My uncle wants to fly, but not be a pilot. How do I talk to him about this?
Posted by Throwaway818079@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 130 comments
my uncle is very wealthy and wants to buy and fly his own plane. He wants to buy a twin and rush all of his ratings and certificates to get there. I’m worried that he will just pay his way to the top and become one of those people that ends up on pilot debrief for killing himself and his family because he just wants to fly, not be a pilot.
He is kind of the arrogant type that thinks he is above the younger folk and I worry he may not listen to me. I know this is a sensitive subject because It’s hard to say this is a death sentence without him getting offended. How do you suggest I go about this if at all? I’m just worried about him
Specialist_Way8022@reddit
“Aviation is not inherently dangerous, but to an even greater extent than the sea, it is terribly unforgiving for any carelessness, incapacity, or neglect”
I_love_my_fish_@reddit
The way you explain to him that if he’s not careful he’ll kill himself is by finding a flight instructor who’s older than him. He’s likely the type that won’t listen to one that’s younger
Intraluminal@reddit
Remember Kennedy.
curiousengineer601@reddit
His plane would have flown him to the airport had he let it
jutct@reddit
It's really because his wife was a bitch and constantly fucked with him while he was flying. She did then when he was in the notorious fogbank that forms east of LI and he lost his orientation.
Source- Know a bunch of pilots that knew him well including his personal aircraft mechanic.
exsnakecharmer@reddit
Isn’t it kind of his fault for choosing to fly with her then? Or does he bear no responsibility?
EvilNalu@reddit
Dude launches over 30 miles of open water on a hazy night with a PPL and no instrument rating, becomes disoriented and crashes.
Reddit: “it must have been his bitch of a wife in the back seat!”
curiousengineer601@reddit
Great post. Summarizes the situation perfectly.
Don’t forget he had the money to pay for an instrument rated pilot to go along, but didn’t.
Mega-Eclipse@reddit
He also had a broken ankle and struggled to use the rudder.
It was a masterclass in stupidity.
curiousengineer601@reddit
I forgot about that additional factoid, the flight was a voyage of the stupid
Kjartanski@reddit
Aggrivating factor on top of aggrivating factor, truly the swiss cheese model at work
Miserable-Board-6502@reddit
Swiss cheese and a cordless drill.
cincocerodos@reddit
Classic Reddit moment
cantorgy@reddit
Not saying I agree with above. Don’t know any better. But cmon. It’s his wife lol yeah he’s just going to tell her to fuck off
Jwylde2@reddit
He’s PIC. The beauty of being PIC is that he can, and is indeed required by regulation to tell anyone he deems unsafe for flight to fuck off.
cantorgy@reddit
Cool.
greevous00@reddit
Had this conversation with my wife and kids after getting my ticket. Said: "from the minute you get in the plane until the minute you get out, you do exactly what I say. You treat me like you treat a cop or a judge. This is for your safety. After you get out of the plane you can tell me to f'off or whatever you want, but not while we're in the plane -- you do what I say, which includes not talking until I say it's safe." If he didn't have a similar conversation with his wife, and that led to her doing something that was dangerous, it's ABSOLUTELY his fault.
Hemmschwelle@reddit
This is part of the appeal of flying with your family.
exsnakecharmer@reddit
What I mean is, he made the decision to marry a shrew. He bears some responsibility for the decisions he made. Also, how does OP know that she was fucking with him in the fog bank?
It all sounds ridiculous tbh.
cantorgy@reddit
Literally just said I wasn’t saying above was right or wrong. Only that “just tell your wife she can’t board the plane you’re flying” is an idiotic take.
DeltaVZerda@reddit
It's a catch 22 if it's also a relationship that you absolutely do not have control over in any way. If you do not have the ability to create compliance even in a life or death situation, and you don't have the social capital to say no to the flight in the first place, then you're already fucked.
exsnakecharmer@reddit
Take a step back. I was referring to his decision to marry her in the first place. His decisions in the cockpit that night (disregarding his wife) were his alone. I.e to fly at night without instrument rating, to not take his CFI up on his offer to fly them etc.
Beneficial_Ad_5485@reddit
That's why there's an isolation button on the intercom.
ahpc82@reddit
I must have misremembered the FAR that stated the PIC's spouse is directly responsible for, and is the final authority as to, the operation of that aircraft.
curiousengineer601@reddit
As a pilot he is 100% responsible for the aircraft. His decision to fly over water at night in fog way outside his capability is 100% on him.
Lumberjack-1975@reddit
I‘m a retired commercial pilot. My best instructor, was a 747-400 instructor pilot for United Airlines. He was my instrument instructor. He had lost of stories of people of people with lots of money, who rush through their rating. Buy a twin engine plane, and because of their limited hour, nobody will insure him in the plane. Or low hour twin pilot lose engine power on take off, they add power to the working engine, flip the plane and die.
ThomasShults@reddit
Preferably a super safe older pilot that will show him all the ways he will kill himself if he isn't careful.
Jpatty54@reddit
He still has to pass the written and flight tests, and they will be with different people. You can probably rush and scrape by ppl but not higher ratings.
ljthefa@reddit
I mean you can buy a plane, and fly it without a pilot's license. I swear I remember something about being able to fly without a license too in certain areas but I could be misremembering that part so strike that.
Either way with enough money you can buy a plane and go fly it outside of class B and C and maybe never get caught. Plenty of people do illegal things all the time because they think they're above the law and it kind of sounds like that's something this guy would do.
jcozac@reddit
> I swear I remember something about being able to fly without a license too in certain areas but I could be misremembering that part so strike that.
You might be thinking of Alaska? Iirc it's not that it's allowed, but a lot of people fly without a license (GA not commercial). I don't have a source for that unfortunately so I could have been lied to.
hmasing@reddit
That's the whole reason you are required to carry a firearm as a pilot in Alaska.
If you're ramp checked, you shoot the FAA Employee.
EDIT: Well. you USED to be required. Prior to 9/11 a firearm was on this list.
AsidK@reddit
Is there a way to see old version of that list? That’s awesome
jcozac@reddit
Woah that's pretty cool, thanks for sharing. They don't play over in the Last Frontier!
Result_Otherwise@reddit
Alaska
RaidenMonster@reddit
Jerry would like to have a word about that…
Ron-Swanson-Mustache@reddit
What are you talking about? This was perfectly fine....
RaidenMonster@reddit
Bank angle checks.
_cauliflowerpower_@reddit
💀💀💀
mrlego45@reddit
Ask to be put in his will.
LadyBusines@reddit
When I was a CFI I ran into this a few times. Some people with money think they can buy their way to a certificate but it just doesn’t work that way. In my experience, once they realize they actually have to put in the work and can’t be spoon fed a license they usually quit or start taking it seriously.
bfishin2day@reddit
An arrogant pilot is a dead pilot.
XKryptix0@reddit
Just make sure you’re in his will
Tyson209355@reddit
How do you “pay your way to the top”? How do you “rush ratings and certificates”? How do you fly without being a pilot?
thing_dakine@reddit
Hire a full time, one on one instructor and do nothing but fly and study full time… wealthy people do it all the time. I did it
Heavy_Cow_7117@reddit
Pakistan Airways was banned from Europe that's how.
Big_Assignment5949@reddit
They were literally flying without certificated pilots though. Not that I'm endorsing this uncle's alleged approach to flying, but PIA approach would be if he bought an airplane and just went for it.
FriendlyDespot@reddit
The bulk of the problematic PIA pilots were flying with valid licenses obtained after other people had sat for exams and checkrides in their name. I think that's what the person above is alluding to in rushing ratings and certificates.
StPauliBoi@reddit
https://www.youtube.com/@kodiakmd
BigJellyfish1906@reddit
You skate by with the bare minimum, knowing that you’re going to piss on half of those regulations as soon as you can get away from any prying eyes.
ZOB_oo_land@reddit
I've encountered these types. Zero interest in learning anything, just want to get in and hit the gas, willing to just keep throwing themselves at a checkride until they pass, money is no object.
They don't go far.
thing_dakine@reddit
I wouldn’t suggest a multi unless he’s planning on flying over large bodies of water, that’s my 2 cents.
But hey, you can’t knock the dudes dream…
SRM_Thornfoot@reddit
If you have the money and the time and the ability you can get through the PPL pretty quickly. I would not call it rushing it, you still have to learn all the information and pass all of the tests as well as put in the hours.
What kind of pilot he will be after that is the real question. Doctors and Lawyers have the reputation of killing themselves because their confidence often exceeds their abilities. They do not fly enough to remain sharp in their skills, yet arrogantly do not take take that into account.
As others have recommended in this post, finding the proper instructor will be paramount to teaching your uncle the proper attitude to have towards flying. Flying is inherently dangerous, deadly and unforgiving. It is only as safe as it is because we make it safe by knowing and accepting our abilities and limits, and steadfastly choosing never to exceed them.
toybuilder@reddit
I was taking flying lessons, one to 1.5 hours every weekend and making progress, but not great progress because each week that elapsed between lessons would be time not flying and losing a little of what I learned. The muscle memory just didn't kick in as well.
I then had a company shut down for Christmas and had two weeks where I had not much to do. I took a lesson nearly every day and the retention from one day to the next was so much better. By the end of that, I was pretty close to ready to solo.
That said, attitude is definitely key. I liked learning about aviation -- not just flying the plane in front of me, but the whole system in general and the safety/process aspects.
Throwaway818079@reddit (OP)
Thank you for your kind and honest reply!!
hopefulflyer45@reddit
Just get him a plane with a chute, so he can be like all cirrus pilots.
QuestionMean1943@reddit
Tell him to go for it. His instructors, the ones that sign off everything, will keep his impatience in check. While your at it it seems if if you can get the tickets too
CaptMcMooney@reddit
you can't really pay your way to the top, to be able to sit in the seat you have to get thru some pretty rigorous training. now that assumes you take the time to learn to fly. if you just want to buy a plane and kill yourself, nothing we can do about that.
detailsAtEleven@reddit
Leave him the fuck alone.
secondmvp@reddit
Seriously.. Guy works hard his whole life, goes to follow his dream and his turbo neph gets in the way? "thinks he is above the younger folk" buddy he is.
ilikeplanesandF1@reddit
I really hope that this is sarcasm. That line of thought is how plenty of people have killed themselves and (more importantly) other people who are completely innocent.
Gileaders@reddit
All kinds of young instructors dying for hours who would come along for free. All he need do is put an ad online somewhere and they will come out of the woodwork for the opportunity.
Fly_U2_the_sunset@reddit
Not a good attitude to begin with. Some should not fly. I would get in his way casually, until he gets over it. Talk to him about how much cheaper it would be to have someone else fly him places. Use his ego to keep everyone safe.
tekmailer@reddit
Let him know money makes planes fly but gravity doesn’t care if you’re an OPs Uncle or John Walton.
Leave your ego. Balance your cargo.
Perhaps study with him?
krelianbd@reddit
"rush all of his ratings and certificates to get there"
So he'll earn his ratings and certificates.
I am not so naive to think that those things make one a good pilot, but earning those things isn't trivial and there is a good chance he'll learn on the way, or realize what he is getting into and bail, or one of his instructors or examiners will put the fear in him, etc.
I think it's nice that you care about him and his well being, but you may be making a lot of assumptions about his intentions and what he'll do. My advice would be to share with him your own experiences and the things that concern you rather than, as they say, larn him.
jackpotairline@reddit
Agreed. Even if he manages to get past a CFI a DPE would get him. Few can make it all the way to ME flying with a completely terrible attitude.
Ionalien@reddit
And if he gets a lax CFI and DPE for his first cert and gives up deciding that's good enough?
pilotjlr@reddit
Maybe or maybe not. Literally anyone can get a PPL if they persevere enough. Same with instrument.
Some people are reckless and they know to fake it and act safe until they are alone. Some people just can’t fly, but they bounce around CFIs until someone signs them off. I’ve flown with a person who failed the private checkride 3 times before they finally passed it. And guess what? They still couldn’t fly well, and several years later actually crashed.
Having the certs does not mean they are actually competent.
BigJellyfish1906@reddit
Have you seen some of the dumbass things that people do after they get their ratings? This Uncle definitely sounds to me like the type who will do what he has to do to pass the test, knowing that as soon as any prying eyes look the other way, he’s gonna do what he wanted to do the whole time.
Snoo23048@reddit
It could just be that when he gets in the 172 and realizes he has to fly that (not knocking the plane) for a year he may rethink his choice.
lnxguy@reddit
I attempted a flight review for one of those guys and got out of the airplane (Bonanza) and found a ride home after he almost stalled the plane on short final. He killed himself in that airplane a week later.
CH1C171@reddit
Get in good with your uncle and make sure you are in his will. Because rushing through things will get him killed… and hopefully it isn’t more than just him.
DealerDifficult7915@reddit
He should get a Bonanza he would fit right in I think alot of those crashes are guys like that ........oh really running low level through fog and are amazed when you loose a wing tip to sagebrush?
Potential-Elephant73@reddit
He'll be fine. Stop worrying.
FlyingShadow1@reddit
This isn't the field you can be ageist in. Anti-authority kills.
Either he needs to listen to pilots who know stuff or don't bother. I've taught retired military officers, including a few colonels, in their airplanes. None have ever challenged me with a "Well in my thousands of hours of experience..." comment.
Many here recommend finding some older pilot but honestly you should find the best one for the job. That may be an older CFI or it may be someone younger.
Case in point, go look at the age of the CFI who taught that YouTube girl in her Debonair. Some old dude. Where's the girl? Dead after she lost control of that Debonair. I don't remember the name, search for "Debonair YouTuber dead" and you'll find it.
autonym@reddit
I agree, but OP hasn't given us reason to think that the uncle dismisses his advice due to his age, rather than because OP is not a pilot and has no aviation knowledge.
I suspect that's why you're getting downvotes, but you're right that that isn't how downvotes are supposed to work. I upvoted your comment even though I don't think you should be taking OP's unsupported impression at face value.
AffreuxPatyLex@reddit
I've been working at airports for over 15 years. I've met numerous people like this with more money than brains. They all fall into one of two categories: those who have killed themselves and those who will. Most of them take family or friends with them to the grave.
Usually what happens is they get into some IMC and lawn dart it. Some of them get some impressive descent rates before coming to a sudden stop.
Then again, I say two categories but there was one guy who scared himself and almost got killed. Went out and found himself an instructor. Still a moron though and I wouldn't fly with him if you paid me.
bhalter80@reddit
Once he "lands" with slightly too little assistance from his instructor and bounces a few times he'll get the picture
VelitGames@reddit
He needs to go through the same channels everyone else does. There is only so far BSing can go when it comes to practical flight checks and exams.
That kind of attitude has no place in a cockpit, especially as a student, and any halfwit CFI should know that.
If he has the money nothing is going to stop him from trying, but an attitude like that may inhibit him from success. He may not even care.
I knew a rich asshole who paid a CFI to sit in the right seat of an airplane he bought and handle critical operations so he could fly around in the air as a "student" and feel important.
Throwaway818079@reddit (OP)
Okay thanks. I’ve just heard of CFI’s who have passed pilots that shouldn’t have. I don’t know a lot about flying, I’ve just seen a lot of videos about this type of thing so I wanted intel from the pros. Thank you!
zemelb@reddit
It's not the CFI who has ultimate authority, it's the DPE. I'd imagine no DPE is risking their career letting someone slide who hasnt demonstrated that they can be a safe pilot. Now whether they continue to be a safe pilot after they get their license is a different story. Knowing how to be safe and actually choosing to do it are two different things.
_toodamnparanoid_@reddit
CFI has to endorse them to take the check ride and also sign off on their solos. They can absolutely be a gate to prevent an unsafe individual from moving to the next step.
zemelb@reddit
I didn’t say they had no power to stop him. I said they’re not the ultimate authority.
_toodamnparanoid_@reddit
The ultimate authority is the FAA.
zemelb@reddit
For the purposes of licensing, the DPE is a representative of the FAA, no?
_toodamnparanoid_@reddit
You chose the pedantic route, not me. The DPE is not the ultimate authority.
Screw_2FA@reddit
CFIs are responsible for the training and getting them prepared for the check ride. Once they are satisfied they then endorse the student and the designated pilot examiner (DPE) who is someone different (99.9% of the time) actually performs the test. Bare minimum he would have at least two sets of eyes on him before he could load up a plane full of people and set off.
TravisJungroth@reddit
This sounds like a “you” problem.
“Rushing” is also called flying a lot. IME, the people who rush their ratings are actually better than the people who drag their private over three years.
You can’t just pay your way through your ratings. He’ll have to take the checkrides like everyone else.
You haven’t said anything worth listening to.
Cause you’re being dramatic and light twins aren’t death sentences.
What does this even mean?
If you want to be helpful, point out modern single engine planes are safer, cheaper to operate and have better performance than light twins. Encourage him to find flight instructors he really respects and wants to learn from, not just are “in the way” of getting his ratings.
Throwaway818079@reddit (OP)
It is a me problem, you’re right. I am worried about his family. You only know what I’ve told you. I’ve had conversations with him and he has not shown me that he has the right attitude for flying safely. I get the impression that he will fly enough to get his ratings and then never do anything to keep up with it, or practice emergencies.
I’m not a pilot nor do I know much about aviation but I have seen how things can go wrong and families die. That’s why I’m here. Thanks for your advice
autonym@reddit
That's very vague. What did he actually say that suggests he has the wrong attitude?
What did he actually say that gave you that impression?
TravisJungroth@reddit
A twin engine planes will be risky in that situation. Encourage him to get a single and his instrument (IFR) rating. Is he thinking like a jet? Cause short of that, there are baller single engine planes, including turboprops.
xynix_ie@reddit
Maybe yes, and maybe JFK Jr would enter the chat if he could and disagree based on OPs context. That was a single engine too. The best training money could buy even.
OPs concern is well placed. I know people like his uncle.
ratpatty@reddit
he won't be able to pay his way to the top, but one day he will be arrogant enough to take of in conditions beyond his skill and take himself and his family with him to the grave... best advice you can have: never, never fly with him
jclucca@reddit
Already lining up some holes in the swiss cheese, I see
Big_Assignment5949@reddit
Find a grizzled ex-mil/ex-bush/ex-121 salty CFI at the local FBO.
And ask him to put you in his will.
Get him someone he can listen to more than you, who speaks that arrogant language without seeming inexperienced. And if he's that confident, put his money where his mouth is - allotted to you.
Ashamed-Charge5309@reddit
Staying alive is worth more then time with someone like that. But i'm just a outsider looking into that situation. Their behavior reminds me of someone that the less time spent with them the better. Pig headed, very political and annoying to deal with.
May us all on the ground get lucky that a health ailment appears on the doctor exam and they get washed out pretty quickly
Big_Assignment5949@reddit
Maybe I'm an optimist, but I'd like to think that a pilot flying with a pilot both have an active vote in survival. There's a Grey area "oh that cloud looks fine to me," but you aren't just a passive recipient of uncle's aviation death. Which isn't even guaranteed. He might be okay by the time he gets multi rated.
I'd also rather spend an hour behind the glareshield than at a barbecue. You might not be best pals, but theres a common interest (flying) and a common goal (survival, mission execution,) and a common system (CRM.) It could be the easiest way to spend regulated time together, pad your own logbook, and keep a respectful understanding of his abilities as a pilot.
That said, there are people I'd prefer not to fly with again. But I had to fly with them to know.
Ashamed-Charge5309@reddit
Except as some others have said here, it's a good chance of ageism. Doubt there will be a sudden epiphany ("I was wrong and learned so much!") in this case.
One hopes so, but as it seems they want to just leap frog so much and hit the friendly skies, seems doubtful.
Honestly think sprouting wings here is all but a fantasy at this rate, and i'm fine with that. Rather then going through it all and having issues rather then forcing something considering there is a multitude of things coming together saying it isn't possible, gotta accept that and not force it.
This just has hallmarks of the usual "I've bought my way into things, why should this be any different?" energy
TheOriginalJBones@reddit
An old crop duster will do in a pinch.
Such-Entrepreneur663@reddit
An arrogant guy learning from a former crop dusted is the fast track to death.
Big_Assignment5949@reddit
Russelle Casse would be perfect, if we could get him to sober up.
BillWeld@reddit
Hilarious.
still_no_enh@reddit
Don't forget step #2!
You deserve to be there for helping him realize his dreams!
BillWeld@reddit
Probably should avoid low time CFIs still trying to accumulate hours. He need a veteran who is not afraid to yell at him.
autonym@reddit
Is he reckless with other aspects of his life, e.g. driving, finances, relationships? If not, he probably won't be that way with flying.
GoobScoob@reddit
In my experience this type of individual won’t be swayed by safety talk. The best approach I think would be to have them charter a couple times, get used to having a professional fly them around. Once they realize how relaxing it is chillin in the back seat rather than working in the front seat they may change their tune. Flying is a full time job, not like hopping in the car. If you can pay someone to do it it’ll make life that much easier.
reckless_responsibly@reddit
There's an absolute ton of people in this thread pretending that rich and overconfident pilots don't have a reputation for killing themselves and their passengers.
probablyaythrowaway@reddit
Ask him to sponsor you to be his pilot
RaidenMonster@reddit
Tell him to record his flights once he is a big time multi engine pilot and put them on YT. Jerry Wagner is about the only future disaster we have going right now.
Dunnowhathatis@reddit
Good ol Jerry
Immediate-Living9982@reddit
He’ll have to pass at least one and more typically three check rides, which also means CFIs signing off on him to even take those. They’ll all be looking for hazardous attitudes in addition to the requisite knowledge and skills. If he gets through all that, he’s reasonably safe.
Negative_Swan_9459@reddit
Have him read the endless supply of accident reports involving rich people who wipe out themselves and innocent victims.
VisualApproach17C@reddit
I think everyone, to a certain extent, goes in thinking they're going to crush it and bang out ratings in a hurry....but it never goes like that. Not only that, but we all "think" we know what we want out of it at zero hour, but most of us end up going another direction (or many) along the way. The system is also designed to keep those that don't get it or are unsafe from getting a license to operate. So I'd just be supportive of him and he'll figure out the rest along the journey that won't be a quick one no matter what you believe.
However, it sounds like your jealousy of his position in life is what's driving this, not your concern for his safety. That's just the excuse you're hiding behind. That's on you brotha. You aren't the gatekeeper to aviation, but if you know a thing or two about it, then be there to offer advice instead of assuming his motives. He obviously has a goal that he wants to achieve, and you're being a barrier to it. And you just might have closed the door forever at sharing something in common with a family member...
InTheGreenTrees@reddit
There’s a reason piston twins have the nickname of “doctor killer” isn’t there?
PinkyAndTheBrainNarf@reddit
Screw multi and get this man a Cirrus.
rotardy@reddit
If he doesn’t listen to you buy life insurance on him because you’re not wrong.
SkyhookCH-1@reddit
sounds like the kind of student who will put off taking the written forever, like the requirement will just go away or they can get around it. I used to tell my students "I don't care if you take the written test or not. But I know for damn sure you can't get a certificate if you don't pass it."
mkosmo@reddit
So he wants to do exactly what all the zero-to-hero programs do for so many airline pilots to be?
Dry-Horror-4188@reddit
I say let him go learn. Flying is a skill learned. If he wants to learn, let him, he will find soon enough that it is more than he thought, and hopefully he will realize that there is more to flying than he is aware of.
saml01@reddit
I agree - we need content.
Mobe-E-Duck@reddit
Oh that’s easy. There’s two solutions. First is you introduce him to the widows and/or family and friends of others who thought just like him. Or whenever he’s getting his instruction you tug his instructor aside and say hey, simulate an engine failure on number two without telling him.
The second solution is you encourage him wholeheartedly and take out a life insurance policy on him.
Kunjunk@reddit
Most (if not all?) pilots are people who wanted to fly but weren't wealthy enough to do it without having to earn a living too. Getting rated is not trivially easy or something you can just buy your way through.
Heavy_Cow_7117@reddit
Please ask him not to involve anyone or anything living on the ground. Thank you for your understanding.
RockCommon@reddit
How would he not be a pilot if he flies after getting proper qualifications? I agree he shouldn't rush those things. I'm just trying to understand how/why he wouldn't be a pilot while doing pilot things
HateJobLoveManU@reddit
The rules of aviation are written in blood. Aviation is humbling and unforgiving of mistakes. Hopefully you can find someone who gets through to him, but if someone is determined to be a moron they're going to do it regardless of what anyone says. It'll be interesting for him to get a nice look in the mirror when he sees the 5 Hazardous Attitudes though.
CommuterType@reddit
Encourage his endeavor and remind him to include you in his will
Affectionate_Horse86@reddit
Are you imply that he would bribe people in order to get certificates?
Captain_Xap@reddit
When you say he wants to fly, not be a pilot, what do you mean? Do you mean he doesn't want to be a professional pilot? Because I don't really see anything wrong with that.
I think the best thing you can do is encourage him by giving him good resources - things like the Aviation News Talk podcast with Max Trescott (https://aviationnewstalk.com) - it really encourages good aviation decisionmaking, and with any luck your uncle will develop a pride in doing things the right way.
Available_Coyote_441@reddit
Plenty of people rush through their ratings and go on to be airline pilots. He'll be fine as long as he takes it seriously.
Screw_2FA@reddit
Have him book a discovery flight and go with him to the airport. Talk to the CFI about your concerns. I’ve had a few disco flights like this where the person is super confident and It’s a blast watching them absolutely lose their shit when you give them controls. This could be a good way to reinforce that, like most other things in the world, rushing something serious is a great way to cause harm/death.
rFlyingTower@reddit
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
my uncle is very wealthy and wants to buy and fly his own plane. He wants to buy a twin and rush all of his ratings and certificates to get there. I’m worried that he will just pay his way to the top and become one of those people that ends up on pilot debrief for killing himself and his family because he just wants to fly, not be a pilot.
He is kind of the arrogant type that thinks he is above the younger folk and I worry he may not listen to me. I know this is a sensitive subject because It’s hard to say this is a death sentence without him getting offended. How do you suggest I go about this if at all? I’m just worried about him
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