This is a great exercise with more advanced primary students, but you would
be amazed at how difficult it actually is. When you're first learning to
land, we're working hard to get the airplane nice and stabalized on final.
This gives the student plenty of time to think about his/her control inputs,
to get used to controlling, and the chance to make a mistake or two.

Normally (at least with me in the right seat) the last part of landing that
comes together is the final 10 or 15 feet. When some kind of minor upset
occurs (as it almost invariably does when passing through the tree line, and
then entering ground effect), the student needs to learn to be quick enough
in his/her recovery. This is where your suggestion shines, as it forces the
student to rapidly transition from takeoff attitude to landing attitude
while handling the winds.

(Disclaimer - while this is a great lesson for a day where you otherwise
might not be flying due to weather, make sure the ceilings are high enough
that you could go around if you have to. I've seen people do these with
100-foot ceilings in non-gyro aircraft, and it makes me nervous.)

-Rob
"John Doe" wrote in message
...
I have never piloted an aircraft. I do flight simulation from time to
time. Currently I am messing with radio controlled aircraft. There are
simulators for that also.

Having only simulation experience, but I'm wondering about how piloting
is taught. Getting to the point, why not use a long runway and have the
student take off just enough for the wheels to leave the ground and
then immediately touch down?

Again, inexperienced with the real thing, but isn't landing so
difficult/critical to warrant special treatment like that?

Trainer runways are not long enough?
The wear and tear would be too much?
That maneuver would be too difficult for a beginner to coordinate?

Genuinely curious. Thank you.