Originally Posted by
hargreaves99
Well, until you have done trial lessons in an R22, I don't think it's fair to pass comment. If the student grabs the controls and doesn't let go (or does a large wrong control input), and you are near the ground, there is often very little you can do. And yes, you can brief them in the classroom and in the aircraft, but that often goes out of the window when the engine starts.
I have done hundreds of trial lessons and about 80% of people don't even say "I have control" when you give them control, despite briefing them beforehand about it.
Don't forget these people are not military school pilots, they are mostly just ordinary members of the public that have been given a 20 min/30 min trial lesson "experience" voucher as a present. Sometimes teenagers and grannies, often older people who have never been in a helicopter, and some that don't even drive a car!
If you have gone from 15 feet down to hitting the ground when you as the instructor have the collective and pedals as well as being able to at least have some decent input on the cyclic then it is 'pretty crappy' no matter who is in the other seat.