magpienja
I may be wrong, but when I was a trainee PPL I was using the radio when I was flying solo, up until I took the RT test at the end of the course. My understanding was that as you are training, and effectively flying on your instructors licence, you can also use their RT licence.
Now, I stand to be shot down here, but if that's not the case, then I know of literally tens of students that are illegally using the RT... Also, I'd rather be talking to an ATC unit than be blind on both radio and transponder.
Anyone with better knowledge care to comment?
DW