Victoria Dunbar, a Ph.D. candidate at Florida Institute of Technology’s doctoral program in Aviation Sciences, is investigating the factors that could contribute to CFIs becoming complacent. She hopes to identify prevention strategies that could be developed into standards, which could then lead to a reduced risk of CFI complacency and an overall improvement in GA safety.
She is asking CFIs to complete an online survey, which would take 10 to 15 minutes. The study is targeting those who have a current CFI certificate, regardless if they are currently working as a CFI or not.
You can access the online survey here.
Recent CFI experience relating to getting my BFR which was a month overdue. On the appointed day, I prep’d the Piper, and noted I needed fuel, so taxied to the Flight School, shut down, and went to advise the CFI that I was going to get fuel. His response, “You mean to tell me that you taxied your aircraft. Do you understand you just violated FAA regulations. You are never allowed to taxi an airiplane on an expired BFR. You can only start the engine.” I was shocked at his lack of knowedge and advised him that he might be thinking of student pilots and a flight school insurance restriction. He disagreed. I told him to
read 91.15, “No person may operate an aircraft in an unsafe manner.” …does not even say “no pilot”. I went back to the flight school a few weeks ago and asked for a new flight instructor and the manager at the flight school said it was a flight school insurance issue with students. I wonder who gives CFI’s a BFR.