Some student pilots are not capable of interpreting a CA approach so you also need to be able to also teach low key 1000ft point glide approach/PFLs. In most cases low ley is a better starting point as it also teaches better height judgement. Should I spend 5 hours of someones money of something they cant grasp or spend five hours practicing something they have grasped and are completly happy with?
Instructors need to be flexible and teach for the student not for the instructor.
While I agree that oval short circuits are best practice its not possible to always fly them in a circuit where you may have 4 different schools mostly flying squares. In fact ovals on base can be dangerous with low wing aircraft as you have not got a clear view of final approach, this isnt a problem in a disciplined well controlled military circuit where all a/c are turning at the same point.
The mistake the pilot seems to have made with the EFATO is selecting an area with a poor undershoot(as well as landing area and overshoot). Very few instructors teach undershoot awareness, the ideal landing area(not field) has a good undershoot because if you make a mistake thats where you are going. When you teach selection of a landing area(not field) you should also teach selection with a good undershoot area as the undershoot can pose a bigger problem that the landing area. Failing to reach the chosen landing area is the most common error(TEM)
The PFL is poorly taught as most instructors attempt to teach the whole exercise in one go. Before you get to the PFL you need to teach landing area selection and landing run orientation. This can be started in the early lessons while transiting to and from the training area. The next stage is to demonstrate the procedure without any checks just concentrating on flying the procedure looking out and engine considerations. This needs to be started around 2500ft AGL. Give the student TIME! (from 2000ft you have around 3 minutes)
It is not nessecarry to continue a PFL below 500ft agl, if you are unable to determine from this height whether you can get in or not you must be engaged in some sort of split xxse or just scraping in manoevre. Setting a 500ft limit sets a better example for the student who will need to practice this while solo and may not see that electric cable on the perimeter hedge. The place to pratice below 500ft is the airfield. More efficient use of expensive air time can be spent in getting to a 500ft point every time where there is no doubt that a reasonable arrival can be made without comprimising the aircraft stucture. More emphasis also needs to be placed on the teaching of the reality of an off airfield arrival EG, fire, obstructed exits, inversion, being trapped, breaking windows, pax evacuation etc.. There is much more to a off airfield arrival than some text books and instructors would have you believe!
Why is there a problem with having an interior cam for first solo? Its a great teaching aid and debriefing aid- for those of you who do debrief after first solo (ha ha). Fitting anything to the outside of the aircraft without approval would have some legal implications especially if it dropped off!
Last edited by Pull what; 20th Nov 2015 at 11:13.