Not Signing Off
 

Recently I had an older gentleman come into the flight school I work at for a flight review. He did poorly to say the very least on both his ground and the flight. I signed his log as dual instruction, but not for a BFR sign off, and then asked him to schedule another flight with me. In a huff he left, and suffice it to say he hasn't scheduled a lesson.

Apparently he has been not only flying (if it can be called that) but flying Young Eagles flights! I haven't seen this take place so that I could stop or question him, but what is my legal responsibility? I do feel a moral responsibility to stop this guy, but if he hurts someone before he's stopped, I am the last instructor he's flown with.

Because of this I am thinking of making a written policy that any pilot who has not flown XX hours in the past year automatically needs three horus of flight time for my sign off. That way there are no ifs, ands, or buts. Any suggestions? And what should X be?

I am a little tired of folks expecting a one hour wonder flight review and a sign off. (Don't worry Photon, if you read this, instructing is still good)

If you didn't sign off the BFR then you only gave him the dual instruction. The AC specifically states not to endorse a un-satisfactory log in a logbook but to continue training and log it as dual given. I'd say you'll be ok.

Are you positive he didn't fly with someone else? Hard to believe someone would come for a BFR and then fly without it. I know he seemed mad, but he came to become legal again. Oh well, keep us posted!!!

Haha :p

As to the decision, seems like the right one to me, he shouldn't be flying if he couldn't perform. Btw, "young eagles" is that the program where kids get to fly? Would seem he's not the best candidate :confused:

Then do something about it!

I am the last person in the world to want to get someone in trouble, but some people just don't get it. Safety is involved here. It's one thing if you goes out and just hurts himself, but if he hurts a Young Eagle...

If you are still concerned, contact your local FSDO and get the name of your local FAA SafetyTeam member (the old Aviation Safety Counselor). Inform him or her of the situation. Let them do the follow-up. They are not FAA, but are the next step. They have been trained in the proper procedures to ensure not only safety, but the flying privileges of the pilot in question.

You made the right decision and action pertaining to his sign-off as dual-given only. I'd definately try to follow up and ask around if he got his BFR sign-off.

Under normal circumstances I would just assume that he got a BFR elsewhere unless you know for fact that he didn't, since a CFI does not have a moral responsibility to be a detective or FAA enforcer.

However, if you have REASON to suspect that he did not (or was incable of) getting a BFR from someone else you might talk to the FSDO.

I'd be very reluctant to do this, but the young eagles thing might tip the scales on that.

You have to go with your gut...if you suspect he's not legal to fly kids around, better speak up. In fairness to the guy, don't give the FAA a lot of ammo about the guy's bad attitude and poor skills...coming from a CFI, that alone could get him a 709 ride even if he is legal. Just express concern that he might not have completed a BFR.

If he is legal, involving the FSDO should not harm him...they should just look at his logbook and medical.

Thanks to all for your advice!