The Student Being The Customer... discuss

bdhill1979 said:
Tony I have to disagree with you on one point.

Merely meeting the requirements of the PTS is a D- grade. You passed, at the bare minimum requirement, but that is it. I have met and flown with WAY too many pilots and instructors that were trained just to pass the checkride.

Bare minimum does not cut it for me.
Click to expand...

Hey, what do you call the medical school graduate with a D- ? DOCTOR

What about the upgrade student who "barely passed"? CAPTAIN
:sarcasm:


Just kidding! I'm just poking fun at your post because I agree with every word of it! :D
 
tonyw said:
You're right. The PTS is the bare minimum. Seriously, if someone could only fly to the bare minimums the PTS requires, I'd say they're a pretty crappy pilot!

But, if the question is about the technique used to accomplish a job versus the performance of the job, then that's when I say, come on!

Use the tool which works best for you. Make sure you do it well, but do it with whatever tool you want to.
Click to expand...
I agree completely with using whatever works for them, but I think that should come after the ride is passed. I use the AOPA flight planner, hell I don't think I have planned a personal flight on paper, by hand since my CFI checkride. But while they are my student it is pencil and plotter to the chart, hand written on a flight plan form.

Perfect example:
I just got done flying with an instrument student in a G1000 with GFC 700 integrated autopilot DA40. That thing will perfectly fly that approach all the way down to minimums and lower if you let it. Too easy.

Naturally I made him do a VOR approach with his PFD dimmed to black, the flight plan deleted, and only one NAV radio. That is about as hard as I can make it on him with that system without pulling breakers and making it real, but he nailed it, I mean it was flawless.

The very next approach I had him use the autopilot all the way down.

My point is that it really is not that difficult to provide both ends of the spectrum and give that student a full toolbox.
 
bdhill1979 said:
I agree completely with using whatever works for them, but I think that should come after the ride is passed. I use the AOPA flight planner, hell I don't think I have planned a personal flight on paper, by hand since my CFI checkride. But while they are my student it is pencil and plotter to the chart, hand written on a flight plan form.
Click to expand...

As it should be.

Before I got to do my solo XCs, I had to show my instructors that I could hand plot a route, pick appropriate waypoints, and compute the proper course taking into consideration the wind and the magnetic variation. While they didn't care that I used an electronic E6B instead of a mechanical one, I had to show that I could do it.

And I had to do that for the ride, too.

After that?

I use the online flight planner, and since the planes I fly are equipped with GPS, I use that as well with an open sectional right next to me. That way I can see what I'm flying around both on the screen and the sectional and I can fly by looking out the window with multiple tools to make sure I'm on course.

Sure, I still can compute a course using paper and pencil if I have to, but since I've got access to all these tools that make it unnecessary, I don't do it.

I will say, though, that I would prefer GPS for IMC conditions due to its much higher accuracy. I've done training flights both ways and if I were actually in the soup, I'd use GPS.
 
Still have to use charts, even if you've got a GPS-equipped FMS aircraft.

Not only is it required, it's a lot more professional than asking, "Direct WHERE? Can ya spell dat for us?" on the radio.
 
Doug Taylor said:
Not only is it required, it's a lot more professional than asking, "Direct WHERE? Can ya spell dat for us?" on the radio.
Click to expand...

I've heard that before and I'm thinking, uh, guys, you need to know where you are especially around here! I always wonder if I'm going to hear the next poor dumb SOB who takes a joyride over DC and then wonders, what did I do wrong?

If you don't have a chart next to you, you'll be confused as hell when they change your routing!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top