REFLECTOR: Moral Dilemma

[Scott Derrick]

I have a moral Dilemma  facing me.

An  acquaintance/friend bought a VeriEZ on the field here at GNT a 
couple years ago.  It was dismantled to be painted and had been sitting 
in that state for 8 years.   When he bought it a couple years ago I told 
him I would test fly it for him if it met my inspection standards.  I 
had considered buying it myself but wouldn't give the seller what he was 
asking for it. 

He is reassembling it now. The plane has sat for a long time but other 
than that is in pretty good shape.  It has about 1200 hours on the 
engine and airframe.    The avionics are crap, but it does have minimal 
engine gages and Day VFR instrumentation.

Well come to find out he hasn't flown in over 30 years.  Has MS.  He's 
about 65 years old. And he plans on strapping this EZ on to fly it back 
to Idaho!!  His new wife is taking lessons now in a 172 and is looking 
forward to learning how to fly the EZ.  Weird story I know.  I have a 
feeling he is planning on having her in the back seat to help out if he 
needs it!  Two half pilots do not make a whole one!

I finally sat them down and told him and her that I thought that his 
idea of restarting his flying career by getting in a EZ for a flight to 
Idaho was ludicrous and a really good way to get buried in Grants.  
Basically laid out a plan for him to get recurrent in the C172 our local 
instructor rents out, and then getting a few hours stick time in a Long 
or Cozy.  That would allow him to get up to speed enough to play around 
GNT in the VeriEZ for 5/10 hours with an additional 100/200 mile trips 
near here to get used to its long distance legs.  She seemed to think it 
was a good idea, he reluctantly agreed he could use a bit of dusting 
off.  He took a couple lessons in the C172 and of course couldn't land 
the thing.  I mean its been so long he is almost starting over and with 
his medical condition he may never be able to coordinate a landing.  
Especially in a VeriEZ!

My dilemma is I really don't want to see him in the plane.  I realize he 
is an adult and can do whatever he wants as long as he isn't impending 
anybody else's rights or well being.

But I'm not sure it would be a good idea for me to help him along by 
test flying the EZ.  It seems like I'm kinduv approving the idea to him 
by doing that.

I guess I just don't want to loose his friendship by refusing the help 
him. Not to mention the possibility of being a primary interviewee to a 
NTSB investigation!

what would you do..

Scott

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    "Just because I sound like an idiot doesn't mean I agree with the president."....from an ad on Air America Radio