Geez Vcl
Talk about tackling the man and not the ball.
I guess if you are having a problem putting together a reasoned arguement what else is left.
Centaurus points out
" it is almost universal among flying schools to teach student pilots to say out aloud "Wheels down and locked" (as part of the before landing checks) on fixed gear aircraft,...".
If it is almost universal surely there must be must be some reasoned and thought out arguement for it. I would suggest that the many CFI's and instructers past and present can not all be wrong.
The premise that the problem with teaching a fictitious drill for a fictitious operation (on a fixed gear type) is that in times of stress, there is a risk of reverting to the habit of calling gear down and locked without taking the appropriate action IMO doesn't hold water. If the student has been taught to use the checks in the correct fashion the check should be conducted with an equally considered and reasoned response.
If Centuarus's method were to be adoped, his own arguement must be considered; that in times of stress, his pilot may not even consider an undercarraige check, let alone call the check.
From my experience those that generally fly the lighter retractables do not use a written checklist nor do they have a 2nd Officer such as Vcl to remind him to lower the gear. If right from the first flight in the C150 or whatever he has considered the undercarraige as down prior to landing he has gone a long way to not achieving a wheels ups.
As to your thoughts on aligning the IRS, start the APU,
test the TCAS etc etc etc, well, I've given it some thought, but realized that you can get into more trouble by not puting the gear down that in worrying about those items. So I won't bother taking your advice and teaching those, thank you.
Centaurus you attribute factual information to the Australian Transport Safety Board in one of your posts. Could you please provide a reference so that your quote can be verified.
Regards