PIC4ever

Is there a website or FAA link I could file a formal complaint against my FORMER (as of yesterday) Flight Instructor for inappropriate behavior and unsafe actions in the plane?

KiloAlpha

What did he do?

PIC4ever

Took control of the aircraft from me with out the proper commands, (I have control of the airplane, You have control, etc.) and without warning or a "hold on" pulled a zero gravity 300 ft dive. Which caused a guest passenger to lose it. Hysterically crying and shaking in fear of her life and wanted to get out of the plane RIGHT THEN because she was so scared. He thought it was funny.

ctd57

Personally I would take it up with him before filling a complaint. Talk about it man to man, or maybe you already did. I know that is not cool what he did, I would have never done it unless I saw something that you didn't. Maybe a bird or another plane. Obviously you are pretty pi###d about it, did it constitue safety of flight as in where you close to the ground or all most stall and crash. If not I would leave the FAA out of this because you don't want to possibly ruin his aviaiton career. Obviously I don't know all of the facts, but from what you have said, that is what I would do. You can always use a threat of turning him in to the FAA.

PIC4ever

This "stunt" was the 2nd one in this flight (yawed the plane completely sideways). After I previously warned him NOT to do things like this because it scares her. He did them both as a joke, and we were at 3000 ft. and thought it was funny. He and I did have a conversation about it after the flight and he already knew she was freaked out about doing various steep turns and stalls, and he said, "oh she'll get over it." I told him it was inappropriate and I didnt apprciate it and his response was "oh well." The owner of the school has been notified and is, I assume taking action.

FlyerJosh

If you've notified the owner of the school, I would personally let the issue drop. Getting the FAA involved in anything can be dangerous- both for him and possibly you. IMHO, It's best not to attact attention to yourself if possible.

I would follow up however and see what actions the owner of the school takes, as well as ask for an apology from that instructor to your passenger.

Pilotpip

I agree with the others. Take it up with the instructor and his manager/employer. Getting the FAA involved will really have no positive recourse for you either. A stunt like that at my flight school would leave you benched for a week, or maybe even terminated if there was repetition to the complaints.

The instructor obviously has an issue with decision making and good judgement. However, more could be done about this internally than anything. Don't just notify the management, have a sitdown with them before you continue your training with anybody else. I would have serious questions about not only his conduct, but the conduct of the rest of the flight school. This could be an isolated case, but if they are allowing this person to instruct how many others do they have there who are exhibiting such poor judgement?

Third, if you have any friends who are skittish about going up make sure that you're the only other one in the aircraft (assuming you have your private certificate) and minimize the things that would make them nervous. Go up early in the morning to limit turbulence, make shallow turns whenever possible, and keep the climbs and descents to around 500fpm where safety dictates that this is possible. If you're still a student, cross countries are great flights to introduce others to GA as well.

rickair7777

If everything happened exactly as you say, with no exaggeration, I would consider the situation to be a serious problem. I have never known a CFI to behave in that fashion (violent aircraft manuevers), and any who did at the places I have worked would have been terminated immediately.

While I would normally be loathe to go to the FAA about individual pilot actions, the one exception is a situation where emotional stability or serious judgement failure is an issue...was it an honest mistake that he learned from? I sounds like he didn't really take it to heart...

This guy needs at least a serious beat-down that he will never forget, and possibly an aeromedical evaluation. If you feel that he's not quite stable or if he might do this kind of thing in the future, yes go to the local FSDO (be sure that all of YOUR regulatory ducks are in a row regarding that flight).

You're the only one with enough info to make the decision. Do you think you might read about this guy in an NTSB report? How would you feel if at some point in the future he killed someone other than himself?

FlyerJosh

One additional option that hasn't been mentioned is to see out a local aviation safety counselor (not an inspector, but somebody that has been designated by the FAA to keep the interest of safety in the forefront).

Aviation Safety Counselors are private individuals dedicated to the promotion of aviation safety. They serve as volunteer field representatives of the Aviation Safety Program under the direction of the district Safety Program Manager. Aviation Safety Counselors act as advisors to the aviation community but have no legal enforcement authority nor are they trained or employed as FAA aviation safety inspectors. Counselors are selected for their interest in contributing to aviation safety, ability to communicate with their peers, their professional knowledge, and their personal reputation in the aviation community. Counselors may have either a pilot or maintenance background or both.

ASCs are managed by the local FSDO offices, and can usually be found via the FAA/FSDO website, or by contacting the local office and just asking for contact info. You can call a counselor and explain what happened, and let them intervene on your behalf.

These are some of the duties of an ASC:

-Reporting hazardous conditions encountered at airports, with charting, navaids, or with the ATC system.

-Counseling pilots who may have been observed to commit unsafe acts on the ground or in the air. This may be at their own initiative or at the suggestion of the Safety Program Manager.

-Speaking at local pilot association/flying club/maintenance association or FSDO-conducted safety meetings.

-Assist with FSDO-conducted safety seminars in terms of audio-visual equipment setup, operation, and takedown.

-Promote the FAA Pilot Proficiency Award (WINGS) Program for pilots and the FAA Aviation Maintenance Technician Award Program for technicians.

-If qualified as a flight instructor, to conduct WINGS pilot proficiency flights; and upon referral by the FSDO, to conduct Remedial Training.

-Contribute articles to the local FSDO newsletters.

-Assist in the distribution of safety brochures and videotapes at FSDO-sponsored brochure racks and video lending libraries throughout the district.

-To help establish and then to serve as representatives on Airport Safety Committees.

-Provide advice and guidance on local flying conditions, weather, and terrain to student pilots and transient pilots alike.

Laxrox43

Your prevous instructor is immature, and had/has no concideration of you or others on board. He seems to be the type that is in it for the money and flight time so he can move on. He doesn't take it serious. So the best thing you can do (as I am sure you already have) is ditch him. You are hurting him in more ways then one. He won't gain flight hours, and he won't have nearly as fat of a paycheck. Now for a starving CFI...having a smaller income...sucks!

As much as it stinks, just move on to a new flight instructor. I hope that your girlfriend/wife is ok. Hopefully you will be able to convince her to get back in the air with you...

...What a jerk...