When to introduce radio usage to PPL course.
Calling all students and recent PPLs, you are the experts on this......
When should I, as an instructor, start letting my students use the radio? I don't want to overload them too early on, when they really need to be thinking 100% about flying. OTOH, I don't want to leave it too long, so that it's a black art that they have to learn all at once, or annoy them because they feel I'm not letting them do enough.
What do you all think? When did you start using the radio, and how did you find it? Was using it early on detrimental? Was leaving it till later a problem? Does it even matter? And since f/w aircraft and helicopters vary a bit, I'd be even more interested in your answer if you're doing or recently acquired a PPL(H).
I know what the books say, but I'd like some feedback from real people on this.
Thanks in advance.
Whirly