Falsifying a commercial aircraft logbook

[dav787]

hi,

One of my friend is working for a charter operator and many flights are not logged in the a/c logbooks. It's a real bad company and my friend is looking to leave.

What kind of consequences the company and the pilots participating can face?

[niss]

I think that the TC inspector summarily tries the offender, and when found guilty, their head is caved in with a cylinder from a R-985 and their corpse is strung up from the windsock with a sign around their neck with the words "Pilots, ye be warned" on it, while the local Student Pilots dance around with merriment and mirth, while a lute is played. As is tradition.

[Gorgons]

Is an omission falsifying something? Intentionally entering something you know is incorrect is falsifying, failing to enter something might be just forgetfulness? And as far as TC goes, doesn't that just move you up in the hiring pool, you need to be able to spot a cooked book from 10 paces... takes one to know one theory.

[goingnowherefast]

Intentionally failing to make an entry is also falsifying, and I'd expect to be facing TC Enforcement. If you genuinely forget to make an entry, you'll have to come up with a "corrective action plan" that satisfies TC.

[rigpiggy]

Whatever you do, don't trust TC Enforcement..........

The PIC will always be left holding the bag. Only way around it is a letter, email, etc..... from the Boss, threatening dismissal.

A place I used to work, one Captain had a voice recorder on his phone, and used it anytime he talked to someone with company.

[YYCAME]

Your friend would be better off accidentally recording all flights and playing dumb with his boss then risking his career on this, companies like that are more then happy to pass the blame onto the employee when the reckoning comes.

[lazyeight]

Small charters do this so they keep hours down and less inspections needed. Tell your friend to quit. Why is he not entering the hours himself in the logs? Is management keeping them locked away?

[Rowdy]

Whatever you do, don't trust TC Enforcement..........

The PIC will always be left holding the bag. Only way around it is a letter, email, etc..... from the Boss, threatening dismissal.

A place I used to work, one Captain had a voice recorder on his phone, and used it anytime he talked to someone with company.

Theres a great app that one can set to record phone conversations when selected numbers call or are dialed.

I heard of a 'manager' that would only call or corner people in person so that there was no record of it, lest the regulator find out or they were cornered about it at a later time.

[switchflicker]

What's with the 'Don't Trust TC Enforcement' bit? I'd think not to trust the employer if he wants you to fly an aircraft which has more time on it than the maintenance records reflect. Is this employer also shuffling the revenue to a secret account so as to not pay taxes and loans and such? Is the employer also short changing his contributions towards your CPP et al? I think AFTER you hit the bricks and get the heck out of there, you SHOULD have a long talk with Enforcement. Do this BEFORE they come looking for you - and they will. When you are told to do wrong, and you know when that is, document the conversation. Use paper, in your own handwriting, not electronic notes. Date, time, who spoke with you and an outline of what they said. Keep these documents for a long long time after you leave. That may be a huge plus in your favor if you are ever called up.

[rigpiggy]

I had a friend who went to transport for a ruling for the company playing fast and loose with fdtl. He went to TC PNR with it, who did TC charge and assess a 2000$ fine. It wasnt the company, we are low hanging fruit, the company lawyers up. Pilots try to do the right thing and get fried. We need a get out of jail free card, like the ASRs in the USA

[rigpiggy]

Whatever you do, don't trust TC Enforcement..........

The PIC will always be left holding the bag. Only way around it is a letter, email, etc..... from the Boss, threatening dismissal.

A place I used to work, one Captain had a voice recorder on his phone, and used it anytime he talked to someone with company.

Theres a great app that one can set to record phone conversations when selected numbers call or are dialed.

I heard of a 'manager' that would only call or corner people in person so that there was no record of it, lest the regulator find out or they were cornered about it at a later time.

I have it n my android and have it on all the time, when i finish a call it asks if i want to save it.

[AirFrame]

What's the app called? Searching for "call recorder" brings up dozens but you never know which ones are any good...

[MrWings]

What if he is directed to fly over gross? Without adequate reserves? IFR with non-functioning instruments? Who do you think would take the heat for those infractions?

What if something on the plane fails and crashes because maintenance was differed due to flights not recorded? If you were not on that plane but knew of the rule breaking, could you sleep at night?

Enter all of your flights. If you get fired you get fired. Someone will rat this operator out one day. If you were complicit, you are liable too.

[Big Pistons Forever]

Enter all of your flights. If you get fired you get fired. Someone will rat this operator out one day. If you were complicit, you are liable too.

+1

You can't give an inch on the black and white issues like this. My experience is if you stand up to the boss the first time you are asked to do something obviously illegal, things are not going to be fun but they will back down. If you cave, then you are the done as you will have undercut any chance of standing up for what is right in the future.

For what it is worth I have refused illegal and/ or inappropriate requests by management on several notable occasions. I was never fired although, in one case it accelerated my search for another job.

Bottom line you as the PIC, always have a choice. The options may range from poor to terrible but no one is holding a gun to your head. You always have the choice to just say no.

[oldtimer]

If it is possible, keep notes and evidence that will stand up in a court of law. If you get fired, then it is time for revenge. Take your evidence to TC Maintenance inspectors.
I heard of someone who could not verify air time on this airplane and TC tried to require a complete overhaul of the engine and prop to get the airplane back to traceable hours in use. If not, at least the moves required to determine hours of operation on engines and props can take a very long time and get expensive. Also, a determined inspector can dig deep into the records and I will bet some AWD's and inspections will have to be redone because this type of person is usually quite careless in record keeping.