The use of words:
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The use of words:
I came across this on the Canadian forum.
Obviously the author of that post is from the same era and thought process as I am by noting he used the word " Effectiveness " instead of " Authority " .
Does that make us less professional as teachers?
Heh. I was doing some tailwheel training yesterday, and the student was doing very well with the crosswind - he dropped the left wing, a little right rudder to stay straight, which he maintained during the flare. He established the landing attitude and touched down beautifully on the left main and the tailwheel at the same time - sort of a 2-pt landing :wink: As he slowed down, aileron progressively all the way over into the wind, keeping the downwind main in the air as long as possible, and spoiling lift on the upwind wing with the up aileron, and creating maximum adverse yaw on the downwind wing with the down aileron, to oppose weathervaning during the rollout as we slowed down and the rudder lost effectiveness.
Does that make us less professional as teachers?
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I agree that "effectiveness" is a very appropriate term to describe a flight control. I appreciate effectiveness, I avoid authority!
Using our language correctly, is to me, one of the many important ways in which we demonstrate the care with which we do things. A person who speaks and writes with great care, probably does many other things with similar care, and that's what I like to see!
Using our language correctly, is to me, one of the many important ways in which we demonstrate the care with which we do things. A person who speaks and writes with great care, probably does many other things with similar care, and that's what I like to see!
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The use of words seems to have been changed by the system for some time and the use of " authority " to describe the force that a control surface such as the rudder produces as it is moved is typical of " new speak " in the training industry.
If an instructor were to ask me how the rudder responds to movement on a given airplane would he/she ask me " How authority is the rudder on that airplane? "
If an instructor were to ask me how the rudder responds to movement on a given airplane would he/she ask me " How authority is the rudder on that airplane? "
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I can say with complete authority that using convoluted language is a way of separating the instructor from the student (some call 'em 'clients'). Its an effective example of a tartigrade sesquipedalian utterance and should positively ensure that instructors are seen as Heroes of The North, or SkyGods, if you prefer; sort of the same thing.
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instructors are seen as Heroes of The North, or SkyGods
I suppose you can tell the ol' timers (Chuck...) 'cause from the outside they just appear like regular folk. It's only when you get into flying with them, you realize how much you still have to learn!
Grey hair does have a use, it helps you decide which instructor you can really learn from in safety!
Whew...you guys need a hobby! Maybe bocce or shuffleboard?
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Excellently described representation by the instructor on the Canadian forum, btw...
Obviously the author of that post is from the same era and thought process as I am by noting he used the word " Effectiveness " instead of " Authority " .
Does that make us less professional as teachers?
Does that make us less professional as teachers?
The excellently described representation of the sequence of events, the action, reaction and results throughout this, no doubt, beautifully performed x-wind landing in the opening post of Mr. Chuck Ellsworth and his subsequent question, hit more than just one ‘string’ in me.
1. Absolutely beautifully written.
2. Right away, I felt as actually sitting in that ol' dragger. (Cub - Dak, Sniff...)
3. I love teaching ‘thrown away’ students... (“You seem to just not have 'it', son/girl...!”)
4. Intrigued by the words of very observant Mr. Chuck Ellsworth.
a. Yes, I certainly have hobbies. Just got carried away this time...
(@DH6tropics)English is not my ‘mother tongue’, but I hope to be able to understandably express my thoughts about this anyway.
Actually I sort of ‘hate’ the use of these so called ‘new (sometimes ‘over-sophisticated’) expressions/language’.
Ample examples come to mind. Also in my language . . .
But let’s stick to the example and question of Mr. Chuck Ellsworth, which could be telling us a lot in this respect. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not just ‘word picking’. But this particular case is just a ‘more or less’ easy example on how deep, I think, one could go in analysing the sometimes far reaching consequences of 'just' the ‘different use of words or wording’... The example could be analog and/or could stand for many other ‘words’, ‘wordings’ and even ‘situations’...
One could even go further or deeper. But I think I got carried away far too much already, for that matter... (Really did not realise what I started, actually...)
- Using the word ‘Effectiveness’ not only clearly ‘describes’ immediately in ones mind what is meant, but it also -right away- expresses ‘the right feeling’ of what is meant. Needing no further clarification. (The ruddersurface and the airflow springs to ones mind right away...)
- Using the word ‘Authority’ would call for more (unconsciously) deduction and further clarification in ones mind. (Reflecting ‘different’ meanings, at first instance it could very well be possible that neither the rudder nor the airflow would spring to ones mind... But that instead, some 'coconut' swirl in the mind brings up: a ‘person (the pilot?) having authority’ or even more 'coconuts' the CAA, FAA or CASA...)
Some people would first need to have explained to them that in this context, with ‘Authority’ actually ‘Effectiveness’ [of the rudder surface in the (decreasing) airflow] is meant... Explaining this before using this word ‘Authority’, would be the best timing. But in ‘real life’ when using ‘sophisticated’ words, this explaining usually happens later. (Or not at all...) After a request (If anyone would dare asking...
) to explain. Thus after already having used the (Probably well known, but in the context misinterpreted...) specific word.Amongst the key factors in teaching, in my humble opinion, it makes a ‘different instructor’ that has the 'finesse' to really know to differentiate between the two words/expressions and especially: when to use which wording/expression.
And this is definitely not restricted to a wording example...
So, I would say it would make (us) ‘different’ (as) teachers.
I’ll leave it to you, wether to qualify this as ‘more or less professional’...
Kind regards, learner . . .
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hmm...I have a love for the language as well, but I have to voice my mild opposition to this particular example of "effectiveness" vs. "authority". (And yes, this entire discussion is pure pedantry, and so what! ;-)
"Effectiveness" is a more elegant word, and to my mind speaks to the craftsmanship of piloting - utilizing the flight controls to do something with some finesse. The excellent description quoted clearly illustrates this. To be effective is a fine thing, a gentlemanly thing, something to aspire to. Effective energy management is a beautiful thing to observe.
However, "authority" works better - to my mind - in flight situations that are cruder or more aggressive, where there are large opposing forces at work. An example of this would be the loss of an engine on takeoff. In that situation, I am really hoping that the rudder will have enough AUTHORITY to counteract the 115,000 lbs of thrust now placed on one side of the aircraft centreline. I am certainly not hoping that it will be merely "effective"!
So, I mildly disagree that "authority" requires more deduction to understand than "effective". There are times when you are "placing" the controls for maximum effectiveness. And there are other (hopefully rare) times when you are putting the boot down...with some authority!
(Just my opinion!)
"Effectiveness" is a more elegant word, and to my mind speaks to the craftsmanship of piloting - utilizing the flight controls to do something with some finesse. The excellent description quoted clearly illustrates this. To be effective is a fine thing, a gentlemanly thing, something to aspire to. Effective energy management is a beautiful thing to observe.
However, "authority" works better - to my mind - in flight situations that are cruder or more aggressive, where there are large opposing forces at work. An example of this would be the loss of an engine on takeoff. In that situation, I am really hoping that the rudder will have enough AUTHORITY to counteract the 115,000 lbs of thrust now placed on one side of the aircraft centreline. I am certainly not hoping that it will be merely "effective"!
So, I mildly disagree that "authority" requires more deduction to understand than "effective". There are times when you are "placing" the controls for maximum effectiveness. And there are other (hopefully rare) times when you are putting the boot down...with some authority!
(Just my opinion!)
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Computorization in Aviation
The use of computors in flying was inevitable, and in most cases welcome. Unfortunately, those grey haired ,old (safe?) pilots were not able to program complicated, (duplicated?,triplicated) systems, and the language used fell to the "non flying" intellects. Thus we have a mixed, dare I say bi-lingual, system wherein one computor system has "authority"
over another, and "effectiveness " becomes secondary.
The QF 380, and the Hudson River landing, appear to be two recent cases where "grey hair" (just fly the airplane!), trumped cockpit horns/bells and rapidly changing (duplicating?) screens
over another, and "effectiveness " becomes secondary.
The QF 380, and the Hudson River landing, appear to be two recent cases where "grey hair" (just fly the airplane!), trumped cockpit horns/bells and rapidly changing (duplicating?) screens
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Interesting thoughts here.
Maybe my hang up is I am anti authority thus the use of the word is irritating to me?
If I am anti authority the next logical step in assessing my type would put me in the high risk category with regards to safety?
So if I were to lose an engine and applied enough rudder to be effective with regards to the desired flight path and safe handling of the aircraft why bring authority into it, flying an airplane is just operating a piece of machinery, is it not?
Maybe my hang up is I am anti authority thus the use of the word is irritating to me?
If I am anti authority the next logical step in assessing my type would put me in the high risk category with regards to safety?
So if I were to lose an engine and applied enough rudder to be effective with regards to the desired flight path and safe handling of the aircraft why bring authority into it, flying an airplane is just operating a piece of machinery, is it not?
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flying an airplane is just operating a piece of machinery, is it not?
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Sadly the industry has allowed the drones who pump out the paper work to strangle the industry.
Fortunately I am not mentally capable of understanding what their paper work means.
To be able to accept their thought process I would need a lobotomy and I am not willing to get one.
Fortunately I am not mentally capable of understanding what their paper work means.
To be able to accept their thought process I would need a lobotomy and I am not willing to get one.
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flying an airplane is just operating a piece of machinery, is it not?
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Not very bright...
"So how come so many instructors use rudder authority or elevator authority or aileron authority instead of effectiveness when teaching?
Insecurity. They should not be teaching stuff they don't understand themselves. Ignorant too. Unless you can communicate properly they should not be in COMMAND of an aircraft.
Insecurity. They should not be teaching stuff they don't understand themselves. Ignorant too. Unless you can communicate properly they should not be in COMMAND of an aircraft.
I can say with complete authority that using convoluted language is a way of separating the instructor from the student (some call 'em 'clients'). Its an effective example of a tartigrade sesquipedalian utterance and should positively ensure that instructors are seen as Heroes of The North, or SkyGods, if you prefer; sort of the same thing.