Yesterday I was shocked, not by the student I was flying with but by a visiting instructor to our airfield. I would appreciate any comments on this. This is the tail:
End of a circuit detail, the student is still coming to terms with the feel of the aircraft in the flare, tending to balloon, no different to lots of other students. I allow him to descend to about 6” when he flared in a fashion by pulling back on the control column. We ballooned, he tried to force the aircraft on the ground by lowering the nose and I took control. I applied full power and then landed back on our enormous runway, using only ½ the total distance available. Taxi off, shut down and walked back to operations with the student chatting on the way back.
As I entered operations ATC were on the phone saying that an instructor whom I have never met, or know wanted to know whose aircraft we were in, who was flying and telling ATC that the landing was fast (lie) and looked very dangerous. ATC know me well and placated the instructor and told him not to worry. (He then took 3 attempts to get a departure clearance wrong – well done).
Was the nosey git just showing concern and if to my safety or was he making a point to the world about what he thought of my instructional techniques including my boss!! I must say I was very angry, maybe unjustifiably.
