Ramp Check!

[100LL... Again!]

JediNein-

Were all three accidents from the same school? That would get the FAA's attention.

We are killing our profession with this kind of stuff happening.

Often this kind of accident is the outcome from 'certificate-oriented' training instead of training to actually LEARN the required skills. Too often the MEI is earned right along with the other CFI tickect, and little respect is paid to the fact that multi training can kill you quicker than just about any other type.

A sufficiently skilled CFI is required to prevent this. Not just one with an fresh MEI. Spped kills, when it comes to training.

This also should shut anyone up who thinks that working as a CFI is a nowhere job when there are PFT jet jobs available. This is a serious job, and I have seen too many people regard it as the fast-food job of aviation. A good CFI is worth more than a good airline pilot,any day.

 

[skyking1976]

You may avert future ramp checks by telling the inspector that the airplane is grounded. If it is a flight school airplane I am sure you can find some minor little discrepancy to squawk and have maintenance fix it. Be sure to say that the problem occurred during flight (i.e. the armrest broke) or, if he gets you during your walk-around find something wrong.

I haven't tried this myself, but a CFI buddy of mine worked this angle a few years ago. The Feds can't ramp check an airplane that has an unrectified maintenance discrepancy. It needs to be deemed airworthy and signed off by an A&P first.

Cheers,
Skyking

 

[bobbysamd]

Paranoia

You guys are paranoid! If the inspector considered the discrepencies serious enough to affect airworthiness, he/she would have issued a written statement (Condition Notice) saying the discrepencies needed to be fixed before further flight. In the absence of that, he/she was trying to be helpful by pointing out minor gripes that might have occured inflight or were missed during preflight. No matter how serious the problems were, in order to process a violation the inspector must prove the discrepencies existed during the time the airplane was flown. This is hard to do and isn't worth the time and trouble unless you're on their s**t list.

I stated above that Batman should not worry unless he gets an FAA letter. However, I believe that a little paranoia is reasonable. Stories abound about the FAA's zealousness. Once it starts the paperwork ball rolling, it's hard to stop it. Or the clearing process can run amuck. Even though you might search your records and uncover nothing, there may be a piece of paper lurking somewhere just waiting to be found that could impair your career.

I greatly appreciate the comment above about the value of a CFI. As the saying goes, " . . . . . . the CFI is G-d!"

 

[jetdriven]

here's what you say to the fed as you finish the ramp check. Ask him "are there any violations on this aircraft or me if I take off". If he answers "no" then go fly!
he cannot lie.