Interesting Aircraft Predicament
06-17-2010 | 06:24 PM
#12
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 848
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From: JS32 FO
Now now, there's plenty of us out there that are around 280 that easily pass the first class. 280 regardless of it's connotations is not as morbidly obese as it sounds. Especially if someone is a corn-fed country boy who worked on farms and has really big shoulders...
But seriously, don't do it. You've got some good advice. Best of luck. My experience says he'll react one of two ways. 1)If he really wants to learn and trusts you, he'll switch to the 172 and it will be a lesson learned for him. 2)If he isn't really into it, or acts like you're trying to swindle him, just shake it off. Chances are he wouldn't have finished and would have caused you anxiety about something else.
One way you could approach it is by doing a quick W&B lesson and let him see the numbers for himself. How he reacts can go a long way in determining what kind of student he would be. Again, nothing really complex, just show him what you're seeing.
06-17-2010 | 06:42 PM
#13
Moderator
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,056
Likes: 0
From: ATP, CFI etc.
I actually took my private pilot checkride in a 1982 Cessna 152. I had done all my training in one of these airplanes, had no experience in 172s; had only flown with a 98-pound female instructor. Come day of the checkride I was of course highly determined to pass and I worried endlessly about every detail. I ask the designated examiner (DE) what he weighs: 300 pounds. Almost had a heart attack. I thought, how can anybody get into aviation with guys like this for checkrides. I finally decide to fly to his airport for the check so that an exact minimum fuel was left. It was something like 8 gallons. Turns out he didn't even check weight and balance and returned to the airport after two stalls.
06-17-2010 | 06:43 PM
#14
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 2,842
Likes: 93
I really hope you are a new CFI. That is a question you should never have to ask. The fact that you think this is an option scares me. You may be a good CFI, but this little window shows me that either you don't respect the limitations of aircraft or the regulations. That is fine if you are some weekend flyer who flies alone, but you are responsible for teaching people with no experience. The things students learn in the first few hours stay with them forever. If you teach your student it is OK to exceed limitations and break regulations to save a bit of money, you will create an unsafe pilot.
06-18-2010 | 07:10 AM
#15
Self Employed.
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,120
Likes: 0
From: Corporate Pilot
Fat DE's
I actually took my private pilot checkride in a 1982 Cessna 152. I had done all my training in one of these airplanes, had no experience in 172s; had only flown with a 98-pound female instructor. Come day of the checkride I was of course highly determined to pass and I worried endlessly about every detail. I ask the designated examiner (DE) what he weighs: 300 pounds. Almost had a heart attack. I thought, how can anybody get into aviation with guys like this for checkrides. I finally decide to fly to his airport for the check so that an exact minimum fuel was left. It was something like 8 gallons. Turns out he didn't even check weight and balance and returned to the airport after two stalls.
Skyhigh
06-21-2010 | 08:18 PM
#17
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 160
Likes: 0
From: CFI in training
...and whose mama always said he had big bones...
But seriously, don't do it. You've got some good advice. Best of luck. My experience says he'll react one of two ways. 1)If he really wants to learn and trusts you, he'll switch to the 172 and it will be a lesson learned for him. 2)If he isn't really into it, or acts like you're trying to swindle him, just shake it off. Chances are he wouldn't have finished and would have caused you anxiety about something else.
One way you could approach it is by doing a quick W&B lesson and let him see the numbers for himself. How he reacts can go a long way in determining what kind of student he would be. Again, nothing really complex, just show him what you're seeing.
But seriously, don't do it. You've got some good advice. Best of luck. My experience says he'll react one of two ways. 1)If he really wants to learn and trusts you, he'll switch to the 172 and it will be a lesson learned for him. 2)If he isn't really into it, or acts like you're trying to swindle him, just shake it off. Chances are he wouldn't have finished and would have caused you anxiety about something else.
One way you could approach it is by doing a quick W&B lesson and let him see the numbers for himself. How he reacts can go a long way in determining what kind of student he would be. Again, nothing really complex, just show him what you're seeing.
06-21-2010 | 08:25 PM
#18
Does NOT get weekends off
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,631
Likes: 0
From: ERJ - 145
2 stalls and thats it for a private?!? Did you have to do anything else?
06-22-2010 | 04:28 AM
#20
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 383
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From: EMB-170 FO
A student of mine was 6'2 350lbs and wanted to get his Private in the 172SP. With me at 6' and 200lbs, I told him his options: (1) Fly the 182 or (2) Find an instructor that weighs 120lbs. He went with option #2.
It's not worth flying an overweight airplane by exceeding the limitations and breaking the rules. You need to set an example as a CFI.
It's not worth flying an overweight airplane by exceeding the limitations and breaking the rules. You need to set an example as a CFI.
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