Bob Harris’ Flying School
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Hiding between the Animal Bar and the Suave Bar
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Don't know why the current ad, but I have worked for Bob in the past and would work for him again if the opportunity arose.
Bob is a very experienced instructor, but he's no dinosaur and is happy to see his staff making good use of computer briefs, etc. He is also a dab hand at txting, as anyone who's been reminded that he'll be on the ground soon and it's almost beer o'clock, would attest. He does not suffer fools easily, nor tolerate poor performance arising from a lack of preparation or application, or poor attitude, and you will hear about it. He has, however, overlooked some of my own disasters when he saw that it was the best that I could do on the day. He expects performance appropriate to the level of experience and training from his students and staff.
Innisfail is great for flight training - CTAF, 2 crossed runways including sealed and grass, NDB approach, Class C just up the coast, and the whole range of IFR approaches/arrivals near by.
But I suspect that one reason there is a bit of turnover is the location. Innisfail is not so good for an active social life. It's a pleasant enough town but the AeroClub is about all there is for entertainment. Cairns is close and there's good socialising there (imho ...), but it's not realistically close enough to live there and commute every day. Maybe some of the others who've worked there know better options than I did.
Bob is an excellent employer. He is the only GA employer I've had who noticed that I'd missed something from the Award and brought it to my attention and then paid me more as a result. Paid me on-time, every time, all allowances and amounts, and erred on the side of overpayment, rather than penny-pinched. He also paid me for being on standby even when we both knew that there was zero chance that there would be a call-out.
Bob is a very experienced instructor, but he's no dinosaur and is happy to see his staff making good use of computer briefs, etc. He is also a dab hand at txting, as anyone who's been reminded that he'll be on the ground soon and it's almost beer o'clock, would attest. He does not suffer fools easily, nor tolerate poor performance arising from a lack of preparation or application, or poor attitude, and you will hear about it. He has, however, overlooked some of my own disasters when he saw that it was the best that I could do on the day. He expects performance appropriate to the level of experience and training from his students and staff.
Innisfail is great for flight training - CTAF, 2 crossed runways including sealed and grass, NDB approach, Class C just up the coast, and the whole range of IFR approaches/arrivals near by.
But I suspect that one reason there is a bit of turnover is the location. Innisfail is not so good for an active social life. It's a pleasant enough town but the AeroClub is about all there is for entertainment. Cairns is close and there's good socialising there (imho ...), but it's not realistically close enough to live there and commute every day. Maybe some of the others who've worked there know better options than I did.
Bob is an excellent employer. He is the only GA employer I've had who noticed that I'd missed something from the Award and brought it to my attention and then paid me more as a result. Paid me on-time, every time, all allowances and amounts, and erred on the side of overpayment, rather than penny-pinched. He also paid me for being on standby even when we both knew that there was zero chance that there would be a call-out.
Moderator
From my knowledge of Bob over a number of years, I would have to endorse Unhinged's comments.
I would have to agree with Unhinged as well. I have known Bob for 20 years. He conducted my initial CPL test in 1989 and has done every IFR renewal for me to date. The two companies I worked for in Cairns from 1990 to 2000 used him as well to do all our pilots IFR and instructor renewals. I can assure you we would never have used him all this time if he was difficult to deal with or unreliable.
Latest rumour is that he currently has a 14,000 hr pilot there for a CIR renewal who has been going for 2-3 weeks with no renewal in sight
I have done my last 10 or so CIR renewals with Sideshow Bob. He is a great bloke - very thorough and professional. One of the best instructors that it has been my pleasure to fly with.
Dr
GADRIVR
Why? Do you really think they are going to tell me or anyone else here if they are incompetent? Having known Bob for 20 years I know whose story I would believe.
I'd be talking to the instructors that have left!
Last edited by 404 Titan; 3rd Nov 2009 at 12:00.
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Australia
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So Titan....are you saying that the instructor/s that have left or are about to leave....are incompetent??
Interesting comment.....completely unprofessional, gutless, tactless as well as moronic. Perhaps you need to do some research and have a think about what you're posting. Some may find it worthy of further legal action.
Idiot!
Interesting comment.....completely unprofessional, gutless, tactless as well as moronic. Perhaps you need to do some research and have a think about what you're posting. Some may find it worthy of further legal action.
Idiot!
GADRIVR
No it isn’t what I am saying. My point is and has quite obviously been missed by you is that if it was their fault do you thing they will tell me or anyone else here. Of course not.
Oh I am so scared. 
Go ahead let them take legal action. As I haven't named them here or anywhere else and most if not all here wouldn't know them from a bar of soap their good name hasn't been tarnished.
I suggest if you know so much how about you tell us what happened or are you afraid of slander as well?
Maybe I should take legal action against you after all you called me an idiot on a public forum and you have hurt my feelings.
are you saying that the instructor/s that have left or are about to leave....are incompetent??
Some may find it worthy of further legal action.
Go ahead let them take legal action. As I haven't named them here or anywhere else and most if not all here wouldn't know them from a bar of soap their good name hasn't been tarnished.I suggest if you know so much how about you tell us what happened or are you afraid of slander as well?
Maybe I should take legal action against you after all you called me an idiot on a public forum and you have hurt my feelings.
I cannot profess to know Bob on a personal level, but I have had some professional dealings with his flying school in recent times in a capacity other than my primary flying employment.
I will also state that I have recommended Bob's training to others based on his reputation and the feedback that I have received from valued colleagues about their experiences with him. It is all too rare to find a flying instructor who is a true professional and will give a trainee the proper foundation in the industry based on a sense of altruism and a desire to make a difference, rather than simply grab some money or fill a logbook. That is worth taking a punt on, in my book.
Whatever may have been true in the past, unfortunately, I could see little evidence of it recently. The school appears tired and the environment feels like it is stuck in a 20 year old rut. The aircraft were very shabby and without going into it too far, had some issues.
Bob himself was very brusque and not portraying the example of what one might expect of a man of high regard in the industry, in my opinion. I appreciate his lack of tolerance for "incompetence", I am a bit the same way, and I agree with doing things the traditional way in the industry - flying is a hard world and requires discipline and resilience - but one must be careful not to appear as a cynical / arrogant negative personality...
A crying shame, but I was very disappointed in what I saw.
I will also state that I have recommended Bob's training to others based on his reputation and the feedback that I have received from valued colleagues about their experiences with him. It is all too rare to find a flying instructor who is a true professional and will give a trainee the proper foundation in the industry based on a sense of altruism and a desire to make a difference, rather than simply grab some money or fill a logbook. That is worth taking a punt on, in my book.
Whatever may have been true in the past, unfortunately, I could see little evidence of it recently. The school appears tired and the environment feels like it is stuck in a 20 year old rut. The aircraft were very shabby and without going into it too far, had some issues.
Bob himself was very brusque and not portraying the example of what one might expect of a man of high regard in the industry, in my opinion. I appreciate his lack of tolerance for "incompetence", I am a bit the same way, and I agree with doing things the traditional way in the industry - flying is a hard world and requires discipline and resilience - but one must be careful not to appear as a cynical / arrogant negative personality...
A crying shame, but I was very disappointed in what I saw.
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: QLD, Australia
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GADRIVR
What you and your esteemed instructor mates are up against is the reputation of THE MOST respected instructor in North Queensland. If people are failing to give credibility to your "fly by night" instructor mates, don't take it personally. Those who have known and respected Bob for a long long time come from ALL areas of fixed wing aviation in Nth Qld, and will regard any negativity towards him with great suspicion.
I would accept Bob's opinion before ANY other instructor I have met anywhere in Australia.
Bob does not "give away" CIR's. I would suggest this chap needs the training.
Bob trains people to be pilots, not monkeys who know the rules. He trains to a standard, not a time frame. At the same time he is not guilty of dragging training out to glean a few more dollars off the poor student.
What you and your esteemed instructor mates are up against is the reputation of THE MOST respected instructor in North Queensland. If people are failing to give credibility to your "fly by night" instructor mates, don't take it personally. Those who have known and respected Bob for a long long time come from ALL areas of fixed wing aviation in Nth Qld, and will regard any negativity towards him with great suspicion.
was regarded as a good instructor by everyone except Bob
Latest rumour is that he currently has a 14,000 hr pilot there for a CIR renewal who has been going for 2-3 weeks with no renewal in sight.
I haven't yet heard of someone's GFPT pre-flight test taking 4 hrs (and I know it was not knowledge issues).
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Big Eyes.
I think you have enough information here to make your own decisions.
I think you have enough information here to make your own decisions.
