Originally Posted by IO540
The problem is with the syllabus which is deliberately really really basic.
And quite right too.
One could include everything in the PPL and make it 200 hours.
The PPL does not inlcude aerobatics training. A pilot who gets their PPL and straight away purchases a zlin and promptly kills themselves can not blame the training industry for not providing aerobatic training in the basic PPL.
Smilarly, the pilot who trains in a C150 and purchases an M201 on PPL completion can not balme the trainig industry for being 50 miles behind the aircraft.
The PPL is designed to get a person to the standard that permits them to fly simple light aircraft while carrying passengers without endangering them. A big part of the course is Airmanship and a big part of Airmanship is not doing anything or using anything one is not happy with - Ask and instructor!
I agree that instructors are not teaching MET and NOTAM briefings correctly. There is much work required in that area. Part of the problem being that they were not shown it in the first place and thus have no idea themselves.
Clubs should NOT publish met or NOTAMS. Every pilot should get their own.
GPS is covered in a very basic way on the PPL. Why only this? Because there are such a variety of GPS uits available that it is futile. The CAA, the training organisations, the representative organisations (AOPA etc) and the GPS manufacturers all recomend that prior to using aviation units (hand held or otherwise) that training is obtained from a qualified instructor. If pilots ignore that information and get into trouble then it is clearly their own fault.
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Originally Posted by Flap40
If you were trained in this era and only flew from a farm strip, unless you are technically savy it would be very easy to just sit there bemoaning the passing of met offices etc without realising that there are other alternatives.
I have no doubt that you were familiar with AICs and ther AIP when you were training and you know how important they are a part of flight preparation and planning. Everyone else should also and since all changes to AIS and met services are published in advance in AICs not to mention also in the AIP, there is absolutely no excuse regardles of what the pilot's age or experience.
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These days, many students eat the confuser rather than read the books. There lies part of te problem - learning answers is not good enough.
Regards,
DFC