46 Indonesians sue after flight school closes<\/p>\n
BROWNSVILLE, Texas (AP): When Southwind Aviation closed its
\nflight school last week, 46 Indonesian students were left without
\nthe education they paid for.<\/p>\n
The students have since filed a lawsuit in federal court
\ndemanding that the school's owner, Robert Harper, pay back the
\nnearly $800,000 they say they paid for tuition and housing.<\/p>\n
The students allege in the lawsuit that they paid between
\n$20,000 and $40,000 for classes and flying practice, depending on
\nthe level of experience each had when they began.<\/p>\n
Harper could not be reached for comment Wednesday, the
\nBrownsville Herald reported Thursday.<\/p>\n
Peter P. Ameel, the school's former general partner, said
\nHarper has been out of town liquidating the company's assets.
\nAmeel declined comment on the lawsuit.<\/p>\n
In the lawsuit, the students have asked a federal judge to
\nissue a restraining order against Harper to keep him from selling
\nthe school's property.<\/p>\n
Ameel said he was at the school working without pay Wednesday
\n\"to help the students. We're just trying to do something for
\nthem.\"<\/p>\n
Junior Rorimpandey, 22, said he left Indonesia nine months ago
\nto go to flight school.<\/p>\n
\"They stopped our education just like that, so suddenly,\"
\nRorimpandey said.<\/p>\n
The lawsuit alleges that the school continued to collect
\ntuition even after the owner knew it was going out of business.<\/p>\n
\"I need my money back,\" said Ferry Safiandry, 30, who needed
\njust eight hours of flying to complete his pilot certification
\nwhen classes stopped.<\/p>\n
\"That wasn't easy to get the dollars. You have to go to the
\nblack market,\" to get American currency in Indonesia, he said.<\/p>\n
It is likely the flight hours and course work that students
\nhave already completed will apply toward their certification at
\nanother school, Safiandry said.<\/p>\n
But many of them cannot afford to enroll at another school
\nuntil they are reimbursed, he said.<\/p>\n
Harper blamed the Asian economic crisis for drying up the
\npipeline of students headed to his school. There were 80 students
\nenrolled in classes when the doors closed.<\/p>\n
Another group of 11 Korean students said they were also shut
\nout when the school closed.<\/p>\n
\"We can't go back to our country without a license,\" said Jin-
\nSoo Jung, who came to the school from South Korea in July.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/46-indonesians-sue-after-flight-school-closes-1447893297",
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