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5 Answers

SUSPENDED FROM FLIGHT SCHOOL (PENDING FAA DECISION)/ FOR FALSIFIED ENDORSEMENT?

Asked by: 9060 views , , ,
FAA Regulations, Flight Instructor, Student Pilot

I hope someone can give me some insight.  I am a student pilot part 141.  I have all my required hours and had been polishing up my skills before taking the check ride.  I was trying to obtain my private before I left town for the holidays but my instructor and I agreed I needed a tad bit more practice on a couple maneuvers.  My instructor and I had scheduled flights right up to the day before I was to leave town.  Which is the day that this incident occurred.

My usual flight time was from 9-11 am, but a new instructor had taken that time slot for the entire week.  So my instructor had to schedule time when ever it was available. On this day apparently I had misread the schedule, and had arrived two hours too late.  My instructor had all ready left to go to his "normal" job at a grocery store. 

The chief flight instructor (who had been my instructor before her promotion) was in the office.  I ask her if it would be OK to solo the 172K to practice maneuvers, I explained that I was trying to be ready for check ride as soon as I returned in January.  She ask if I had been re endorsed to be able to fly that AC model (my usual plane being a 172R)  I told her yes (recalling the flights my CFI and I had taken just under 30 days prior for that specific reason (check me out in the K) I pulled out my medical cert and noted that he hadn't made the entry/endorsement.  (though I did have entries in my logbook (completed by CFI) for 2 consecutive days of flying the K model. 

So I wrote the endorsement down on the cert (dated same as logbook entry) and signed his name.  In hindsight, this was a horribly stupid idea (I didn't even think of what I did as being viewed as malicious, because I had the training, hours, and skills required. It was clearly an action that had little to no forethought)   The chief cfi looked at the logbook and med cert made copies and gave me the green light to to solo (until she noted that the CFI hadn't made any endorsements in my logbook that were still valid (endorsement was over 90 days old) So I didn't fly and I left for the holidays (12/12/14).

Upon my return on January 7, 2015  I had an email from the director of aviation program that read, "

ou are currently suspended from all flight activities with the Hinds Community College Flight school.

 

On December 10, 2014 you presented an instructor signature on your Student Pilot’s license that appears to be a forgery.  The instructor has indicated that he did not sign your license to approve the solo flight in the flight school’s C172K.  This is a violation of FAR 61.59 entitled “Falsification, reproduction, or alteration of applications, certificates, logbooks, reports, or records.”  The flight school is required to report such incidents to the local FAA Flight Standards District Office which has been done.

 

Until this issue is resolved you will not be able to participate in any flight activities with the Hinds Community College flight school.

 

If you wish to appeal this directive please follow the procedures in the Hinds Community College student handbook for appealing.  "

 

I immediately called the director and tried to explain my actions.  However, he said it had all ready been reported to the FAA and that I should contact them and talk to them about the issue.  He said I should keep in mind that the way I approach the issue and its explanation to the FAA could be a important factor in their judgement.  He also added that after I get this all taken care of I could continue my flight training (plan has been to obtain ATP)

So I am looking for someone to give me some help! Any thoughts, facts, advice, or whatever would really be appreciated. What is the best case scenario? and worst? Any advice Just to be clear (though it may not matter) I only made this entry on my medical cert. I didn't make any entries in my flight logbook.  I did this in honest stupidity. I had all my hours and met all requirements to be able to take check ride (with the exception of needing to perfect a maneuver or two) HELP

 

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5 Answers



  1. Jim F. on Jan 11, 2015

    Why is the school requiring an actual endorsement for the different versions of 172? The solo endorsement is only required for a different make (Cessna) and model (172), and NOT a different series (K vs. S). Now sure, the school may require transition training between series, but that’s still no reason to make another endorsement on your student pilot certificate. Yup, a stupid and unnecessary move. Ref. 61.87(n)

    And definitely have a back-up career plan, as getting an ATP-level job will probably be difficult. In the 121/135 world, I’ve seen several careers go down the tube due to records mistakes/falsifications.

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  2. Kris Kortokrax on Jan 11, 2015

    The major issue is that you placed an endorsement on your Student Pilot certificate and signed your instructor’s name to it. This is falsification. It was not an inadvertent act. One does not accidentally place his instructor’s signature on a piece of paper. You considered your actions and then proceeded.

    You should receive a Pilot’s Bill of Rights letter from the FAA explaining that you do not have to discuss the matter and that anything you say can be used against you. You might want to consult with an aviation attorney, but I wouldn’t hold out much hope. The Chief Instructor made copies of your certificate and logbook and undoubtedly provided them to the FAA. That along with a statement from your instructor that he did not endorse your certificate will pretty much seal the deal.

    Most likely result is revocation. This will prevent you from applying for any certificate or rating for 1 year. The revocation will become part of your airman record in Oklahoma City and will remain there forever.

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  3. John D Collins on Jan 11, 2015

    I am sorry, but I don’t buy that this was done in honest stupidity. You saw an impediment to you being able to fly and you forged your instructors signature as a matter of your convenience. You are rationalizing your actions. As Jim points out, the suffix letter of the K model verses an S model would not make the aircraft a different specific make and model for this purpose, but forging the instructor’s signature for a new 90 day endorsement or any reason is still a “a falsification of applications, certificates, logbooks, reports, or records”.

    The FAA and instructors teach the five hazardous attitudes to recognize in pilots. They are
    anti-authority, impulsivity, invulnerability, macho and resignation. I can recognize several in your actions. If you are permitted to continue your training now or after a revocation, you need to give this some serious thought.

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  4. Mark Kolber on Jan 11, 2015

    I guess it’s an occupational hazard but I won’t pass judgment. It’s time to discuss this with an aviation attorney who will review your situation in detail and advise you if anything can be done and, if so, what. Do it before the FAA takes the next step. And there will be no guarantees.

    By way of general information, a proven falsification violation (FAR 61.59) typically results in revocation of certificates and ratings (including student certificates). Although one can reapply after revocation, the FAA policy is to deny reapplications until a year has passed since the revocation. And, if your certificate is revoked, the revocation will always be on your FAA record and be supplied to potential employers.

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  5. Anthony Walter on Jan 12, 2015

    Thank you ALL for the replies. I do appreciate every response receive and have taken your replies to heart. i do take full responsibility of my actions. I did know what I was doing was wrong just not to its full extent. I hope students who read this post will learn from my mistake and NOT take shortcuts. There is no such thing.

    To Mr. Collins, I have reevaluated my actions and you are correct my actions did present several of the five hazards. If I am permitted to continue to continue my training, I will be thinking of the five hazards before any making my decisions. becoming a commercial pilot has been my life long dream. I just hope this will not be something that will cause regret for the rest of my life.

    I can’t get over the fact that I was a check ride away from my license and f$&)ed it all up and over something so stupid.

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