Sadly,"compliance" takes precedence over the adequate teaching needed to produce a competent pilot.
LeadSled - absolutely correct, but (as mentioned) there are always ways around these restrictions.
- You can fly down to the ground when take-off or landing, with permission of the owner - and nothing says you can't go-around. So find a friendly local, supply them with ale/lager/xxxx, and use their back paddock as a PFL area. (Of course, you checked for wires beforehand.)
- You can use any normal airfield. I often do PFLs over quiet country airfields - and it's generally amusing.
Me: Oh look, there's an airfield. .... What would you do if we had an engine failure now?
Student: (Carefully recalling wording of the briefing.) I would select a field landing into the wind.
Me: Which field?
Student: (Looks around carefully and picks distant paddock.) That one.
Me: WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT AIRFIELD?
Student: (Invariable ashamed smile.)
Me: (Closing throttle and sitting back.) Oh dear, we've just had an engine failure.
Well, something has to keep small-minded instructors amused. And students seem quite reliable in following my script.
