For a long time, spins have not been an element of FAA flying instruction, and a number of American pilots who have visitied Canada have asked me if I would demonstrate spins to them for their own awareness. I always have, as awareness is a vital part of pilot skill. It is irresponsible to send pilots off into the sky with no idea of what to expect when they encounter the conditions associated with a spin entry. It would appear that the Dash 8 Q400 pilots near Buffalo were not able to manage such conditions recently. Perhaps recent training would have been helpful. I have spun many aircraft during flight tests, where often a second pilot accompanying me had not spun "since he got his license years ago" or "ever". Carefully executed spins in C150/152/172 are generally something of a non-event if correctly and promptly recovered. Spin a Aft C of G loaded C 206, or 185 floatplane, and things are not so gentle, and easy to recover.
Spin practice is not only good for training what to do to correctly recover without prolonging things, it's also important just to re-aquaint the pilot with the unusual attitudes, and reduce the "deer in the headlights" reaction, so the pilot gets a recovery underway promptly. This is a reason why some basic aerobatic training is very helpful for newer pilots. Not to train them to do it, but to demonstrate that it can be done safely once you get past the disorienting sensations.
A remark was made earlier that turns to final are the big risk for spinning. I don't entirely agree, as departures are a very real risk point as well. Particularly in off airport flying, which could be floats or skis, where terrain avoidance, coupled with unusual winds, greatly increases the risk of a spin on climbout if the pilot does not maintain proper control and speed margins.
If new pilots are being set loose with no spin training, that's bad. If they are later going on to more demanding flying environments with no recent spin practice, that's much worse.
For those new pilots pondering spin training, yes, go and get some, even just for awareness, then go for periodic refreshers...
Pilot DAR