Salute!
Lots more on this story, and if my hired pilot had a probem I would have figured out the radio button and said the same thing, but that I had flown other planes before. Big difference between an innocent SLF and someone who had flown before. Especially the radio R/T.
I always wondered if I could handle a B737 or Bus 320 if asked. Never flew a heavy, but aero is aero, and if I could work the radios I could make a good approach versus just giving up and becoming a smoking hole.
More to this story, IMHO.
Gums sends...