REFLECTOR: Moral Dilemma

[Scott Baker]

I have come to the belief that pilot skills are not 'just like riding a 
bicycle'.
It scares me when out-of-date pilots feel that all they need to do to get 
current is 'take it around the patch' and everything will be okay.
I don't know if this feeling comes from "The older I get, the better I was" 
scenerio (misguided self confidence) - or perhaps people are sometimes just 
stupid.
Sometimes pilots of certified aircraft just don't understand the risks 
associated with operating an Experimental aircraft.  They take it for 
granted that all of the aircraft systems will work because that's the way it 
has always been.  Your friend may be someone "who does not know what he does 
not know".  You know that it is important to verify the fuel is feeding 
properly from both fuel tanks before launching on a cross country flight in 
this EZ; but does he?  You are doing the right thing by educating your 
friend - and pointing out the risks associated with flying an Experimental 
(or any aircraft for that matter) that has been dorment for so long.
If your friend chooses not to complete recurrency training an follow up with 
an thorough aircraft checkout in the EZ, and insists on flying the 
aircraft - you might want to consider flying back-seat with this fellow, 
either on some local flights or even for the ride back to Idaho, and let him 
see for himself if he is ready to fly PIC.
Scott B.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Scott Derrick" <scott at tnstaafl.net>
To: "Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list" <reflector at tvbf.org>
Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2007 11:46 PM
Subject: REFLECTOR: Moral Dilemma


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