It seems my original post that WWW refers has kicked of a great professional debate. BEagle already knows my views about the subject however...
I think a prop stopped exercise is a valuable training situation. I don't believe that removing the keys, tossing 'em in the back or hanging them out the window is responsible or ethical.
What I DO maintain is that a properly structured exercise is a beneficial task for the student and poses little more risk (if any) than say, asymmetric rejected take-offs. To differentiate from gliders or any other non-powered, heavier-than-air type is fallacious. As long as the aircraft is operated within it's glide performance envelope then what's the difference?
I, too, was required to do prop stopped, air & starter motor restarts for both my initial aerobatics endorsement & later my aero. instructor approval. In both cases the situation was set up over an airstrip, with enough height to use either direction + no TFC. Of course the controls were set for a restart once the engine was stopped.
There is a large change in glide performance between an idling & a stopped engine. It can make a few hundred ft/min difference & that's only a Cessna 150!.
As for the argument about 'what if someone cuts in front?' - then land beside / behind as appropriate. Similarly this is no different to doing a shutdown & feathered approach & landing in a light twin. Once commital height is reached then that's what it means.
My (twin) students were in no doubt about going around or not below decision height if I gave them an asymmetric approach. (Of course I told them that I might countermand their decision if it was a non-feathered situation. But the message was: If the performance doesn't allow it - then don't try it.)
I really can't see the difference.
Doing it at Bankstown (one of the busiest GA aerodromes in the S. hemisphere? No, of course not. Doing at Upper Whoop Whoop airstrip as nearly the sole operator? Different story.
As an aside, just try the bloody shaking & vibration that happens at best glide IAS with a windmilling but stopped engine. It really can be horrendous.
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Don't mess with the red switches.