Tandem vs Side by Side seating

[flyinkiwi]

Those of you who have experience instructing on both types of seating arrangements, what are the advantages and disadvantages of each with respect to instructing technique? How much of a challenge is it for rear seat instructors who cannot directly see what a student is doing (or is not doing as the case may be)?

[astir 8]

From the point of view of gliding, I've done a fair bit of time looking at the back of the pupil's head, and also sitting next to (mainly first time) pupils in an old T21.

There are up and downsides to both systems. Side by side is great for reassurance of nervous early pupils and you can demo control movements, point at the relevant instruments etc more easily. Lookout on the pupil's side is a lot more difficult until you can trust the pupil to see what's on his side.

Looking at the back of the pupil's head is excellent for picking up poor lookout scans but basic demos may need more explanation. Sitting in front means that the pupil becomes accustomed to a single seat type cockpit and when the time comes to go solo the only real difference is the absence of nagging from the back seat!

Weight and balance is easier with tandem seating because the instructor is usually sitting nearly on the centre of gravity.

The military seem to change their minds on side-by-side or tandem instructing fairly often - a case of the grass being greener? Right now they seem to be in a tandem phase with the Tucanos and side by side with the Tutors.

Most gliders you don't have much choice these days - it'll be tandem which gives lower cross sectional area and better performance. Power is almost all side by side - because Cessna want to make you feel as if you're in a car?

[Piper.Classique]

As astir says, , plus if the trainee is in the front you will prolly need to be quite finicky about your seating position. I have problems flying the supercub from the back with getting my feet nicely sorted between the brakes and rudder pedals. Side by side is easier for communication, and the student can see that you aren't riding the controls. Teaching turns is easier in a tandem, but for the rest I don't think it makes a lot of difference. If the solo seat is the back seat, a mirror to see the stude's face is handy. Not so many tandem light a/c around though, are there?

[SNS3Guppy]

If you're flying in a tandem arangement, an intercom is a real plus. It's helpful in either case, but particularly so in a tandem arrangement (unless you want to resort to the time honored method of striking the student with a rolled-up sectional chart, to make your points).

[Tmbstory]

flyinkiwi:

I thought it was great when instructing in a Piper Tripacer with Female Students and having to show the position and how to operate the master switch. This switch was located under the student's seat.

Tmb

[Genghis the Engineer]

My learning to fly was split between tandem and side-by-side; I always much preferred tandem when I was learning. My reasons were:

-Right hand circuits!

-Not having to look at my flying instructor, who scared me (at-least did when I was in the UAS, subsequent civil instructors were usually nicer).

-The sense of independence in the aeroplane, which I think helped my learning process, I tended to behave much less dependently upon the instructor.


Mostly (3) to be honest.

G

[Piper.Classique]

If you're flying in a tandem arangement, an intercom is a real plus
You mean there are people instructing in ANYTHING with an engine who don't have an intercom? :ugh:

[mixsfour]

I was taught side by side. Some advantages I saw were:

Appreciation of different perspective of the engine coming in relation to the horizon in right & left turns

Instructor could hold a carefully folded map over the instruments to force me to fly by visual reference only (if you recognise yourself, sorry if I swore at that point!)

Instructor simulating electrical failures by pulling circuit breakers

[SNS3Guppy]

You mean there are people instructing in ANYTHING with an engine who don't have an intercom?

Yes, of course.

[dwade]

I teach tailwheel flying in a 1946 Aeronca Champ. It doesn't have an electrical system, but we use a battery powered intercom. Sometimes the battery goes dead and I have worked out a system of hand touches and signals so that we can keep flying, so yes sometimes we fly in a tandem without an intercom. I will admit that I prefer to fly with one. In the Champ from the back seat I can only see the airspeed and the tach (behind a large student I can't see any instruments). That means the student is responsible for the fuel gauge, altimeter, compass, and all engine gauges. I end up asking about things a lot. I cannot see the runway on short final unless we are slipping, which we fortunately do often. I have less viz for traffic. I really like teaching in the Champ because I like the aircraft, but the only advantage (other than being cool) that tandem seating has for instructing is that the student cannot see how closely you are guarding the controls.