Why I Cancelled My Checkride and Stopped My Helicopter Training
2020 ж. 20 Там.
1 105 943 Рет қаралды
I wish it were clickbait, but things have come up recently that have caused me to cancel my helicopter private pilot license checkride and discontinue my current training altogether. Taking a look at what went wrong to make me stop training with less than 10 hours to go.
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When a aviator feels something is sketchy and doesn’t walk away, it usually ends badly. Follow your instinct!
Seriously, thats a brilliant quote
100% this. Trust your butt, it'll always keep you safe. If it's telling you to get out of there, get out. Fly again when you've got an environment you're comfortable flying in.
BEST advice right there!
Well said and agree 100%
If they don't walk away... They usually don't walk away.
No pilot has ever died after saying, “Nope. I’ll pass. I’m out.”
Maybe he died after texting it in his car to his instructor?
Depends on if said pilot has a ex-wife.
Amen
@Rícé_Duck Gaming I'm old military EMS. It's properly irreverent and humorous. Along the lines of, all bleeding stops, eventually... One way or the other. One grows such humor, or one decorates the ceiling with brain matter.
Unless it was in answer to the question "do you want a parachute before you jump?"
I would rather be on the ground wishing I was in the air, than in the air wishing I was on the ground.
Been there done that in Amarillo. Questioned guy about density altitude and 3 passengers in a cherokee that had full fuel. Fresh overhaul as well. We flew out over Palo Duro Cnayon and it was summer. Climb out was assisted by ground affect and that raised my eye brows. we got to around 1300AGL and never backed off throttle. Engine heat rose and he richened the mixture. Gave controls to me. Lost 100' altitude and i mentioned to him that i was having trouble maintaining altitude. He leaned out the mixture. I asked what the deal was and he said the engine had a fresh overhaul. I asked him to take the controls and then asked him to take us back to the airport. He protested and said that as we used fuel "it will get better". I told him i appreciated his effort to "please" but it was not worth the risk. I never went back to that airfield again.
Damn, that's quote worthy lol
Hey, I really like that. I think I'm going to write that one down. That's right up there with any landing that you can walk away from etc. etc.
@@raysmith1630 We all have been there and done that.
Wise man speak 👏💖
I had a similar situation with a jet engine I purchased, they guy who has a reputation for being very reckless told me " I'm sending it to you soon, I just got finished ripping it apart and rebuilding it for you" I was like "no thanks, I do not want the engine" I did not feel safe...lbvs.
You have chosen wisely.. indeed.
He make it see thru? 🤣
I heard that! 🤣
Coming from you, that's saying something!
The best pilots are the ones who know when NOT to fly.
Aint that the truth!
@@yt45204 Now that's a catchy one. I like that.
Takeoff is optional, landing is mandatory.
Accurate AF.
I think the best pilots are good at flying!
A superior pilot uses his superior judgment to avoid situations which require the use of his superior skill.
Excellent wording wow
Sums up Movers desicion pretty well. Well phrased!
@@potatopilot1699 it's from murphy's war law, pilot edition
Cheng YanYat ah thank you!
Yes, and this brings to mind another quote: a clever man can get himself out if a situation that a wise man would avoid.
The saying sticks in my head since day 1 of my training. It's better to be on the ground wishing you were flying than flying wishing you where on the ground.
Private pilot here. You definitely made the right decision. "DJ"'s attitude alone is enough to put a big red flag up. On top of that, his terrible safety record and sketchy maintenance of the aircraft.... yeah, walk away.
The saying is that every landing after wich you're able to walk away from is considered to be a good landing.... So far, despite DJ has written off a Robinson and seriously damaged a private jet with it.. he walked away.... But bottom line: C.W made the right decision stop his adventure for now. Flight-safety is no joke.
@@rexblokland7778 - The guy had a boot cast for a broken foot. There was *something* he didn't walk away from... although it might not have been an aircraft landing.
By by DJ…
I guarantee that as much of a fan base you have, some young pilot will remember that a Viper pilot noped out of a bad flying situation and see how it takes serious balls to do that. This is the kind of talk that can save someone's life who doesn't have the aviation experience to recognize shitty people and poor maintenance practices. This is a gem of a video for flight instructors and students.
I could not believe that a flight instructor would treat a ex-mil and current airline pilot like this. Honestly sounds like DJ was projecting a bit.
My point was more on movers actions by making the right call to "no go" because of the circumstances. Civilian flying has less predictability from people involved. I once took a friend who I had trained and signed off for his commercial check ride to a DP examiner I knew well. The night before the flight at the hotel room he told me his girlfriend who had stage 3 breast cancer at the time had fell down at home and was back in the hospital. We both met with my other examiner friend that night and told him it was a no go that weekend. His head wasn't in it and we flew back early the next morning. Sometimes circumstances out of our control makes the decisions for us if you want to be a good pilot and know when to say no.
Sorry to hear all of the drama that interfered with you finishing however VERY smart to walk away from that operation. Hope you are able to get it taken care of in Texas!
Thanks, Jeff 🤙
I’m pleasantly surprised to see you here Jeff!
Jeff! One of the star personalities from the world's greatest GTA videos ever made! 😂👍
Did not expect to see Jeff here. But I’m not complaining.
Holy shit, Jeff. Small world huh?
tl;dw : sketchy guy at the flight school in charge of the helicopter made him doubt the whole safety of the operation.
You're the hero we need
Lol, could he have been just a little bit more long winded... 😉
Thanks man.
Where was this comment 13 minutes ago? lol
Old service axiom "if the wings are moving faster than the body of the aircraft, you are aboard a helicopter and therefore unsafe"
Fellow aviator - Not sure WHY this video popped up but I watched it. I have so so much respect for your decision. Many folks don't understand how difficult those decisions can be. Good on you sir. Subbed.
50 years of flying has taught me one thing, if it doesn’t pass the smell test, don’t do it Good call on your part
Get well soon Lester!!
As an Army vet I developed my gut instinct quickly and it never failed me. Yours obviously spoke to you. When 'DJ' inevitably ends up on the 6 o'clock news associated with some aviation related tragedy you will be glad you took the break and went with your plan B. You've also been doing this long enough to know when to walk away and not let anger make your decisions for you. Cheers.
As an Aviation Safety Officer, and due to number of accident investigation, I must say you have saved the day, great decision making.
I wish Lester a speedy recovery, it sucks when this happens to such a good person.
Sorry to hear that, but seems like the right decision.
Agreed. I made the same decision during my PP SEL training. Instructor yawd plane 45 degrees to runway as I was flaring. I called go-around. He screamed at me that I didn't have to do that. Never flew with him again. I did ultimately go back a year or so later. Flew with several really great instructors. Went 141 for my instrument.
Use your GI Bill and go to any flight school, with no put off pocket cost. No I’m NOT a recruiter.
Use your GI Bill
Good call
When I first saw you say "...discontinue my helicopter training altogether" I thought something had happened which scared you so much that you'd walked away from your goal. That of course (given your experience) would have had to have been something really, really bad. Glad to see it's a temporary setback, and that you're just stepping away from a situation you just didn't trust to be safe. Best wishes to Lester, and I look forward to following your progress when you get back in the saddle.
Keeping life in perspective brother, "he who knows when to walk away lives to fly another day". Stay safe Mover!
That helicopter was at the end of its service life. On top of how aggressive DJ may have flown, you made the right decision not to risk it. Sometimes the universe gives us hints to avoid bad situations, and it takes a strong will to listen to your gut and back away instead of forcing a risky situation.
Excellent lessons in: Trusting Your Gut, Risk Management, and Aerial Decision Making (even on the ground) and Finances! Well done Mover. All the best to Lester!
Wishing Lester a speedy recovery thanks for sharing this story
Sounds like you made the right choices in the situation you faced, get well soon to Lester 👍look forward to the Heli vids when/if you proceed with it.
Very disappointing, but totally understandable. I look forward to more helo stuff in October (I hope). Much love to Lester for a speedy recovery (even if it takes more than a owa, owa an a half).
Eh, should take bout owa 🤣🤣🤣
@@thef-35lockheedmartinlight11 what variant of the f35 are u
andrew russ idk, all of them i guess?
@@thef-35lockheedmartinlight11 I presume the cool one which is the B. The one and only.
As someone who almost paid the price from someone else's unsafe flying, I applaud your decision. You are showing good leadership.
Mover I'm very happy, thankful, and beyond blessed that Lester & you are doing good and that he's alive & recovering. I'm also thankful that you will eventually get to continue your helicopter training. Remember like you always say "Make Them Tell You No!" The number one rule of thumb.
I have all the ratings and spent a ton of money to get them. Worked as a commercial pilot for two years. It was the best minimum wage job I ever had.
Should have stayed with it. 2 years put you in the "Quarter of the way to decent money" category. I'm enjoying my six figures!! Like everything, its all about paying your dues and heavy drinking! LOL!
@@kyegunn936 What do you fly?
@@kyegunn936 I'm at 6 figures flying EMS, love the Job. You can do that with Flying Tours or Offshore Oil and Gas. You need to get to about 1500 hours of which about 500 is Turbine to get in the door. As a Civilian trained Commercial Pilot ( which I am) we have to do our time as a CFI to get the hours normally.
Sounds like a business opportunity in your area to me. Mover helicopter school featuring Lester!! Prays out for Lester.
This. It is most certainly an opportunity if motivated on the business end of things. Now to get a gofundme to get it off the ground, and get SBA and the VA involved.
It costs a lot of money, but not impossible. It's not just the aircraft. It's insurance, Maintenance, Storage, etc. Not impossible with the right investors.
Wow, now there's an angle I never thought of, I always expected Mover to fly for the Sheriff, but that's a great idea! Still, it may not fit with Mover's grand plan - but I like it!!
Q: How do you make a small fortune in aviation? A: Start out with a large one.
An old Dominican I trained under back in the day had a saying: When you get a F***ed up hand; it is usually best to fold.
Feel for you buddy, I’m sure you’ve done the right thing, at the end of the day you safety is paramount, as a fellow pilot I respect you honesty and your decision. Hope it all goes well in Texas. Fly and be safe. Regards Steve (UK)
Impressive video, thank you for sharing. I had to walk away from my initial fixed wing training quite some time ago, your video helped me put it in perspective, as did several wise comment contributors. Subscribed.
I once flew with a CFI doing some additional training when I was in the Navy and the minute he reached over and cranked the prop before I finished my pre-flight, we were done. Guy was always in a hurry. I grew up around airplanes and my dad trained me early on to be very disciplined with my checklists. Maybe a small thing - but if you don't feel safe with an instructor, stay on the ground.
What happened to Lester. How was her injured?
The real reason he canceled helo training so so he doesn’t flex on everyone with his rotary wing skills But on a serious note, I am sorry mover, it sucks to have something happen to a friend, but I am glad he is ok
You guys are so hard for this man
Maxwell Clark doesn’t flex on everyone 😂😂😂
More like fix wing boy couldn’t handle the rotor 😆
I'd like to suggest a follow-up vlog with Lester about the mishap and stuff. Hope everything works out for both of you!
Smart call, and be safe! always enjoy the content when i catch it!
I've worked in Aviation as Aircrew in the Navy and as an A&P Mechanic after the military. I'm sitting around 18 years of experience. YOU MADE THE RIGHT DECISION!!! I see these guys like "DJ" all the time. I worked for a company that was run by a guy like that and he was involved in some really shady stuff. Eventually the FAA shut the company down because of the stuff he was doing. I'm sorry this happened to you, but keep the faith things have a way of working themselves out. Your life isn't worth it. A lot of guys would have said screw it and gone anyway, but good for you recognizing the risk. Fingers crossed it all works out. Stay safe.
Great call. A "perfect" helicopter is sketchy. A Robinson with a sketchy owner, and questionable maintenance is deadly.
One just crashed a couple of miles from my house killing 2. It flew about 200 feet over my house prior to crashing.
@@TechGorilla1987 I have lost far more friends to rotary wing (mostly Robinsons) than any other form of aviation. If I am in a helicopter it is only because I fucked up badly enough to get medevaced out of somewhere.
@@MX304 It really seems as if Robinsons need a little extra TLC in the shop to be as safe as they can be. I don't fly myself but took a deep dive in to Robinsons when one crashed near me.
@@TechGorilla1987 Robbies are safe if you fly them per the POH. I have 1000 hours in them and never had a single issue that I did not get myself into. They are light and efficient, and they punish inattentiveness quickly to deadly effect. You have to fly them all the time, no coasting or cruising along. Wonderful ships and accessible in the price range, but will kill you in an instant if you fly outside the envelope.
Can you give an example of how you can get out of the envelope just cruising along? -a curious fixed wing guy
Wiser to walk away from an uncertain situation. Sometimes the gut feeling is the right one. Well done, and even better to share the story to help others in this situation.
Glad you have a plan, of sorts, to finish your training. I hope you do reach your license. I enjoyed the helicopter videos though. Good luck Mover. I just donated 10 bucks on behalf of my past flight instructor, Carl Hittle who was killed in an experimental helicopter accident. I loved flying with him at Condron Field, WSMR.
Dude 😭 I'm so sorry to hear this, it hurts to hear you sound so disappointed!
I am so glad to hear that Lester is recovering. Get well soon, sir! Mover, I'm sorry about the complications that ended up with you not completing the rating at this time, but I thank you so much for sharing your training journey. As a former flight instructor and a current safety puke I really appreciate you punching the brakes and telling us why you did it.
Made the right call by the sounds of it, at least for the current situation! Good luck on the continuation of it! Enjoy your vids!
-- Much positive to be said about a 'walk away'! Thank you for sharing.
Everybody laughs at the guy that walks away. The truth is typically the guy/gal that walks away can still laugh too.
He who laughs last laughs longest
Hey Mover, You made the right choice, absolutely! You can kick off training again at another time. Best Wishes to Lester.
This is the first time I have ever watched one of your clips. Sounds like a bad situation, but I was incredibly impressed with your impressive handling of the whole thing. The things you didn't say actually spoke volumes about the sort of person you are. Very classy!
Sorry to hear of your experience, Mover. Sounds much like my R22 training. Sadly small businesses/flight schools sometimes have to conduct business with less-than-stellar personalities, and EVERYONE suffers because of it. Looking forward to hear when you finish your training!
We call those kind of pilots “statistics” because it’s only a matter of time before they turn themselves (and most of the time) and their passengers into a smoking hole.
Well said sir
I'm glad to hear that Lester is OK and wish him a speedy recovery. Sorry to hear how things turned out re: training, but under the circumstances you made the right call. 👍
Good on you. Keep marching forward. I'm a 20-year veteran now retired and I thank you for your service.
You are still here to share your experiences and story. It is better to live and be able to do that rather than taking a chance over what your senses tell you and not be able to share the importance of proper decision making. My own experience in a fixed wing qualifying ride stopped me from completing also, but for good. It was an inclined terrain versus ROC situation that left greens in the gear which stopped me, and after having a good look at my capabilities and wisdom, which included age and responsibilities (high stress factors). I forfitted my final ride to qualify for my license. I miss the enjoyment, but at least I'm able to miss it, and can now look back and dream again. Thank you for being this forthcoming with your awareness and wisdom, it will no doubt teach a few others from making decisions that could possibly end in tragedy. Regards.
Sorry to hear about Lester. I wish him a speedy recovery. He is lucky to have a friend like you.
So sad Mover, because Lester is a great guy and we all enjoyed your interaction with him during your instruction. We all hope that Lester gets well soon and gets back to flying once more. All the best from Cyprus. Cheers
Great overview. Thanks for the insight and perspective.
Lester is awesome!!! He’s always got some crazy stories! So glad he’s ok! But so glad you made the right decision on pulling out on that final check ride cause “DJ” doesn’t sound safe at all...
Sorry this happened. Best of luck to you. I hope Lester recovers well.
DJ sounds like the kind of guy we'll be hearing about again in a NTSB report.
@Peter Mortensen Only if he hasn't yet had children.
hopefully doesn't take anyone with him.
AGREED!!!
Thank u for the video, as a beginner, that was some super important info. Please dont stop making videos, again, super good info..... Thanks and good luck, olease keep us posted.
Just stumbled on your channel. Glad I did. You did right by following your gut. Thank you for your service. Best Wishes!
Oh wow! I was looking forward to doing my CPL with Lester in Spring 2021. Best wishes for a speedy recovery for Lester and Best of luck on training in Texas.
My prayers are with Lester. It sounds like you made the right call, Mover. I wouldn't want to be in the air under the circumstances you laid out, knowing how unforgiving a helicopter can be if it's not cared for meticulously, or if it's flown by someone who likes to hang too close to the margins. Everything happens for a reason. End of the day, you've made a good friend, and gotten some excellent instruction to build a rotary-wing foundation... and you have now, a strong option to 'upgrade' your rotary-wing plans. In this era of Covid-19, having some extra options available, if commercial airline opportunities contract, can't hurt. Stay safe!
Sorry to hear about this. Hopefully you can figure it out in the future!
That was a good call. I am glad to hear you took that action. Good luck to you when you start up in Texas!
when you restart your training, and in the end the break will make you a better pilot i think, you made a good call, all the best to lester.
C.W. - you don’t need me to make mention of it as I’m sure you’re already aware of this, but your life experience has certainly served you well in this situation. Things happen for a reason, and when they have an influence in critical thinking within the decision-making process, then it’s time to give it 100% attention, especially when _your_ safety and the safety of others is concerned. Intuition is a significant human trait that is undervalued. Take it from an old(er) guy who worked 30-years on the streets of Los Angeles (now retired) - always prioritize your gut feeling.
All sounds like you had your head on straight, and thought out everything well, and proceeded as many of the pilots I met, when I was stationed at Eglin, many years ago. Hope you get into a better situation, I hope Lester get's fully healed, and I hope you'll be back on, before long, completing it all. From everything you've said? I'd be happy to have you as a pilot, any day of the week. "DJ", um, not so much. I saw some of that crash you showed... no thanks. God Speed.
Sorry to hear this, right decision by the sound of it. Best wishes to Lester hope he gets well sound.
First, best wishes to Lester for a speedy recovery. Second, you are practicing what you preach and people should take note of that. When I heard you say "So what's next" it made my day, you're not letting them keep you down, or tell you no. I think you made a good call, your gut never lies! Good luck going forward!
Flying helicopters was one of my life's goals, but I would never allow emotions to cloud my judgment. Safety first! You made the right decision. Speedy recovery to Lester.
Good call. When it comes to aviation and safety it all goes hand in hand. Stay away from any kind of sketchy situation. Great video.
To say you're a consummate professional is one hell of an understatement. You have my utmost respect, sir, I use that word sparingly with others younger than myself. I'm old enough to be your Dad and then some. Thank you for all you do.
Hey Mover, Really sorry to hear that things turned out this way. I wish Lester a speedy recovery. FWIW, I think you made the right decision.
This is the right call Mover, we'll always be behind you.
I left you a message on previous but hadn't seen this. wow, but I remember several people like this I encountered and you did the right thing. In NY it was easier for me to replace these people that I flew with and decided to never fly with again. Flying for me was a hobby, I never flew professionally or in the military; but I never had a bad day in a plane. It was pure fun and relaxation, and enjoyment, and when it's not, time to get out, or get away from the DJ's out there. Sorry that happened to you.
Nice history about you and your career. Thanks for sharing. I totally understand what you were talking about with the problems that you were dealing with, with your helicopter training. Too many negative situations arising equals to a potential disaster. In the Fire Service here in California and probably other states we train and teach the same. It’s better to go home whole then in pieces. Keep sharing with us. Thanks. S.Hill
Damnit, your training was getting me through the summer. I was looking forward to you going through the check ride and seeing what was going to be on the other side for you with helicopters. I hope the school in Texas works out for you and we get some more helicopter videos. Prayers up for Lester. I wasn't a fan of his in the early videos that featured him. Seemed like a curmudgeon, but as we got to know him, his personality grew on me. Loved the last few that featured him, most of all the t-shirt and his reaction.
Heli mech here. Lost count of the hours spent turning wrenches on Robis. Love the frame, but like a horse, they hide their hurts real well. Trust your gut if someone is mistreating the ship. That said, the way you describe DJ, wouldnt surprise me if he's disconnecting the counter before flying. Don't give up on it in whole, flying in a Heli is so much better than a wing. At least in my opinion. Good luck. Fly safe. Hope Lester keeps getting better.
Wow, sorry to hear about the issues but safety comes first. Glad to hear you found another option. Not ideal but you have a plan to get you where you want to go. Best to you in the days ahead.
Great that you followed your instincts. That military intuition is invaluable.
That’s too bad man, but sounds like this “DJ” character is a bit of a loose canon and you don’t want to put yourself or anyone else in danger and especially with you being a paying customer of the program I mean, just sounds like it sucks. Hope Lester makes a full recovery, keep making these vids, you inspire a lot of people to realize that we all have potential to do whatever we want to do and as a man of your stature who wears many hats so to speak, I mean it’s really awesome. Hope all is well, and hope you get to finish the program.
Smart move my friend. When it feels wrong it usually is. Didn't realize how invested I was in this blog series until you said Lester had been injured and I was immediately concerned. Thanks for the honesty and insights into this adventure. Best luck moving forward.
You made the right decision, Sir. Safety first. All the best with the heli license in Texas and speedy recovery to your buddy Lester.
Great video, and attitude toward staying safe. I’d love to fly with you sometime! Thanks for having common sense and explaining your thinking so well.
I’d rather it be one of these vids than the one no one wants to see. And hope Lester heals up quick ❤️🙏🏻👍🏻 Take it easy
Great judgement Mover, as someone who has been involved with GA flying for years good call on using your instinct to avoid possible catastrophe. I have walked away from multiple situations in GA that unfortunately led to fatalities long after I parted ways. Unfortunately there is a lot of cowboy attitudes and risky behavior in GA. I hope your buddy gets well soon, it’s hard to find good CFIs. Best of luck and stay safe, love the channel.
I'm really sorry to hear things didn't go so well. I've run into people like that and found it best to walk away. Also, people like that don't always end up so good. You did a great thing by walking away. Don't have regrets.
I love seeing the aviation community coming together and help a fellow pilot like him. Keep those rotors spinning my brother.
Dude, SOOOO much respect for you brother. I am also an Air Force vet. I am the same way and its sooo difficult to hang up the towel when youre almost there. A lot of people would have pressed through but the fact you let your instincts lead you instead of impulse. Good on you brother.
Sounds like you made the right move Mover. God speed to Lester and even if we don't get any more helo vlogs we're still looking forward to hearing about it. Hope everything turns out good with this school in Tx. P.s. More DCS helo content!
It's always best to trust your instincts. good luck with your journey. And thanks again for your service.🇺🇸
You demonstrated aviation wisdom and maturity. Good call. BZ Mover.
Great debrief, based on the factual information I think you absolutely made the right decision. Prayers to Lester and good luck with your heli training.
You made the right decision Mover. You have to feel comfortable with both the machine and the instructor. I had a real argument with an older instructor on a day when my regular instructor wasn't available. This was 31 hours into a Fixed Wing PPL and I knew I was ready to take my GFT (= final flight test 'exam'. Minimum 38 hours to actually get a license at that time). Emailed the flight school asking if it was viable to continue there. Was asked to go and talk to the CFI which went so-so but he agreed to take me up for a flight. That flight turned out to be the GFT which I passed so then had to troll around local standard cross-country flights before license at 38 hours. So, it turned out well, but I changed airfield before checking out on the 172. You HAVE to have total confidence in your machinery and instructors or it just can't work. Good luck in October. With your experience you will smash it!
Very smart decision, look forward to you starting up again in a better/safer situation.
I’m really sorry that went south for you. Good luck from Australia 🇦🇺
If you would be willing to come to Chicago I am a CFI and I use my neighbors new R22, who watches your videos, he said we could use his helicopter to finish your training just pay for gas.
msg him
I live in Chicago as well and always wanted to learn to fly something, guess i was living through CW because this vid made me sad lol
10:59 “When things get complicated it’s time to step back.” Probably saved your life Mover. You’ll never know but I’m glad you didn’t have to find out. On the bright side. Welcome to Texas! I live in Fort Worth and this is one of the greatest areas in the world to fly in. We got Bell helicopter here, Lockheed Martin, JRB NAS which flys both the F-18 & the T-38 and a gazillion other awesome reasons. Very few days of the year you cannot fly here. Three weeks of being down here and you might not want to go back. Just sayin’. 😉
BLACKMONGOOSE13 Here here!! God Bless Texas!
I feel your pain and understand the reasons. I personally went through UPT in the AF in 1975, got my AF wings and then did the civilian acquired skills in the Army for my Army wings in 1985 after they shut down my ANG unit. I then went on to flying the AH-64a for about 18 more years. A lot different, Hopefully you will get back on the horse, Good luck!
Wise to follow your gut and be safe than end up with regret. Good luck in the future