Volume 4, Issue 18 - Feb. 10, 1982

Page 1

~. Volume

4, Issue 18 ~-" © Metropress February 10, 1982 A;..

MSC and flBht schools In ·the wronS

certification ai1d bidding .procedure ignored by Brian Coffey-Weber and J. Patrick O'Leary

© 1982 Metropress.

The flight school which recently went bankrupt and defaulted on $18,000 worth of MSC student's deposits did not possess the _proper teaching certification 'from the Federal Aviation Administration in the summer of 1980 when the contract was awarded, The Metropolitan has learned. , The Metropolitan has also discovered that the defunct company, Pro Flight, Inc., never even submitted a bid for the instructional contract. A related com.pany, Pro Aviation, Inc., turned in a low bid in May of 1980 and was awarded the contract in the summer. An unknown number of students were then sent to Pro •Flight at Arapahoe County airport at the beginning of the 1980 fall semester even though the firm did not receive the private pilot's teaching certification required by ,l

MSC until late October of 1980, according to the regional office of the FAA. According to Roger Riggins of the regional office of the FAA in Broomfield, Pro Flight surrendered its license in the fall of 1981. When asked about Pro Aviation's status Riggins said, "They are still certified, lets put it that way." Asked who was responsible for MSC students taldng courses

liability insurance, and financial statements. The outside instruction was necessary because MSC owns no airplanes. Though MSC put the contract out for bid and essentially acted as agents for its students, the institution failed to follow the contract's stipulations requiring signature and documentation and n<?W claims no legal responsibility.

formation about student's claims and plans to pay for their lessons. While Marvel believes the unsigned contract places no binding obligation on the school, the Denver District Attorney's office believes differently. According to John Utterback, MSC's business manager, the DA's office told him that a binding contract existed for MSC as soon as the flying instruction began, even though the documents outlining the agreement between MSC and Pro Flight were not signed by either Though MSC put the contract out for bid and essentially party. acted as agents for its students, the institution failed to MSC officials are beginning to follow the contract's stipulations requiring signature and ~ responsibility, but the cirdocuments and now claims no legal responsibility. cumstances of how Pro Aviation got the contract are murky. Lee Orht, chairman of the from an uncertified instructor, he Since the MSC business office added, "It looks to me like that's never signed a contract the school MSC Aerospace Science Departnot Pro Flight's fault. It looks to is not legally responsible," John ment, said he met Cecil Reimer, Marvel, chairman of the Trustees head of both Pro Aviation and Pro me like it's Metro's fault. While Pro Flight and Pro Avia- of the Consortium of State Col- · Flight in the spring of 1980 tion won the contra~t, neither leges, said Monday night. "Legal- through Reimer's son, Chris, a company ever signed it. Also in ly we are not bound, but morally former MSC flying student. Orht invited Reimer to bid on violation of state law, neither we have an obligation." the instruction contract. Pro According to Marvel, MSC, company furnished MSC with the required proof of bonding to along with the state Attorney Aviation submitted the low bid cover students' deposits, proof of General's office, is gathering incontinued OD page 7


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