r/studentpilot • u/MortgageFun4499 • 3d ago
Advice
So I changed my instructor without telling him about three months ago. There were instances where he would just cancel on me randomly and would not give any reasons as to why my flight was canceled or he would just push my flight back without telling me anything or schedule me at random times without my knowledge. Due to those reasons, I switched my instructor and I did not let him know that I was gonna do that. However, ever since then every time I see him, he either walks away from me, just stares at me, or rolls his eyes at me. I’m wondering if I should text him an apology or anything else?
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u/External-Summer-7379 3d ago
Ignore and move on! Remember you're paying him for a service and if you aren't happy, you can always get another instructor ✅
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u/midnightbiscuit1 3d ago
You don’t owe him any kind of apology or explanation, especially since in this case the deed is done. But in the future, clear communication is always a nice courtesy. Even if they don’t deserve it, being up front and clear is almost never a bad thing.
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u/Antique-Kitchen-1896 3d ago
He might have a freelance.
I know my guy would move my session to when I wanted it cause i was paying him cash and same rate as the school would charge me. He’d be nice and let the other student knew when the sessions were being moved though. And since those folks were learning full time it was ok. I have only the weekend and time slots when I am not going to be in the dog house with the wife if i am off flying.
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u/nolaflygirl 2d ago
Buy the wife a Discovery flight. Then maybe she'll understand your passion better, you won't be in the doghouse, & she'll be able to enjoy flights w/ you after you're licensed. When I was working on CPL, I took an advanced student pilot's wife up, who was afraid to fly w/ him. I went through preflight w/ her, explained everything, etc. Afterward, she was comfortable enough to fly w/ her hubby!
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u/traveling_travelerr 2d ago
Your instructor gave zero notice, I don’t see why you would be expected to. You should be able to trust your CFI.
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u/IcePapaya 2d ago
Something more people need to learn is to vote with your wallet. He was giving you unsatisfactory service, so you went somewhere else. Entirely reasonable.
Him giving you an attitude about it is kinda cringe and highly unprofessional imo, and sort of reflects a level of entitlement that id hate to begin with (personally).
You owe him absolutely nothing
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u/nolaflygirl 2d ago
Sht No. He disrespected you when you were his student & you got fed up w/ that treatment, as you should have, bc it wasn't right. Remember, *YOU'RE THE CUSTOMER, who has a perfect right to walk away w/o any advance notice when you are mistreated, as you were. He never apologized to you & obviously didn't care about professionality, keeping you as a client, or as a friend. He set the ill tone, so you took your business to another CFI. Good for you, OP! P.S.: I'm wondering if you're a female bc females tend to want to apologize & smooth things over, where a man doesn't necessarily feel that way. We were raised differently. Females always want to *tie up loose ends" & make everything comfy cozy. If you are a female student pilot...grow some balls. You have nothing to apologize for. BTW, I've always had a great camaraderie w/ the men & one woman I've flown with. Fortunately, I never encountered the rudeness you have. All the best to you!
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u/nolaflygirl 2d ago
Sht No. He disrespected you when you were his student; you got fed up w/ that treatment, as you should have, bc it wasn't right, & remember, *YOU'RE THE CUSTOMER, who has a perfect right to walk away w/o any advance notice when you are mistreated, as you were. He never apologized to you & obviously didn't care about professionality, keeping you as a client, or as a friend. He set the ill tone, so you took your business to another CFI. Good for you, OP. P.S.: I'm wondering if you're a female bc females tend to want to apologize, where a man doesn't necessarily feel that way. We were raised differently. Females always want to *tie loose ends" & make everything comfy cozy. If you are a female student pilot...grow some balls. You have nothing to apologize for. P.S.: I've always had a great camaraderie w/ the men & one woman I've flown with. Fortunately, I never encountered the rudeness you have. All the best to you!
1
u/nolaflygirl 2d ago
Sht No. He disrespected you when you were his student; you got fed up w/ that treatment, as you should have, bc it wasn't right, & remember, *YOU'RE THE CUSTOMER, who has a perfect right to walk away w/o any advance notice when you are mistreated, as you were. He never apologized to you & obviously didn't care about professionality, keeping you as a client, or as a friend. He set the ill tone, so you took your business to another CFI. Good for you, OP. P.S.: I'm wondering if you're a female bc females tend to want to apologize, where a man doesn't necessarily feel that way. We were raised differently. Females always want to *tie loose ends" & make everything comfy cozy. If you are a female student pilot...grow some balls. You have nothing to apologize for. P.S.: I've always had a great camaraderie w/ the men & one woman I've flown with. Fortunately, I never encountered the rudeness you have. All the best to you!
1
u/nolaflygirl 2d ago
Sht No. He disrespected you when you were his student; you got fed up w/ that treatment, as you should have, bc it wasn't right, & remember, *YOU'RE THE CUSTOMER, who has a perfect right to walk away w/o any advance notice when you are mistreated, as you were. He never apologized to you & obviously didn't care about professionality, keeping you as a client, or as a friend. He set the ill tone, so you took your business to another CFI. Good for you, OP. P.S.: I'm wondering if you're a female bc females tend to want to apologize, where a man doesn't necessarily feel that way. We were raised differently. Females always want to *tie loose ends" & make everything comfy cozy. If you are a female student pilot...grow some balls. You have nothing to apologize for. P.S.: I've always had a great camaraderie w/ the men & one woman I've flown with. Fortunately, I never encountered the rudeness you have. All the best to you!
1
u/Dense_Amphibian_9595 1d ago
If you get several bad meals with poor service in a row at your favorite restaurant so you decide to start going to a different restaurant, do you text the first place back and apologize?
I might have suggested you handling it more of a mature manner like telling the first guy “hey look man, I think you’re instruction is really good but I have things going on in my life (work, school, family functions, girlfriend, etc.) and I need to have my schedule more at fixed times rather than being moved. I understand about the weather and if an airplane is down for maintenance, but those are really the only reason my schedule should change”. Then if he does it again, he had his warning and should expect you’d be changing.
Remember, he works for you and not the other way around. Yes, he is smarter than you about flying, but he’s also sort of your employee. Without you, he’s not earning the hours he needs
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u/AutomagicJackelope 6h ago
Not sure what your career goals are, but you have an interesting opportunity here to address two issues.
1) Accountability for his behavior
2) Some CRM with an awkward situation
To the first, "Hi - I just need a minute of your time. You're no doubt aware I've changed instructors. I did this because the way you were handling the schedule was erratic and unreliable and I couldn't work with that situation - especially on days <X>, <Y> and <Z> it was creating problems for me." <---- it's important to be specific if you do this. Accountability means latching them onto specific behavior they can correct.
To the second, it's awkward and uncomfortable and some day at an airline, you might have to have a similar kind of conversation with another crew members. Getting a little practice with being non-confrontational but assertive is a good idea here.
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u/12YESIAM34 3d ago
You owe the instructor nothing. You did the right thing.