I am a CFI, CFII, and MEI at a 141 flight school. I endorsed a solo student cross country and the student got lost and violated DFW class Bravo airspace. The paperwork was all in order and I am hoping I'm in the clear, but I only had 3 hours of instruction with the student and I'm concerned something might happen. I had picked the student up after one of the other instructors went on vacation. I wont slam you with details. Anyway if something bad happens and I end up with a violation on my record, do I have any chance of still getting hired by a regional/major in the future? I wasn't in the plane after all, but I'm concerned either way. Any guidance would be appreciated

 

First off, did you file a NASA ASRS report? Did the student?

Second, take it as it goes... students make mistakes. Just because they blundered into airspace doesn't equate a violation. Did you get a call from the FSDO or TRACON?

At the end of the day a violation isn't a career ender, but if I were you, I'd go back and make sure that you covered and documented everything that was required to send the student out solo (including all of the basic, precross-country solo requirements).

 

These things happen and it probably cannot result in a violation for you unless you omitted something in the training or documentation, or if it happens more than a couple times.

Actually the most likely outcome would be a 709 ride if they questioned your instructional skills, not a violation.

 

What did you do in your three hours with him? Did you do cross country procedures? If not, I'd say you're on the line for not checking him out before you signed him off for it.

I've flown a lot around DFW and found the controllers helpful and fairly forgiving with students. What are we talking here, did he/she clip the airspace near the edge or did he/she go cruising over the top of DAL?

Kinda sucks you got stuck with them because the other instructor disappeared. I'd have a good talk with that instructor about the student. Mistakes happen, but it's the regular instructor's job to catch stuff like that before sending them away with somebody else (or solo).

Mainly though, did you get a call from Regional or did the student get a number to dial? A lot would ride on whether that happened, and if so how it went.

 

Thanks for all the replies. I filled out a NASA report for both myself and the student. My 3 hours of instruction with him were all cross country. I didn't actually endorse solo flight for the kid, his primary instructor did. I endorsed the cross country flight planning. I documented all the cross country training i did with him on the ground (3 hours worth). I got a call from DFW TRACON, the guy was really nice about it all but said that he had to report it to the FSDO because a flew flights had to change altitude because of the student. The kid actually did fly through DFW's approach path. Any more responses would be appreciated

 

I can't see you being held responsible for this if all you did was sign off his planning/weather. If I had to guess, whoever signed off his initial CC would be more liable.

full disclosure that this is just wild speculation

 

Then again, that would depend completely on what the student's planning showed.

 

Ha, yes. You caught me there. I was assuming some level of competence from this particular CFI.

 

Once again thank you all for the answers and your time. The flight planning was completed, but the student did several things which jeopardized that. He verbally confirmed with me that he had called and received a weather briefing, but calling the briefer revealed that he actually didn't. He did file a flight plan, but never opened it. I had instructed him (again verbally) to get flight following for both legs of the trip, which he did not. The more investigating I do into this the more I find he lied to me and largely ignored my instruction. The student is a Chinese national who is here receiving training on an airline contract. He had a private certificate issued in china, and his attitude towards primary training hasn't been good. Also, another student had done that same cross country earlier that day. That student (who I also endorsed) had completed the trip successfully. The two students are friends, and I think they might have used the same flight plan and I didn't catch it. All this is just my word though, and I'm very worried. The incident occurred on 5/26 and I haven't even received a phone call yet, but it is the holiday weekend. Anyone know what the time line on this kind of thing might be? Any help on this would be appreciated

 

I had a friend who got a letter from the FAA (fortunately a tail number mix up) that he didn't receive until nearly two months after the "incident". So sadly you have quite some time.
If it's the school I'm thinking of I've worked there in the past and can absolutely understand the "attitude" comment about the students. I ran for the hills as soon as I could find another instructing job and never looked back.

The important thing is CYA. You've filed the reports. You've touched base with the instructor. You've properly documented that the student did not adequately prepare for or execute the flight. I would keep all that info stored away in case something does come up, with the NASA report right on top.