermore with my buddy. They told me I have to do it there, where it will cost $400-500 and take 2 days.
I've reported them to the BBB. What else would you do in this situation? Why post a currency limit if you aren't going to stick to it? Should I pack up, leave, and get a refund for my block time?
Always a headache at SQL.
I get to the desk to find no one there, during business hours. A CFI offers to help me get my BFR scanned and in the system so I can rent again. When he see's my currency is about to expire, he refuses to rent me a plane. He claims I'm just as dangerous at 89 days as I am at 90 and I need to fly with a CFI. He then goes on a personal attack on how I seem like a slacker and looking thru my history I'm "notorious" for flying the bare minimum to retain currency. I tell him that I do flying in other states and from other airports for much cheaper and I just give airplane rides for the most part out of their club. He goes on to tell me they don't like that and want 100% of my flying. He then randomly goes on to tell gruesome stories of people he knew my age dying in plane crashes. I tell him it is asinine that he feels I'm dangerous the day AFTER my BFR in a complex airplane. When will I ever be more refreshed?
He tells me he'll do his "best" to call the chief pilot and see what he can do for me. When he does call the chief pilot, he insists he grounds me and tells him my log book is full of random airports no where near the area and I need a refresher on flying in this area. Despite the fact all my flying out of this airport includes Bravo transitions that I handle fine. I get grounded, while the club policy says I'm still ok to fly.
It then turns out this CFI is a former CFI with the club who is currently a NetJets captain taking a refresher course on his lap top. Yet they let a non-employee go into the system and ground a pilot. I told West Valley they won't get my money for this move, and I'll do my checkout in Livermore with my buddy. They told me I have to do it there, where it will cost $400-500 and take 2 days.
I've reported them to the BBB. What else would you do in this situation? Why post a currency limit if you aren't going to stick to it? Should I pack up, leave, and get a refund for my block time?
Always a headache at SQL.