Advice

Posted by AltruisticGround6683@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 19 comments

Hello all, seeking some quick advice. TL;DR

Today I had a rental scheduled for a plane at my flight school currently have a PPL. I was called about 50 minutes prior to my flight, whilst also being 20 minutes to the airport (airport is 1 hour away from home). I was told there was an engine issue with my plane and there was a loud thumping noise coming from the engine. Obviously due to this my rental was cancelled. I found it odd I wasn’t asked to reschedule, so I decided to call back 5 minutes later to see availability in another plane later today. As I called back and asked if I could hop in another plane later today another person at the desk picked up. I was told I wasn’t current enough to rent out today. This made sense as I haven’t flown since early April. I was told I had to get a spin up with an instructor or have a certain amount of hours in the last 90 days. Ok no issue. I said thank you and I’ll get a spin up flight before renting.

Here’s where I have an issue. I was lied to about the plane being broken. I checked the block I was scheduled in, and it completely got replaced with another person. Am I right to see this as a red flag? I would have had no issue if they told me I wasn’t current enough and needed a spin up, but to lie and say the plane was broken just to get me off the schedule seems disingenuous. The first person lied, and then the second person told me the real reason I couldn’t fly today. I cannot help but think if anyone else operating that plane today heard what I did this morning they would be skeptical of whether or not they should operate that plane. This whole situation doesn’t sit right with me, and advice would be great. Thanks