Originally Posted by
Mach E Avelli
But a student flying solo shouldn’t know that the instructor is eavesdropping on the radio.
Why on earth not?!? After First Solo, you'd hope the instructor has enough confidence in the student's ability that they aren't going to come to grief, but if we're speaking of the
first time a student pilot has been on their own in an aircraft - it's a really freaky big deal! In my experience at Moorabbin, most instructors will do exactly that. If they can't hear communications between the student and the tower (and perhaps note the level of calmness, professionalism or otherwise in their voice) how are they supposed to do a proper and complete debrief? Just take the student's word for it?? Seriously..
From then on, I'm sure the instructor has more important things to do (paperwork, get coffee for the CFI..) than be bothered listening in on the radio.