Flight Instructor with 600hrs Dual Given looking for options
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Flight Instructor with 600hrs Dual Given looking for options
Hello Everyone
I'm having to leave the US in 1 month as my student visa is expiring and it being virtually impossible to find a sponsor.
I have my CFI, CFII and going on my MEI checkride next week, and truly love to Flight Instruct.I would like to continue for another 2 years before perusing other avenues within aviation.
Hence, if there is anyone anywhere in the world that knows of establishments accepting FAA licenses I would GREATLY appreciate your input and advice. I have exhausted all search resources and have applied to Bali Flight Academy, Lombok Institute of Flight Technology and Asia Pacific Flight Training. Again any further input on these establishments and others would be a major major plus for me presently.
Thanks for taking the time to read,
Nojoy
I'm having to leave the US in 1 month as my student visa is expiring and it being virtually impossible to find a sponsor.
I have my CFI, CFII and going on my MEI checkride next week, and truly love to Flight Instruct.I would like to continue for another 2 years before perusing other avenues within aviation.
Hence, if there is anyone anywhere in the world that knows of establishments accepting FAA licenses I would GREATLY appreciate your input and advice. I have exhausted all search resources and have applied to Bali Flight Academy, Lombok Institute of Flight Technology and Asia Pacific Flight Training. Again any further input on these establishments and others would be a major major plus for me presently.
Thanks for taking the time to read,
Nojoy
Last edited by NoJoy; 9th Jul 2012 at 19:36. Reason: adding ratings
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Originally Posted by NoJoy
I have exhausted all search resources and have applied to Bali Flight Academy, Lombok Institute of Flight Technology and Asia Pacific Flight Training. Again any further input on these establishments and others would be a major major plus for me presently.
Lombok Institute of Flight Tech - The Hong Kee boss is still not ready. Only a few planes started flying. No licence conversation which means even if you work here, you can't jump ship to any Indonesian Airline without your licence converted.
APFT - You need to have min 200 dual instruction and 500 tt inorder for DCA Malaysia to accept. APFT has tons of graduates loitering around, doing nothing.
No chance for you be an FI at the moment in these flight schools you mentioned.
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AVOID LIFT!
I was one of the first instructors to work there and left after only three months due to safety and was soon followed by my co-worker as well as a mechanic and the dispatch. Here is the reason why:
http://highroadtoindonesia.********....max-results=22
This blod was written by Kate who has been flight instructing since 1978.
Today in the Jakarta post there is a lawsuit against LIFT from the instructors who were hired after I had left.
Fired foreign flyboys cry foul at Lombok flight school | The Jakarta Post
"Fired foreign flyboys cry foul at Lombok flight school
Panca Nugraha, The Jakarta Post, Mataram | Archipelago | Wed, January 30 2013, 7:17 AM
A-AA+
Paper Edition | Page: 5
Three foreign flight instructors were fired by the PT Lombok Institute of Flight and Technology (PT LIFT) for refusing to use an aircraft not deemed airworthy, their lawyer says.
The instructors — identified as American Matthew Coen, 39; Spaniard Victor Cobo, 28; and German Selvia Staudinger, 31 — reported their employer, who sponsored their visas, to the immigration office in Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), according to their lawyer, I Gede Sukarmo.
“We reported the issue to the Mataram immigration office because our clients have been unfairly dismissed,” Sukarmo said at the office on Monday. “Their employer, PT LIFT, failed to report the matter to the immigration office.”
The instructors claimed that they were wrongfully dismissed on Dec. 12.
“The case ensued because my clients refused to fly a training plane that they deemed was not airworthy,” Sukarmo said.
The aircraft in question, a relatively new US-made Liberty XL2 two-seat, low-wing, general aviation aircraft that the flight school used for training, was no longer able to reach 2,000 feet, the lawyer said.
“Our clients feared for their safety. They acknowledged that they often encountered faults during training flights.”
Sukarmo said that his efforts to broker a mediated settlement with PT LIFT — a standard though optional practice under Indonesian law — were rebuffed, leading the instructors to file a report with immigration officials. The men also claimed that they had not yet been paid their monthly salary of US$4,900.
“We reported the matter to the immigration office so my clients could receive protection. As foreign citizens, they currently have no sponsor. They will become victims in the case,” Sukarmo said.
The lawyer said he would also file a police report claiming that PT LIFT, as his clients’ sponsor, had violated manpower and immigration laws.
Separately, Mataram Immigration Office head I Wayan Sudana confirmed he had received a complaint from the instructors.
According to immigration rules, companies that retract their sponsorship of expatriate employees must file a report with immigration — something that PT LIFT had apparently yet to do, he added.
Sudana said that PT LIFT would be summoned to address the allegations.
Sudana said that the flight school may have breached Article 63 of Law No. 6/2011 on immigration.
“A sponsor who fails to report the people who they sponsor to immigration can face a five-year sentence if proven guilty,” Sudana said.
PT LIFT, which operates out of the now-closed Selaparang Airport in Mataram, declined to comment.
“I cannot comment because the matter is being handled by our lawyer in Jakarta,” PT LIFT human resources development manager Syukro told reporters.
PT LIFT is a flight training institute operating at the former Selaparang Airport in Mataram since early 2012. The school was opened in November 2010 and operates three Liberty XL2 aircraft, according to its website."
I cannot stress enough about staying away from this school. It is unsafe due to management and ownership.
I have been a flight instructor since 2005 and have given over 3000 hours of dual instruction and this is by far the most dangerous flight training establishment in the world and I have been all over the world and seen many different flight training establishments.
http://highroadtoindonesia.********....max-results=22
This blod was written by Kate who has been flight instructing since 1978.
Today in the Jakarta post there is a lawsuit against LIFT from the instructors who were hired after I had left.
Fired foreign flyboys cry foul at Lombok flight school | The Jakarta Post
"Fired foreign flyboys cry foul at Lombok flight school
Panca Nugraha, The Jakarta Post, Mataram | Archipelago | Wed, January 30 2013, 7:17 AM
A-AA+
Paper Edition | Page: 5
Three foreign flight instructors were fired by the PT Lombok Institute of Flight and Technology (PT LIFT) for refusing to use an aircraft not deemed airworthy, their lawyer says.
The instructors — identified as American Matthew Coen, 39; Spaniard Victor Cobo, 28; and German Selvia Staudinger, 31 — reported their employer, who sponsored their visas, to the immigration office in Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), according to their lawyer, I Gede Sukarmo.
“We reported the issue to the Mataram immigration office because our clients have been unfairly dismissed,” Sukarmo said at the office on Monday. “Their employer, PT LIFT, failed to report the matter to the immigration office.”
The instructors claimed that they were wrongfully dismissed on Dec. 12.
“The case ensued because my clients refused to fly a training plane that they deemed was not airworthy,” Sukarmo said.
The aircraft in question, a relatively new US-made Liberty XL2 two-seat, low-wing, general aviation aircraft that the flight school used for training, was no longer able to reach 2,000 feet, the lawyer said.
“Our clients feared for their safety. They acknowledged that they often encountered faults during training flights.”
Sukarmo said that his efforts to broker a mediated settlement with PT LIFT — a standard though optional practice under Indonesian law — were rebuffed, leading the instructors to file a report with immigration officials. The men also claimed that they had not yet been paid their monthly salary of US$4,900.
“We reported the matter to the immigration office so my clients could receive protection. As foreign citizens, they currently have no sponsor. They will become victims in the case,” Sukarmo said.
The lawyer said he would also file a police report claiming that PT LIFT, as his clients’ sponsor, had violated manpower and immigration laws.
Separately, Mataram Immigration Office head I Wayan Sudana confirmed he had received a complaint from the instructors.
According to immigration rules, companies that retract their sponsorship of expatriate employees must file a report with immigration — something that PT LIFT had apparently yet to do, he added.
Sudana said that PT LIFT would be summoned to address the allegations.
Sudana said that the flight school may have breached Article 63 of Law No. 6/2011 on immigration.
“A sponsor who fails to report the people who they sponsor to immigration can face a five-year sentence if proven guilty,” Sudana said.
PT LIFT, which operates out of the now-closed Selaparang Airport in Mataram, declined to comment.
“I cannot comment because the matter is being handled by our lawyer in Jakarta,” PT LIFT human resources development manager Syukro told reporters.
PT LIFT is a flight training institute operating at the former Selaparang Airport in Mataram since early 2012. The school was opened in November 2010 and operates three Liberty XL2 aircraft, according to its website."
I cannot stress enough about staying away from this school. It is unsafe due to management and ownership.
I have been a flight instructor since 2005 and have given over 3000 hours of dual instruction and this is by far the most dangerous flight training establishment in the world and I have been all over the world and seen many different flight training establishments.
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Disappointing
Denis,
Honestly, I really expected more from someone like you. A flight instructor who I truly idolized when in Lombok for the first time, has reduced himself to posting various items of slander, and forwarding slanderous articles (a lot of the information in which aren't even true, one of which being, the XL2 was "no longer able to reach 2000 feet").
Fairly given, I am a fresh CPL IR graduate from the school, but have equally had my own disputes with LIFT, ruling out any favoritism. Setting aside my age of 20, I managed to deal with my problems, and solve them with the people in question, in a professional, and respectable manner, not resulting in degrading the name of a school by telling as many people as possible about it.
For everyone else reading this, I would personally like to confirm no problems longer exist with the aircraft. A numerous amount of test flights have been undertaken on the aircraft, with highly experienced engineers, one of which actually on the team of initial engineers who helped to design the aircraft, and consultations with TCM (the XL2 engine manufacturer), have confirmed that the aircraft are performing at exceptional levels.
I am Jack Forrest, an Expat student who studied my PPL, CPL, and Instrument Rating, all in LIFT, and currently studying with LIFT to become a Flight Instructor. ALL of the current staff have been incredibly helpful to me. If any people has any serious questions regarding anything about LIFT, and would like them answered in a true, non-biased, or non-degrading way (as was here), please don't hesitate to contact me in any way, and I would be glad to help.
I hope everyone reading this can make the smart decision for themselves, and not get reduced to such a level of abuse.
Fly Safe!
Honestly, I really expected more from someone like you. A flight instructor who I truly idolized when in Lombok for the first time, has reduced himself to posting various items of slander, and forwarding slanderous articles (a lot of the information in which aren't even true, one of which being, the XL2 was "no longer able to reach 2000 feet").
Fairly given, I am a fresh CPL IR graduate from the school, but have equally had my own disputes with LIFT, ruling out any favoritism. Setting aside my age of 20, I managed to deal with my problems, and solve them with the people in question, in a professional, and respectable manner, not resulting in degrading the name of a school by telling as many people as possible about it.
For everyone else reading this, I would personally like to confirm no problems longer exist with the aircraft. A numerous amount of test flights have been undertaken on the aircraft, with highly experienced engineers, one of which actually on the team of initial engineers who helped to design the aircraft, and consultations with TCM (the XL2 engine manufacturer), have confirmed that the aircraft are performing at exceptional levels.
I am Jack Forrest, an Expat student who studied my PPL, CPL, and Instrument Rating, all in LIFT, and currently studying with LIFT to become a Flight Instructor. ALL of the current staff have been incredibly helpful to me. If any people has any serious questions regarding anything about LIFT, and would like them answered in a true, non-biased, or non-degrading way (as was here), please don't hesitate to contact me in any way, and I would be glad to help.
I hope everyone reading this can make the smart decision for themselves, and not get reduced to such a level of abuse.
Fly Safe!
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Lombok Institute of Flight Technology - LIFT
I was an instructor at LIFT until recently.
We suffered numerous power loss problems in all three of the aircraft over the last 6 months. At first, the power loss incidents were only once a week until November when we were experiencing problems almost everyday. At that point, we had no choice but to stop flying the aircraft. Unfortunately, management did not appreciate the safety issues involved and we were all told that if we did not continue to flythe aircraft we would all be fired from our jobs.
Management were advised back in August 2012 that the problem was caused by the fuel they were using and that they needed to import fuel from somewhere else such as Australia. Unfortunately they did not act on that advice and fuel from Australia never came.
I have never met Denis as he had already left by the time I joined the company, but he is right to say that LIFT is an unsafe operation.
The chief mechanic wrote an email to the owner Mr Edmond Fung on 2nd September 2012 and said...
“Honestly, we (maintenance department) are a lack of experience to maintain piston engine”
Paul Everitt (Liberty Expert and Consultant to Mr Edmond Fung) wrote to Mr Fung on 20th August 2012 and said.....
“Lives are directly at risk because of this situation. If we continue to use bad fuel and then have an accident as a result of this, LIFT will have no way out in any legal case, as it will be entirely our fault”.
He also wrote ......
“So there is no doubt that they (BP Australia) can supply good 100LL Avgas at less cost that what we are paying now, although shipping etc will add to it”
There is also photographic evidence of the ‘contamination of the fuel’ and a audio clip of the owner (Edmond Fung) admitting there is a ‘problem with the fuel’ from a meeting I had with him on 7th December 2012.
The purpose of my post is to give you information and not simply rumours.
If you are thinking of going to LIFT as an instructor, you will be flying aircraft that suffer from ‘power loss’ on an almost daliy basis with a management team that will force you to fly the aircraft regardless of how unsafe it is. You will also find yourself unable to leave the country without first paying between $3000 - $4000 back to LIFT to cover the cost of your flight, work permit and medical. There is a Russian instructor there now who is having this problem and he is still unable to leave after 1 month of trying to get out of Indonesia.
If you are thinking of going to a LIFT as a student, you will be joining a flight school with more than 40 students who need in excess of 8000 instructional hours with no flight instructors in an unsafe training environment. Even if the aircraft were airworthy and they imported fuel today;and they found 6 instructors overnight, it would still take the company almost 1 year to clear the backlog of students before you started your flight training.
Myself and the other instructors are currently suing LIFT for wrongful dismissal. This is not abuse or rumour. Our case is based on fact and I certainly would not employ a lawyer if I did not have a strong case to take to a court of law.
If you would like to see the emails, photos and recordings concerning the operation there, send me a PM and I will forward the documentation to you.
We suffered numerous power loss problems in all three of the aircraft over the last 6 months. At first, the power loss incidents were only once a week until November when we were experiencing problems almost everyday. At that point, we had no choice but to stop flying the aircraft. Unfortunately, management did not appreciate the safety issues involved and we were all told that if we did not continue to flythe aircraft we would all be fired from our jobs.
Management were advised back in August 2012 that the problem was caused by the fuel they were using and that they needed to import fuel from somewhere else such as Australia. Unfortunately they did not act on that advice and fuel from Australia never came.
I have never met Denis as he had already left by the time I joined the company, but he is right to say that LIFT is an unsafe operation.
The chief mechanic wrote an email to the owner Mr Edmond Fung on 2nd September 2012 and said...
“Honestly, we (maintenance department) are a lack of experience to maintain piston engine”
Paul Everitt (Liberty Expert and Consultant to Mr Edmond Fung) wrote to Mr Fung on 20th August 2012 and said.....
“Lives are directly at risk because of this situation. If we continue to use bad fuel and then have an accident as a result of this, LIFT will have no way out in any legal case, as it will be entirely our fault”.
He also wrote ......
“So there is no doubt that they (BP Australia) can supply good 100LL Avgas at less cost that what we are paying now, although shipping etc will add to it”
There is also photographic evidence of the ‘contamination of the fuel’ and a audio clip of the owner (Edmond Fung) admitting there is a ‘problem with the fuel’ from a meeting I had with him on 7th December 2012.
The purpose of my post is to give you information and not simply rumours.
If you are thinking of going to LIFT as an instructor, you will be flying aircraft that suffer from ‘power loss’ on an almost daliy basis with a management team that will force you to fly the aircraft regardless of how unsafe it is. You will also find yourself unable to leave the country without first paying between $3000 - $4000 back to LIFT to cover the cost of your flight, work permit and medical. There is a Russian instructor there now who is having this problem and he is still unable to leave after 1 month of trying to get out of Indonesia.
If you are thinking of going to a LIFT as a student, you will be joining a flight school with more than 40 students who need in excess of 8000 instructional hours with no flight instructors in an unsafe training environment. Even if the aircraft were airworthy and they imported fuel today;and they found 6 instructors overnight, it would still take the company almost 1 year to clear the backlog of students before you started your flight training.
Myself and the other instructors are currently suing LIFT for wrongful dismissal. This is not abuse or rumour. Our case is based on fact and I certainly would not employ a lawyer if I did not have a strong case to take to a court of law.
If you would like to see the emails, photos and recordings concerning the operation there, send me a PM and I will forward the documentation to you.
Last edited by Gold Seal; 11th Feb 2013 at 02:47.
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In reply to Alex
In reply to Alex:
Letter to editor: Clarification from PT LIFT | The Jakarta Post
The Aircraft, like all other aircraft ever designed and produced, have had their problems.
Look at the reasonably new Boeing 787 Dreamliner? Battery and Fuel Problems.
Airbus A380: Engine Problems (Concerning RR)
Cessna Most Models: Check with the thousands of accident and incident reports found.
The bottom line is, all aircraft have their problems, especially when relatively new on the market. The Liberty XL-2 is no different.
The real reason that the aircraft haven't been off of the ground in a while don't actually have much to to regarding the airworthiness of the aircraft, but possibly the people flying (or not flying) them.
For others who do not wish to view the above information from a biased view, see the thread below which gives various user opinions regarding the aircraft, performance, flight characteristics, and other factors, before making such a decision.
The article: Liberty XL2 • View topic - New Liberty prospective buyer and introduction
The article: “Fired foreign flyboys cry foul at Lombok flight school” (The Jakarta Post, Jan. 30, page 5) does have some valid points I must admit, however the majority of the information including the 'fact' the the XL-2 can 'no longer climb more than 2,000' ' was entirely false. The aircraft itself were (and still are) more than capable of it, but the people flying them, maybe not so much....
Letter to editor: Clarification from PT LIFT | The Jakarta Post
The Aircraft, like all other aircraft ever designed and produced, have had their problems.
Look at the reasonably new Boeing 787 Dreamliner? Battery and Fuel Problems.
Airbus A380: Engine Problems (Concerning RR)
Cessna Most Models: Check with the thousands of accident and incident reports found.
The bottom line is, all aircraft have their problems, especially when relatively new on the market. The Liberty XL-2 is no different.
The real reason that the aircraft haven't been off of the ground in a while don't actually have much to to regarding the airworthiness of the aircraft, but possibly the people flying (or not flying) them.
For others who do not wish to view the above information from a biased view, see the thread below which gives various user opinions regarding the aircraft, performance, flight characteristics, and other factors, before making such a decision.
The article: Liberty XL2 • View topic - New Liberty prospective buyer and introduction
The article: “Fired foreign flyboys cry foul at Lombok flight school” (The Jakarta Post, Jan. 30, page 5) does have some valid points I must admit, however the majority of the information including the 'fact' the the XL-2 can 'no longer climb more than 2,000' ' was entirely false. The aircraft itself were (and still are) more than capable of it, but the people flying them, maybe not so much....
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PK-JACK. If you are going to quote an article in your post, you should firstly check how valid and accurate that article is.
According to LIFT's lawyers letter, we were not actually 'fired', and we left the hotel of our own free will on 6th December. However, my contract was terminated on the 12th December by letter (which I can send you a copy of) and I was asked to leave the hotel on 14th December (for which I have a receipt of my room service bill showing that I was staying there until the 14th December).
And yes, some aircraft have had problems when they first come into service. However, unlike the 787 recently, LIFT did not think that 'power loss' in a single engine aircraft warranted grounding the fleet until a solution was found. What were suppose to do ? Fly the aircraft until someone had an accident ?
Firstly you say that you agree that the aircraft has problems and then you go on to say that the problem was the instructors who did want to fly the XL2. You completely contradict yourself
According to LIFT's lawyers letter, we were not actually 'fired', and we left the hotel of our own free will on 6th December. However, my contract was terminated on the 12th December by letter (which I can send you a copy of) and I was asked to leave the hotel on 14th December (for which I have a receipt of my room service bill showing that I was staying there until the 14th December).
And yes, some aircraft have had problems when they first come into service. However, unlike the 787 recently, LIFT did not think that 'power loss' in a single engine aircraft warranted grounding the fleet until a solution was found. What were suppose to do ? Fly the aircraft until someone had an accident ?
Firstly you say that you agree that the aircraft has problems and then you go on to say that the problem was the instructors who did want to fly the XL2. You completely contradict yourself
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What I'm saying is agreed. The aircraft did have its issues, and they had all the right to ground them for the reasons. However, the comment that the aircraft 'was no longer able to reach 2,000 feet', you also know yourself, was a plain lie.
Another post, actually made by you, in a different thread 'Instructing in Indo' on 25th of January, 2013 at 08:36:
Stating that the owner is trying to 'force people to fly even though they have had a number of engine failures', was also a HUGE lie. The closest any of the 3 aircraft came to an engine failure was the power loss after takeoff. That flight was with me. Due to the circumstances, I took the correct action, by putting the power to idle, and landing straight ahead (as if an engine failure occurred). The instructor with me (I won't say who for private reasons), disagreed with my decision to abort the flight, took control, and applied full throttle.
All of them issues have now been fixed, and 12 flights over 1 1/2 weeks have taken place flawlessly.
Regardless of the issue, keeping to the truth is always the best idea in any issue/debate. That way, the public will not be misinformed with any false information.
Another post, actually made by you, in a different thread 'Instructing in Indo' on 25th of January, 2013 at 08:36:
Stating that the owner is trying to 'force people to fly even though they have had a number of engine failures', was also a HUGE lie. The closest any of the 3 aircraft came to an engine failure was the power loss after takeoff. That flight was with me. Due to the circumstances, I took the correct action, by putting the power to idle, and landing straight ahead (as if an engine failure occurred). The instructor with me (I won't say who for private reasons), disagreed with my decision to abort the flight, took control, and applied full throttle.
All of them issues have now been fixed, and 12 flights over 1 1/2 weeks have taken place flawlessly.
Regardless of the issue, keeping to the truth is always the best idea in any issue/debate. That way, the public will not be misinformed with any false information.
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PK-JACK
Jacky-o, you better pick your battles. This is not your battle nor does it concern you. If you wanna make it yours, be very very careful. Everyone knows why you chose to do your license in Indonesia.
Oh, and the instructor, who saved your life when you had the power loss on upwind, sends regards and wishes you good luck!
Again, be wise. Putting down the people who have taught you how to fly, is not a wise decision. And it certainly shows what kind of person (and pilot) you are.
Oh, and the instructor, who saved your life when you had the power loss on upwind, sends regards and wishes you good luck!
Again, be wise. Putting down the people who have taught you how to fly, is not a wise decision.
And it certainly shows what kind of person (and pilot) you are.
Last edited by Fokker Friendly; 12th Feb 2013 at 00:47. Reason: Didn't want Jacky-o picking on my grammar...
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Why do you think I choose to do my license here?
Luckily that was the case during that flight. I made the correct action by aborting, and the instructor admitted that shortly after the flight (After giving M/X a talk), followed by an apology, which I was grateful about.
This issue does both concern and affect me as this will be my place of work.
I do show high respect for the people who taught me well during my training. Its when people act like this that respect is lost.
I am acting in a professional manner, and please, do not, in any way make a threat to me. Just remember that I have been in this country for the past 8 years, and not just a 'tourist'.
Luckily that was the case during that flight. I made the correct action by aborting, and the instructor admitted that shortly after the flight (After giving M/X a talk), followed by an apology, which I was grateful about.
This issue does both concern and affect me as this will be my place of work.
I do show high respect for the people who taught me well during my training. Its when people act like this that respect is lost.
I am acting in a professional manner, and please, do not, in any way make a threat to me. Just remember that I have been in this country for the past 8 years, and not just a 'tourist'.
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You did the correct action as a student pilot. No doubts about it.
The problem is are insulting your former instructors, stating they are not professional for grounding the fleet when for weeks you had power losses on a daily basis.
You are really insulting your instructor that saved both your lives that day, condemning *his action as inadequate.
He was able to identify the engine still was alive but not responding 100%. Therefore, applied full power, leveled off, and performed a low and short circuit to land on the active runway.*
And.... Yes, that day, the aircraft was not able to reach 2000 ft, because it was barely able to maintain the altitude.
To perform a forced landing away from the runway at Lombok airport, considering the bad conditions of the terrain, and that liberty xl2 has the fuel tanks just below the pilots seat, instead of the wings like usually almost all single engine training aircrafts, would probably end up in a tragedy.*
Anyway, the worst, is not the fact you are questioning the professionalism of your instructors grounding the fleet, or the action that your instructor took that day.*
The worst is LIFT management put pressure one more time after these events to keep flying as usual, threatening them and screaming at them.*
And this is really bad, considering that wasn't an isolated case. We have had many of them and becoming more frequent and dangerous.*
In the last 6 months the flight crew was keeping in a proactive behavior for their own personal benefit and for the benefit of the school and the students. But, enough is enough. Specially when the management is not taking any actions except to pressure them to fly.
And by the way, you should make a couple of calls to some schools in US, Canada, Europe or Australia, and ask them what the policies and procedures are in case of a fuel contamination.
And while you are at it, ask them what their opinion is with regards to management allowing fresh CPL holders to perform test flights after 6 months of recorded power losses and engine failures.*
Regards,
One of the fired flyboys.
The problem is are insulting your former instructors, stating they are not professional for grounding the fleet when for weeks you had power losses on a daily basis.
You are really insulting your instructor that saved both your lives that day, condemning *his action as inadequate.
He was able to identify the engine still was alive but not responding 100%. Therefore, applied full power, leveled off, and performed a low and short circuit to land on the active runway.*
And.... Yes, that day, the aircraft was not able to reach 2000 ft, because it was barely able to maintain the altitude.
To perform a forced landing away from the runway at Lombok airport, considering the bad conditions of the terrain, and that liberty xl2 has the fuel tanks just below the pilots seat, instead of the wings like usually almost all single engine training aircrafts, would probably end up in a tragedy.*
Anyway, the worst, is not the fact you are questioning the professionalism of your instructors grounding the fleet, or the action that your instructor took that day.*
The worst is LIFT management put pressure one more time after these events to keep flying as usual, threatening them and screaming at them.*
And this is really bad, considering that wasn't an isolated case. We have had many of them and becoming more frequent and dangerous.*
In the last 6 months the flight crew was keeping in a proactive behavior for their own personal benefit and for the benefit of the school and the students. But, enough is enough. Specially when the management is not taking any actions except to pressure them to fly.
And by the way, you should make a couple of calls to some schools in US, Canada, Europe or Australia, and ask them what the policies and procedures are in case of a fuel contamination.
And while you are at it, ask them what their opinion is with regards to management allowing fresh CPL holders to perform test flights after 6 months of recorded power losses and engine failures.*
Regards,
One of the fired flyboys.
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Lombok Institute of Flight Technology - LIFT
LIFT management continually doubted the decisions of the instructors and that is why we were given the ultimatum in a meeting on 7th December, that we either “flew the aircraft or we were out of Indonesia”.
There is no biased opinion of the situation here. Simply, the school has suffered from numerous power losses of varying degree over several months. The four instructors were ultimately fired because the situation grew worse and we could no longer fly the aircraft and maintain a level of safety. Instead of appreciating the seriousness of this issue, LIFT management forced the instructors into a situation where they either flew the aircraft or they lost their jobs. We all understand that flight instructing is a business that requires turnover (in this case flight hours), however safety is the key to any aviation business and this can never be compromised. LIFT management do not share this view and below is an email from Edmond Fung (owner of LIFT) to a prospective Spanish instructor in December which demonstrates this...
> Date: Sat, 15 Dec 2012 00:12:19 +0700
> From: [email protected]
> To: [email protected]
> CC: [email protected]
> Subject: Re: Documents Pedro Diaz
>
> Pedro.
>
> Yes, we have problem due to fuel issue and we have been proactive to
> solve the problem.
> Our FI lost their confidence in Mechanics.
> I do not want to say bad things on others especially they are young guys
> and still need a future.
>
> BIFA last year has three planes down, we are lucky still keeping a clean
> record.
>
> If this is your decision. We will respect it.
>
> Regards,
> Edmond.
You can clearly see that Mr Fung acknowledges that the problem is created by the fuel and that LIFT is ‘lucky’not to have had an accident up until that point. But what is more concerning is that he is quoting another schools accident record..... is he suggesting that there is some sort of ‘acceptable number of accidents’ that can be tolerated even when there is a known problem with the operation ?
I would also like to clarify a point regarding Fuel Vaporization. In November 2012, one of Mr Fung’s expat engineers asked the four instructors to turn on the ‘boost pump’ during any power loss incidents to see whether the engines would recover from the problem. I personally tried this and on two occasions, it made nodifference to the power loss. One of the incidents was on upwind and the aircraft would not climb higher than 300 feet AGL. The issue is not Fuel Vaporization
There is no biased opinion of the situation here. Simply, the school has suffered from numerous power losses of varying degree over several months. The four instructors were ultimately fired because the situation grew worse and we could no longer fly the aircraft and maintain a level of safety. Instead of appreciating the seriousness of this issue, LIFT management forced the instructors into a situation where they either flew the aircraft or they lost their jobs. We all understand that flight instructing is a business that requires turnover (in this case flight hours), however safety is the key to any aviation business and this can never be compromised. LIFT management do not share this view and below is an email from Edmond Fung (owner of LIFT) to a prospective Spanish instructor in December which demonstrates this...
> Date: Sat, 15 Dec 2012 00:12:19 +0700
> From: [email protected]
> To: [email protected]
> CC: [email protected]
> Subject: Re: Documents Pedro Diaz
>
> Pedro.
>
> Yes, we have problem due to fuel issue and we have been proactive to
> solve the problem.
> Our FI lost their confidence in Mechanics.
> I do not want to say bad things on others especially they are young guys
> and still need a future.
>
> BIFA last year has three planes down, we are lucky still keeping a clean
> record.
>
> If this is your decision. We will respect it.
>
> Regards,
> Edmond.
You can clearly see that Mr Fung acknowledges that the problem is created by the fuel and that LIFT is ‘lucky’not to have had an accident up until that point. But what is more concerning is that he is quoting another schools accident record..... is he suggesting that there is some sort of ‘acceptable number of accidents’ that can be tolerated even when there is a known problem with the operation ?
I would also like to clarify a point regarding Fuel Vaporization. In November 2012, one of Mr Fung’s expat engineers asked the four instructors to turn on the ‘boost pump’ during any power loss incidents to see whether the engines would recover from the problem. I personally tried this and on two occasions, it made nodifference to the power loss. One of the incidents was on upwind and the aircraft would not climb higher than 300 feet AGL. The issue is not Fuel Vaporization
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Saw this on the "Orange Website"
200 hours of dual is all that's required.
February 12, 2013
KOREA AEROSPACE UNIVERSITY (Flight Instructors - South Korea)
Tel: +82-2-300-0224
Website: none
200 hours of dual is all that's required.
February 12, 2013
KOREA AEROSPACE UNIVERSITY (Flight Instructors - South Korea)
Tel: +82-2-300-0224
Website: none
Join Date: Jan 2013
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Lombok Institute of Flight Technology - LIFT
Below is a link to a website showing the flights that LIFT have flown over the last 2 months since we were fired. This information completely contradicts what PK-JACK has stated in this forum.
https://app.spidertracks.com/Home.mvc/ViewUserTracks?sid=wioyHnGt9tP0hNtoNYtTStWiPkNQ0GJoBG1yNy-s3svzmm5X2JcWZdWBfEl9qtob
Quote....
“Various maintenance flights (both local,and to the nearby island of Sumbawa
Besar) have been completed with exceptional results”
What results ? Only one out of the threeaircraft has been flown since the instructors grounded the aircraft. The ‘Spidertracker’website clearly shows that only PK-LLA has flown since 7th December.PK-LLB and PK-LLC are not even at the airport. They were ‘trucked’ to the company’s hangar at the closed ‘Selaparang Airport’ in December and they have remained there ever since. Also a round trip to Sumbawa at an average of 90 kts indicated airspeed takes approximately 2 hours. The longest flight listed on the ‘Spidertracker’ is only 1 hour 10 minutes.
Quote...
“For everyone else reading this, I would personally like to confirm no problems longer exist with the aircraft. A numerous amount of test flights have been undertaken on the aircraft, with highly experienced engineers, one of which actually on the team of initial engineers who helped to design the aircraft, and consultations with TCM (theXL2 engine manufacturer), have confirmed that the aircraft are performing at exceptional levels”
How can you state that the aircraft are performing at exceptional levels when only one of the XL2’s has been flown ?There has not been numerous test flights as you state as the majority of these nine flights have been performed with a local instructor and students.
Quote...
“All of them issues have now been fixed,and 12 flights over 1 1/2 weeks have taken place flawlessly”
There has been only 9 flights since 7th December 2012 and they have all been in PK-LLA. The other two aircraft (PK-LLC and PK-LLB) were ‘trucked’ to the company’s hangar and have not been flown once since 7th December.
In one of your posts, you quote...
Regardless of the issue, keeping to the truth is always the best idea in any issue/debate. That way, the public will not be misinformed with any false information.
....You should really take your own advice and keep to the truth yourself so that potential students and instructors are not given false information about the operation at LIFT
https://app.spidertracks.com/Home.mvc/ViewUserTracks?sid=wioyHnGt9tP0hNtoNYtTStWiPkNQ0GJoBG1yNy-s3svzmm5X2JcWZdWBfEl9qtob
Quote....
“Various maintenance flights (both local,and to the nearby island of Sumbawa
Besar) have been completed with exceptional results”
What results ? Only one out of the threeaircraft has been flown since the instructors grounded the aircraft. The ‘Spidertracker’website clearly shows that only PK-LLA has flown since 7th December.PK-LLB and PK-LLC are not even at the airport. They were ‘trucked’ to the company’s hangar at the closed ‘Selaparang Airport’ in December and they have remained there ever since. Also a round trip to Sumbawa at an average of 90 kts indicated airspeed takes approximately 2 hours. The longest flight listed on the ‘Spidertracker’ is only 1 hour 10 minutes.
Quote...
“For everyone else reading this, I would personally like to confirm no problems longer exist with the aircraft. A numerous amount of test flights have been undertaken on the aircraft, with highly experienced engineers, one of which actually on the team of initial engineers who helped to design the aircraft, and consultations with TCM (theXL2 engine manufacturer), have confirmed that the aircraft are performing at exceptional levels”
How can you state that the aircraft are performing at exceptional levels when only one of the XL2’s has been flown ?There has not been numerous test flights as you state as the majority of these nine flights have been performed with a local instructor and students.
Quote...
“All of them issues have now been fixed,and 12 flights over 1 1/2 weeks have taken place flawlessly”
There has been only 9 flights since 7th December 2012 and they have all been in PK-LLA. The other two aircraft (PK-LLC and PK-LLB) were ‘trucked’ to the company’s hangar and have not been flown once since 7th December.
In one of your posts, you quote...
Regardless of the issue, keeping to the truth is always the best idea in any issue/debate. That way, the public will not be misinformed with any false information.
....You should really take your own advice and keep to the truth yourself so that potential students and instructors are not given false information about the operation at LIFT
Last edited by Gold Seal; 14th Feb 2013 at 04:25.
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Hello Jack. First of all I hope you are doing well, and I am glad you can start already your career in aviation, I bet you are very excited about it. However I would like to suggest you a few things. I am approching as a colleage, we all are working in aviation industry and we all always try to put in our mind " safety comes first" . I know you are probably underpressure since you are working for LIFT, but Jack ,you have to understand that the way you speak about us is not profesional and respectful,plus you are emberessing yourself from your lack of knowlegde, no offense. The chief instructor is a great pilot who has more than 5000h in different aircraft including turboprop, the other instructor that you mentioned saying he did not want to fly because one of the nav light was not working is a very profesional and intellegent person who in fact was the first one to notice the contamination problem in the system, and probably saved all our lives including myself. The assistant chief instructor is an outstanding pilot who has been working for probably one of the best flight academy in the world, and as for me I consider that being in this industry for 10 years, flying in 8 different countries (USA, UK, Spain, Egipt, Jordan, Indonesia,etc..) gives me the right to think that i understand a bit about my profesion. If we decided that the airplanes were not OK to fly is because there were enough reasons for it. Im not going to get involed on all this, but I guess I have to come clear about the inccident we both experienced unfortunally.
After take off we both noticed a high power loss around 200ft, (not a TOTAL engine failure), as you mentioned you decided to reduce the throttle back to idle, then I took control applying full power. I took this desicion because first of all we did NOT loose the engine and for your information there is a fuel tank below the seat covered with a very weak frame and supported by a weak landing gear as well (you can do the math). If I told you that you did OK, its because we have always seen you very scared at flying and not very confident when weather or engine conditions were not perfect, like being in clouds, engine running a bit roughly, etc.. plus after seeing you almost crying and hyperventilating in the cockpit during the power loss after T/O, I thought it would be better to tell you that you did right. I appologize for not being honest at that time, but I thought that was the best for you to know at that moment, probably i shouldve told you later about the situation, but I was dealing with all the problems that LIFT is having, then I had to leave for personal reasons. I hope you dont take this in the wrong way, I think and hope you will success in your career but if you want to take an advice, its better to say "I dont know" than pretend you undertsand something that you do not.
P.S: regarding you had information coming engineers of LIFT: these people have ever had any experience in piston before working for LIFT plus their lack of knowledge is frankly scary. Other than our own reseach about the fuel contamination we have total support from a very good mechanic specialized in the liberty XL2 who recommended us not to fly.
After take off we both noticed a high power loss around 200ft, (not a TOTAL engine failure), as you mentioned you decided to reduce the throttle back to idle, then I took control applying full power. I took this desicion because first of all we did NOT loose the engine and for your information there is a fuel tank below the seat covered with a very weak frame and supported by a weak landing gear as well (you can do the math). If I told you that you did OK, its because we have always seen you very scared at flying and not very confident when weather or engine conditions were not perfect, like being in clouds, engine running a bit roughly, etc.. plus after seeing you almost crying and hyperventilating in the cockpit during the power loss after T/O, I thought it would be better to tell you that you did right. I appologize for not being honest at that time, but I thought that was the best for you to know at that moment, probably i shouldve told you later about the situation, but I was dealing with all the problems that LIFT is having, then I had to leave for personal reasons. I hope you dont take this in the wrong way, I think and hope you will success in your career but if you want to take an advice, its better to say "I dont know" than pretend you undertsand something that you do not.
P.S: regarding you had information coming engineers of LIFT: these people have ever had any experience in piston before working for LIFT plus their lack of knowledge is frankly scary. Other than our own reseach about the fuel contamination we have total support from a very good mechanic specialized in the liberty XL2 who recommended us not to fly.
