Aug. 23—Josh Arnold and Gauthier Kabengele say they had dreams of being commercial airline pilots.
Instead, they have jobs in security and at a refinery.
They are among eight former Craven Community College students who have filed a federal lawsuit against the college and its partner flight school, contending their dreams of flying crashed because the defendants couldn't deliver on a promised certification for them to become pilots.
The lawsuit alleges the certificate program was not approved by the FAA at the time it was marketed to students and the defendants do not qualify for getting reduce flight hours toward their goal of getting commercial licenses.
The complaint was filed against the trustees of Craven Community College, Tradewind Flight service, D2 Government Solutions, Onvoi and individuals Darryl Centanni, President of TFSI, Onvoi, and D2; David Ricker, Chief Executive Officer of TFSI, Onvoi, and D2; and Wally Calabrese, former Dean of Craven's Havelock-Cherry Point campus, now employed by D2.
A written request for comments from D2 Government Solutions was unsuccessful.
Craven Community College sent the Sun Journal a statement.
"Recently, an attorney representing some former students made allegations about Craven Community College's Aviation Management & Career Pilot Program (AMCP). It would be inappropriate to comment on the details of these students' dissatisfactions. The College is, however, extremely proud of our aviation education program. Also, the private contractor that provides the actual flight training to the AMCP has been and continues to be fully FAA certified and is required to follow all FAA safety requirements
Allison Tomberlin, a Winston-Salem attorney representing the former students, said "The basics of the lawsuit is that these guys were promised that they would graduate with a particular certification and at the time this promise was made, they didn't know that the school (CCC) and the flight school weren't eligible to give that certificate."
She said the students were lured by promises in advertisements and stories generated through the college about its aviation programs.
"The understanding was that this program would allow graduates to have a restricted ATP, which would allow them to get into the industry faster," she said. "They would be able to start as pilots faster with fewer flight hours, because the Federal Aviation Administration allows certain certified programs to provide this certification."
The lawsuit also charges, "the student evaluations disclosed concerns about safety, aircraft maintenance, and problems scheduling suitable aircraft for required flights."
It also claims that some of the students who are veterans were targeted to access Veterans Administration benefits.
No court date has been set.
The lawsuit asks for compensatory damages in excess of $25,000 for each man, as well as punitive damages.
"I am over $50,000 in student debt," said Josh Arnold, 34, of New Bern. "That does not include any money I took out of my savings, and it does include the fact I had to quit my job to do the program."
Arnold said he specifically took the program to get a reduced-time restricted Airlines Transport Pilots (ATP) certificate.
"That was the advertisement. If you want to work for the majors, it takes 1,500 flight hours to get that," he said.
He said the CCC program promised to shave 250 flight hours off the 1,500 total with the restricted ATP certificate.
Flight hours training can cost hundreds of dollars per hour and up, he said, for plane rental, instructors and miscellaneous costs.
After he dropped out of the program earlier this year, Arnold took a job at a precious metals refinery in Pitt County.
Arnold said he doesn't have the money to enter another flight school.
"Now, it's just basically wait-and-see if we get our day in court," he said. "That's really all I can do at this point."
The lawsuit, filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, reads in part that the action is "for false and misleading representations and omissions to current and prospective Craven students regarding Defendants' noncompliance with Federal Aviation Administration ("FAA") regulations and certifications to operate a pilot training program..."
The plaintiffs include Josh Arnold, Gauthier Kabengele, Joshua Broner, Robert Clement, Thomas Debatt, Austin Eubanks, Matthew Lambert and Brandon Marsteller.
They are represented by Tomberlin of Beechler Tomberlin, PLLC in Winston-Salem.
"The College's AMCP is a strong part of our educational offerings," said community college officials in a written statement. "The third class of AMCP students will start their education and flight training this month. We are enrolling new students in the AMCP and will continue to encourage qualified students to consider our program.
"The College is very proud of our AMCP students. Nearly all have earned multiple FAA flight credentials and many, from both the first and second classes of students, continue to progress towards earning advanced flight credentials and completing their degree program. Some have already found employment within the commercial aviation industry. The AMCP is strong and growing."
Among the veterans in the lawsuit is Boston native Gauthier Kabengele, who was stationed at Cherry Point air station during his four years in the Marines, which ended in May 2020. He was a life support systems mechanic on Harrier Jump Jet aircraft. His service included a 22nd MEW deployment to the Middle East.
"During deployment, Tradewinds sent me emails saying with their partnership with Craven (Community College), they would provide people with a degree in aviation," he said. "I thought that was cool, something I would like to get into."
He said when he decided to enter the program, he moved his fiancé and sister to this area.
"My hope was to become a pilot and have that restricted ATP so I could get to the airlines quicker and have an associate degree out of it as well," he said.
Since leaving the program early this year, the 29-year-old has moved to Charlotte to find employment and explore other flight training schools. He has an associate degree in auto mechanics.
He did not use any veterans' benefits but said the loss came from his savings.
"It was a substantial amount," he said. "It was a lot of money, plus the pain and suffering that my family went through because I brought them down here. I also skipped two job offers in Boston to take this program."
Charlie Hall can be reached at 252-635-5667 or 252-259-7585, or [email protected]. Follow him on Facebook at Charlie Hall.
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