Whose responsibility is it?

[lefssa]

As instructors, is it our responsibility to report and speak out about illegal microlight activities that we have either witnessed or that we are aware of? I am of the view that once you have an instructor's rating and/or an AP rating, you become part of the group of responsible people that are there to help police the sport and to work with the authorities, CAA and MISASA. If all the instructors out there helped police the sport and ensured the reporting of incidents, accidents and illegal flying, I believe we would have a much healthier and safer microlighting environment. Illegal flying operations would cease to exist and we would have a much clearer picture of what is actually happening within our training environment. Maybe this should include anyone involved in the microlight industry as this affects us all.

[Morph]

A very hot topic indeed

I myself always ensure my licence is valid, my authority to fly is valid and my flight medical is valid. I don't do this for the sake of CAA but rather my family as I know if one of those lapse and I get killed/injured in an accident, then they are going to have problems with insurance payouts, medical bills etc.

I am aware that there are people who do fly illegally and I am aware there are incidences that never get reported. The question is whether we leave this responsibility up to the pilot to police himself or not. At the moment I leave it up to them.

In the case of a flying school, I feel this really needs to be strictly controlled. However as far as reporting non-school related illegal activities you can stand a risk of alienating yourself from the rest of your flying community if they see you as a tattle-tale. It's a very difficult position to be in.

I would first start by approaching the individuals involved and discuss your concerns with them. Maybe your gentle persuation can convince them to get legal.

[skybound®]

A very hot topic indeed

You got that right

I think to some level it comes down to our own attitudes. I do not believe we should be tolerating known illegal actions in our sport - it is just too risky.

Some examples that may help you decide -

1
Pilot and good friend that you know to be operating illegally takes off and crashes. Your intervention may have saved his life. (No point in saying - ahh well we knew it would happen someday - he was always flying illegaly)

2
You go flying. Your wife/son/daughter..... arrive at the field while you are in the air and is offered a flip with a pilot friend of yours (unbeknown to them he does not have a valid ATF). They crash. Once again your intervention may have saved lives. The public has a perception that we are responsible in what we do.

3
An illegal pilot has a taxiing accident and writes off your car/aeroplane. Possible problems now with 3rd party pay out especially if you knew he was operating illegally.

To ignore and condone it, makes us just as guilty as the offender.

I am not suggesting a holier than thou attitude - but friendly peer pressure to ensure our mates do things correctly. This can be achieved through clubs and the like. I would hazzard a guess that most members of the club would support the intervention and at most you may end up with one 'bad' friend.

If after the friendly route they are not responsive - put in a CAHRS - that is what it is there for.

[Mogas]

There will always be a strong element of self regulation in our sport.
Even if our governing body the CAA was fully professional and faultless, they are not able to be everywhere we are all of the time.
The responsibility is upon us to keep an eye out for each other. I firmly believe that if any one of us sees anything wrong being done by another, be it the way he/she flies or some technical thing we should do something about it. That does NOT mean run off to the the CAA.
My first course of action would be to try a direct private one on one chat, with a lot of tact, humility and gentle persuasion. If that did not work perhaps a chat with the local flight school or AP. The last desparate course of action should be a report to the CAA, but definitely do something and not turn a blind eye.

[andrepieterse]

All good and well to help pilots out by pointing out mistakes and making suggestions. I am happy to do that..but will they listen? And if not-should I report it?

Any pilot or member of the non-flying community can make an anonymous complaint to CAA. Not just the instructors' responsibility.

Its not easy to point out a fault to someone. You don't know what response you'll get. But I feel if it is done from a position of caring for our sport and in the right (constructive) manner there should be no problem.

[lefssa]

It is interesting to see morphs opinion that the tattle-tale will be ostrasized not the law braker/dangerous pilot. This is exactly my point. Something is wrong with the system.

[grostek]

All points made above are valid, but at the end of the day the pilot operating illegally will have to answer for his actions one way or another, when he messes up and is brought to book.

If such a person was to endanger a potential passenger surely a quick word to the potential pax about the risk might be enough.

This will off course only work where someone is in a position to intervene.

If the illegal activity takes place off airport then we can do nothing.

Old Afrikaans "spreekwoord" As jy kak maak moet jy kak kan vat"

Kind regards,

Gunter Rostek.

[RV4ker (RIP)]

I am with Demon on this. I tried a while back to "intervene" at a club where one of the "manne" who has a Brandy and Coke holder installed in his big blik. (read complex aerie, not a simple kick tyres light fires job). I am told he often shoots in for a couple "happe" with the oukes and then jumps into the aerie to fly home. Club boys just accept it. I got taken to task as Soutpiel who must mind his own business when I dared question this behaviour. Now when I hear him on radio I land quickly.

I think it depends on the person in question. In the blik circles the Dr who went in in the cirrus some time back was labelled as one of the "ahh well we knew it would happen someday" types Skybound referred to above. This was said by a couple instructors after flying with him. Some say that the personality type was to blame and that sometimes a godlike syndrome is not far from these types of flyers? (As aside - Some say he took chances (by his own admission) as he had the latest and greatest equipment (Cirrus) and the backup chute it he got into shit)

Tough call to make.

My 2c.
I usually make an innocent observation (like is this ATF date correct or doesn't this thing require preflight?), then if ignored I ask if Pilot knowingly doing it (breaking law). Depending on reaction I will either offer my 2c or withdraw and avoid him like the plague. There are a couple plague pilots on the list to date, but fortunately very few. Usually they are the big bullshitters that know everything, have done everything and always know someone who has done it. (like me ) K@k to be around at the best of times so no great loss in avoiding them.