Bad experience with instructor? Or was it just me?
 

Hi

Couple of months ago, after speaking to many schools I booked (and paid for up front)a lesson in an R22.

I initially had it scheduled for a Saturday, but then rescheduled it for the Friday before, and gave 3 WEEKS notice in advance, so as to give the instructor ample notice to work around this. He said, Fine, but ring on the day to check the weather.

Come the Friday of the lesson, I rang at 9am, and weather was poor at the airfield, and the instructor said we could prob fly between showers if I wanted and vis was poor, so I asked if we could reschedule for when weather was better?

Ok, I dont know if this was a big mistake on my part, because, he then started having a right go at me and raised his voice slightly, saying I cant be that serious etc etc, and then said

"It doesnt make a difference to me anyway, as you mentioned you were thinking of going to America to do most of your training"

I could easily have chosen my local school (which would have worked out cheaper when I factor in fuel for the 1 and a half hour drive to the school in question) but I chose the school as I thought they seemed really good, and I guess maybe I was wrong?

From peoples experience here, is it taboo at schools to reschedule due to poor weather(as it was on Fri 17th March) and was I wrong in doing this, or was the instructor just having a bad day?

Thanks

Garfs

It certainly is NOT you. If instructors responded like this every time bad weather forced a reschedule then they would soon have no students. You will find the opposite happens more often, i.e. the instructor cancels the flight because the aircraft has "gone tech". This usually means it has not been properly maintained or they don't have the cash to repair it.

If I were you I would go elsewhere. It is imperative that you get on well with your instructor and even if you are going to the USA to train, you are giving a school the opportunity to show you why you should not.

Good luck with your training

G0lfer

Thanks for your 2 cents worth. I'm lucky I've only paid for the one lesson, so I think i WILL go elsewhere.

Now I just hope the lesson wont be too awkward when I go for it as the instructor is probably well on this forum, and will know I am referring to him when he reads this.

Garfs

Garfs

I would take the lesson you have paid for then move if you are still not happy. Flying is expensive enough without giving schools money for nothing.

Go to the US, you'll probably be treated right and you won't have to cancel or swap that many days for weather.
That instructor sounds like a :mad: anyway, when I was doing that job, the student was the employer, without him, there IS no job!
Most instructors you'll find are very accomodating and there is really no excuse for anything else.

Yes he was really nice when I 1st rang him, but I guess when he heard I was planning on doing the bulk of my training in America, he didnt care anymore.

G0lfer yes I will be taking the lesson I've paid for, and will see what its like with him, as I am certainly not going to just let him have my money

Garfs

Very unprofessional of that instructor, but it doesn't say all instructors are like that.

Personally if the student feels uncomfortable (with the weather in this case) I just reschedule. I think flying has to be fun for the student(customer) especially when he/she is spending a lot of money.

But that's just my 2 cents.

g0lfer,

You said:

In my opinion, you are treading on VERY dodgy ground, to make a sweeping statement of that degree could land you in some trouble!

I have experience of maintenance on flying school machines, and I think you are talking out of turn, it is more often than not because a student with few hours has come along and broken the aircraft due to inexperience, than poor maintenance or lack of funds.

Although on a major repair financial issues can play a part, this is not the kind of day to day situation that would unexpectedly cause an aircraft to be taken offline.

Poor maintenance, is just not an option. Any company maintaining flying school aircraft, in my opinion, uses the same amount of integrity as they would on any other aircraft, and in come cases are more concious of the fact that the aircraft is going to be abused by low-time pilots (much like a learner driver car).



Garfs,

I think he must have had a row with his missus that morning!! Just a bad day. :ok:

It was extremely unprofessional of the instructor to act that way!

On marginal weather days, I usually let the student decide - I tell them we may or may not be able to fly, that we may have to abandon the lesson early, that they may not enjoy it that much due to high winds, snow, or whatever, but that they can fly if they want, or reschedule if they prefer. Some people say they just want to get airborne, and so long as it's safe, that's OK with me. Some say they'd rather come on a really nice day - also OK.

However, don't be too hard on the instructor...yet! He may have been having a bad day, as we all do. He may have been stressed because he's making no money due to this unseasonable March weather...I know just how he feels!!! Not an excuse for his behaviour, but understandable.

So take the lesson you've paid for, and then make your decision. But remember - the most important thing in the PPL(H) course is having an instructor you trust and get on well with.

And if he reads this forum, don't worry. He might learn something.

Good luck, whatever you do. :ok:

WhirlyBird

Yes I am giving him another chance, and putting it down to him having a bad day.

I emailed him later on in the day, politely expressing my feelings, and made sure not to come across as sounding angry, but just dissapointed.

After all, we all have bad days and I certainly hope what he said to me was down to this.

Garfs

gOlfer,

"This usually means it has not been properly maintained or they don't have the cash to repair it"

:eek: Wow - quite a sweeping statement, and as a school owner I feel disappointed that you would suggest this to a new student. Yes, poor maintenance may be an issue at a very few schools, or the difficulty of financing a major unexpected problem, but surely you must believe that there are the odd school or two who do not fall into this category? Aircraft do go unexpectedly tech for allsorts of reasons, I've lost an aircraft for a day because of things like bird strikes, alternator failure, and other simple things that are not forseeable. They are maintained as Public Transport C of A (as was) but sometimes poo happens.

Garf, don't be put off by the instructor - flying is too much fun, find another if he is awkward and unprofessional - you are the CUSTOMER paying wads of cash. Happy flying!
FF01

I have received a reply from my instructor.

He said he was not irate, and just said the weather was good enough for other students, so I could have flown if I really wanted to.

Oh well, whatever it is, I am just looking forward to my lesson which is coming up soon, and heres hoping it goes well:)

Garfs

P/S To my instructor if you are reading this I am not trying to turn people against you or anything (therefore not mentioning the school) and hope we will be able to keep our student-instructor relationship professional

With a reply like:
I would say Whirlybird has hit the nail squarely on the head:
Do not feel bad Garfs, yes it was no money for the instructor that flight. But how long did it take you to earn that money to pay for the flight had you gone ahead?

It was not as if you had just not turned up (possibly the most annoying student habit)

Hey Mongoose,

Thanks for the reassurance. All the best

Garfs

Hmmm, I don't like the sound of this guy. That is NOT how you treat a new student and paying customer.

Give it a go, Garfs, but tread carefuly if that's his usual attitude. :(

As an example, I was booked to do my first trial lesson one November. I rang my instructor early that morning to see what the weather was like - I had an hour and a half drive like you.

His words were that it would have been OK if I was part way through a PPL and flew it dual (not solo) but, as this was my first lesson and he wanted me to enjoy it, he suggested rescheduling it.

However, the difference may well have been in the way he was paid. Salaried!

Cheers

Whirls

A tad harsh, Whirls! Not all freelancers are looking at the mighty buck.

There are always one or two like that, agreed. Strangely they are generally the ones that students seem to come and chat to you about, usually in the context of not flying so much with them anymore! ;)

Student pilots often have that uncanny knack, like small children, of being very perceptive of motive!

paying it forward...
 

Always come to proon first - I've managed to find the best training providers through this web site, and sorted out the seedy and crappy outfits, which is more than likely the majority. The regulars can feed you with tried and tested recommendations to significantly improve your chances of finding just what you're looking for. Most of the genuine prooners have nothing to gain than purely paying it forward.

PS - anyone want a 6 week old baby ?:ooh:

Tired FS

My sentiments exactly. It was going to be my 1st ever such flight and also a birthday present from my girlfriend (it was my birthday yesterday), so therefore I wanted it to be memorable, i.e. nice weather and great visibility.

After all the build up. . don't get too disapointed if you can't do it!

:}