US Flight Aircraft Maintenance Llc

WARNING: HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE AT REPAIR SHOP: So i have been working with Bernie at US Flight in Danbury DXR for probably 6 years or so. He has done multiple annuals for me, including recently on my Malibu. I have spent quite a bit of money with him, bills are always paid before i leave in full and NEVER ever had a issue or squabble with him. Recently he quoted me to replace a cylinder and i had a few other things i wanted him to do. I flew the plane up there this morning, and as i approached his hanger --he waved me over to park at the other side of the hanger where he had the door open --knowing i was inbound. Now, i have watched him struggle to get my plane in his hanger quite a few times, including constantly adjusting his tug. So as i approached, i looked into the hanger, and that side was empty--no plane, no parts, no cars, not even a tug. Thinking i could help him out, i spun the plane around, and was conscience of not throttling up to blast the open hanger --i cut it to idle as she spun around, moved forward probably 40-50 feet from the entrance of the hanger, and let the plane sit idle for a moment, because its a turbo engine and you cant just cut it off. In my mind, at idle, that far away, with nothing in the hanger, i thought it would be fine. Lets say i am WRONG, and should have parked parallel or cut the engine immediately, what happened next was something out of a movie or nightmare. I got out of the plane and Bernie started cursing at me. Calling me an F-ing IDIOT and F-ing MORON, telling me im a loser that i need to go back to school --- i tried to calm him down. I apologized and said Bernie relax we have been working together for YEARS what the HELL is going on. He wouldnt stop. He kept yelling and going on about how i blew some dirt into the hanger and how in the far rear corner where he had cowlings hanging i could have knocked them off --- OK -- i apologize --if i HAD done something like that i would have taken full responsibility for it --- like ok--i will never do that again sorry ---but he wasnt hearing it. He tells me YOU KNOW WHAT I"LL F-ING SHOW YOU -- he walks across the hanger, gets a leave blower, starts it up and comes over to me ---goes full blast and shoots me right in the face with it. My hat flies off, i turn around to go get it and i lost it. told him to F-off and we were done. I tried to turn away to go back to my plane --and the guy follows me!! Shooting me with the leave blower --blasting me and got so close he ends up hitting me in the back of the head with the nozzle!! I turned around and said are you F-ING KIDDING ME!! And the guy gets in my face yelling more.

Now, for anyone reading this that says dont blast an open hanger, i 100% agree with you --- my distance and idle i thought it would be ok and i was simply trying to help him out by minimizing the turns he has to make with his tug. furthermore, i was careful to look in the hanger to make sure there was nothing in it before i even turned.

Historically, he has been a good guy to work with. He use to be good to me --- but in my opinion, anyone that can blow a fuse like that and lose it that bad especially after nothing happened-- he could have addressed it with me and i simply never would have done it again ---- this is NOT the kind of temperment i want working on a machine that could kill me if not done right. I am sure many of you have used him and had great experiences, as i had in the past --- but after today -- i would be scared to let someone like that touch the machine im flying. I dont care WHAT kind of bad day you had --- even after i apologized and tried to diffuse the situation he kept going and getting crazier and crazier. Just something i think fellow pilots should know before they take their aircraft anywhere to get it serviced.

I've been a customer of this US Flight Maintenance and Bernard Paquette for many years and they've worked on my SR22. The shop knows the Cirrus well, but get ready for huge unexpected bills. On several occasions I came in for a specific single repair, Bernard would say "There are a couple other things that should e taken care of" and I am presented with a $8000 bill.
Most recently things got worse, I had my Cirrus exhaust system overhauled and shipped to their hangar, but for over a month now they have not returned a single phone call or email. I called an alternate number and the other guy picked up, in the background I heard him mention "It's Tom" and Bernard said something back, then they hung up on me.
I've spent at least $20,000 with this shop over past few years and feel betrayed they don't have the decency to even return calls.
I would strongly advise other owners to stay away from this facility.
I have the invoice of the cost of the exhaust system overhaul, with the shipping address listed on it.