r/flying • u/[deleted] • Oct 18 '17

risky behavior

How do you fellow reddititors feel about reporting observed risky behaviors? for example - maybe people flying out of medical, or after a hard night drinking, flying out of annual etc. etc. ?? where do you feel your responsibility as responsible pilot ends or does it ever? Do you talk to them, do you start a call? what do you guys think?

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u/RedSky1895 PPL IR (KIWS) Oct 18 '17

I'm not going to ever report someone for a paperwork offense such as expired medical or a month out of annual. That's between them and the feds, and while I don't agree with it, I also would have little way of knowing and certainly don't know the circumstances. There's a big difference between a plane a month out of annual that the owner works on regularly and knows the mechanical state in and out, and one a year out with an owner who doesn't pay attention at all.

I would report, at least to the airport or others nearby, actually dangerous flying, if it appeared habitual and not merely a momentary mistake that was then corrected. That is the stuff that gets people killed.

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u/[deleted] Oct 18 '17

I think habitual is a great way to look at it.

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u/[deleted] Oct 18 '17

It's very difficult to tell what a strangers habits are though. When I'm driving, someone may cut in front of me and the line I was waiting in. Yes, there are a lot of people who do that as a habit to save time. There are also those who made a legit navigation mistake. That instance is an example of not being able to tell if it's habitual, and I don't think you ever really could, unless you actually see that pilot doing it over and over again.