The Examiner or Instructor is there to direct the conduct of the flight. It is a mandatory test. He/she is the Commander; the other pilot most certainly is not. If the test is successful, the other pilot is P1/S so long as the FE/FI signs the logbook to that effect. Otherwise he/she is Pu/t.
I cannot understand how anyone could possibly imagine that a pilot under any form of check could conceivably log 'command'. Sure, they may be the 'sole manipulator of the controls', but they're being TOLD WHAT TO DO by someone else! E.g. "Show me a steep turn to the left, recovering back onto this heading". That is a lawful order issued by the checking pilot; he/she has told the pilot what to do, that pilot is acting under their SUPERVISION.
Why all the grief over this in any case? Only a few hours are logged as P1/S in this way; if you 'need' more command time, then hire an ac and go 'command' it as you wish!
Last edited by BEagle; 6th Aug 2002 at 05:35.