I use taxing to active all the time. I can't see the wind sock from where my
hangar is, so I have no idea what runway I am going to use.
This serves several purposes, which I guess is why CFIs teach students to do
this.
1. As someone already mentioned, it avoids two planes getting stuck like
goats on a mountain trail while taxiing between hangers.
2. It lets approaching aircraft know there is ground activity, so that the
approaching aircraft and ground/departing aircraft can avoid using the
runway at the same time. If I am approaching a field and I have heard ground
traffic, I am going to be sure to identify their location before turning
final.

It would be better to say clear of 28 instead of clear of active. I prefer
someone saying "clear of active" rather than "clear of ... uh...what was
that... clear of 28."
At a controlled airport, saying clear of active lets the controller know he
can now give a takeoff clearance to any planes waiting for departure. I
guess this probably comes into play when visibility is low and the tower
can't see the planes leaving the runway. I suppose this may not be necessary
at some small uncontrolled fields, but it is probably a bad idea to alter
your procedure based on field size and field visibility. If we took your
suggestions, and did not announce clear of active at small fields, than you
would get a bunch of pilots trained on small fields not announcing clear of
active when they flew into large controlled fields when it is necessary.
This logic is the same reason I do my GUMPS check even when flying fixed
gear aircraft.

"Bela P. Havasreti" wrote in message
...
CFIs, will you please, PLEASE stop teaching students
this stuff?!!! 8^)

On 122.75:
Making 30+ second long position reports, 4500 feet over some
non-descript / podunk town. More annoying when the broadcaster does
so in broken english. Even more annoying when the broadcaster does
so every 5 minutes!

On CTAF:
Announcing that you're taxiing from your parking spot to "the active
runway" at an airport that's the size of an ex-WW2 air base.
Who cares?

On CTAF:
Announcing that you're "Clear of the active". You might think anyone
who is waiting to take off can *see* when you're clear. The only
exception I can think of is a (severely) crowned runway where the
other
end can't be seen from the departure end.

I'll think of some more later.... grins

Bela P. Havasreti