Student Solo

[NJA_Capt]

I've deleted my reply since this discussion has not added anything of value to the original thread. The same arguments have been repeated several times and I have documented my posts sufficiently.

 

[Chief Captain]

I agree with you 100%. You know the airplane and the student. I'm not going to introduce anything new on a FIRST solo. As the CFI, you are still responsible for the safe operation of that aircraft, and if you determine the parking brake to be a no-go item, then so be it.

As for the dispatcher, he needs to know that although his role is important, his authority does not extend to determining airworthiness. Furthermore to have the dispatcher question you in front of the student is unacceptable; at least at my flight school.

I remember a case where I was asked to fly an aircraft that had a problem of some sort. The discussion went like this:

Can you fly N123?

No, because ____ is wrong with it.

Well instructor X just flew it, so why can't you?

I'm not instructor X. Why don't you ask him to do it?

He's gone for the day. Just fly the plane- it's not that big a problem.

It's good to hear your uninformed opinion of the matter. My professional opinion is that the aircraft is not airworthy. Why don't you go learn how to fly then get back to me?



Admittedly not the nicest thing I've said to somebody, but sometimes people need to be reminded of the role they play in an organization.

 

[derg]

I've deleted my reply since this discussion has not added anything of value to the original thread. The same arguments have been repeated several times and I have documented my posts sufficiently.

It's the internet. You're supposed to fight and fight until you completely vanquish your enemy and they pray that they were never born.

The internet... You're doing it wrong.

(I'm kidding! )

 

[Aviator1988]

I agree with you 100%. You know the airplane and the student. I'm not going to introduce anything new on a FIRST solo. As the CFI, you are still responsible for the safe operation of that aircraft, and if you determine the parking brake to be a no-go item, then so be it.

As for the dispatcher, he needs to know that although his role is important, his authority does not extend to determining airworthiness. Furthermore to have the dispatcher question you in front of the student is unacceptable; at least at my flight school.

I remember a case where I was asked to fly an aircraft that had a problem of some sort. The discussion went like this:

Can you fly N123?

No, because ____ is wrong with it.

Well instructor X just flew it, so why can't you?

I'm not instructor X. Why don't you ask him to do it?

He's gone for the day. Just fly the plane- it's not that big a problem.

It's good to hear your uninformed opinion of the matter. My professional opinion is that the aircraft is not airworthy. Why don't you go learn how to fly then get back to me?



Admittedly not the nicest thing I've said to somebody, but sometimes people need to be reminded of the role they play in an organization.

agreed!

 

[Blackhawk]

I agree with you 100%. You know the airplane and the student. I'm not going to introduce anything new on a FIRST solo. As the CFI, you are still responsible for the safe operation of that aircraft, and if you determine the parking brake to be a no-go item, then so be it.

As for the dispatcher, he needs to know that although his role is important, his authority does not extend to determining airworthiness. Furthermore to have the dispatcher question you in front of the student is unacceptable; at least at my flight school.

I remember a case where I was asked to fly an aircraft that had a problem of some sort. The discussion went like this:

Can you fly N123?

No, because ____ is wrong with it.

Well instructor X just flew it, so why can't you?

I'm not instructor X. Why don't you ask him to do it?

He's gone for the day. Just fly the plane- it's not that big a problem.

It's good to hear your uninformed opinion of the matter. My professional opinion is that the aircraft is not airworthy. Why don't you go learn how to fly then get back to me?



Admittedly not the nicest thing I've said to somebody, but sometimes people need to be reminded of the role they play in an organization.

Flight school "dispatchers" that I have seen do nothing more than confirm that you have a computerized dispatch ticket. The computer checks the pilots qualifications (flight review, medical, solo endorsements, insurance, etc), aircraft status, W&B. If there is anything amiss the pilot can not print out a dispatch unless a CFI logs in and overrides the computer. No dispatch, no keys. No keys, no fly. I've never heard of a "dispatcher" telling a CFI to "just fly the airplane" and my response would be along the lines of yours.