Shane131

Hi all, first time poster. I have no one else to ask for advice. I am a 53 y/o man, who has been training on and off since about '92. Financial reasons.

Long story short, I finally soloed on July 4th, 2017. AeroPro EuroFox. I an American who lives in Europe, so I had to make two 12 day visits to the US to do the training, buy insurance for this CFI's airplane, etc. A lot of travel costs, flight , hotel, car rental. Jet lag.

So I solo, we leave on great terms, never a problem between us, at all. He says he will send the video over to me. After I get back home, the video never arrives in my email. So I politely text and ask how it's coming with the video. "I'm working on it", or "I'm working on my property, will do it later", etc.

His responses get progressively more passive/aggressive. I know I have no legal recourse,; it's his phone and he took the video. Just venting. This was a 25 year journey for me, and my 8 year old son was so excited to see it, and my father is on his last legs in assisted living; I thought it would boost his spirits and make him feel proud.. I told my CFI all this in a text. He just went silent on me. He owns the plane, so no boss or company to complain to.

Thought or comments appreciated. Thanks guys/gals.

Shane131.

badflaps

Sounds like it may not exist.

Shane131

Well, that's certainly a possibility. But why lie and say it does, and say you will send it to me, etc...

As I taxied back to him he had the thing out, videoing me, or at least making it look like it was videoing. Then telling me later he will send it via Wetransfer(dot) com, etc. ( a video uploading and transfer site for high Gig/longer vids. )

Just makes no sense to a reasonable person.

Lagoon

Send him an email telling him how you felt when you soloed. Share your excitement and how you finally achieved something you have been working on for more than 20 years and thank him for his help and support during training. Leave it at that! But be sure to open by thanking him....blah blah blah....training...support. You get the idea.

It might spark a semblance of humanity in him and he will reminisce about his own experience when he soled and that might prompt him to send you the video.

Shane131

Lagoon, thanks for replying. There's a slim chance that may work, but I've started to think he just takes pleasure out of all this. Like a Narcissist Personality Disorder type thing.
He knows I have no recourse. Some people just take joy out of knowing that they have something you REALLY want, and not give it to you.
If he won't send it, when I told him my father is dying in an assisted living facility, and my 8 year old was so excited to see what hid dad had done, I just doubt their is any humanity in him that can be reached.

We had a fine relationship while training. I always paid him on time and we talked about family issues, etc. Never any problems. We parted on good terms and all that. I said I would be back in August to practice cross-country and all that. I did notice he had mood swings, like giving me the silent treatment before a flight. I asked while taxiing if everything was ok, and he just would give me a quick, "yeah", when I know something is not right.
I think he has some issues. He is 63 or 65 years old, dyes his hair surfer blond, so my guess is he is a bit vain. But I'm no psychologist.
Thanks for listening.

Shane.

Shane131

My plan now is to go back to the US and just recreate the event in a Cessna 152. (my original trainer). The EU won't let you you solo without a medical, and who needs the hassle?

But I was proud that I was solo endorsed in the AeroPro EuroFox in 11.4 hours, which is stick and rudder, and a bit touchy and more difficult to fly than the Cessna. And I really can't find another US CFI or school that uses the Eurofox. At least I can't find one.

I guess it's just a lesson learned in life. A very hard lesson.