441, no dispute about sometimes learning from one's candidates or trainees. At the training stage, of course the instructor will probably be using notes and prompts to help get the message across.
What p!sses me off is the CHECKER who comes armed with a notebook of trick questions and proceeds to wrong-foot the pilot who is already under enough stress.
This baaad technique is guaranteed to set candidates up for a poor performance, and when real aeroplanes are involved (as in line checks), it is potentially dangerous to have stressed pilots in the driver's seat.
Prior to checking someone, it is more likely that you will get better results if they are relaxed. With this in mind, other than to ask the obvious, like how to interpret the forecast applicable to that flight or complete the weight and balance, I keep any 'educational' discussions to the post-flight stage.
Last edited by Mach E Avelli; 22nd Apr 2013 at 00:35.