RST Engineering wrote:
One local Test Officer has a reputation of asking PPL candidates to "keep
going, lets see if make it" during the simulated forced landing to a
paddock in the exam. Drop below 500 AGL and BAM ...... test over.

As the PIC you aren't allowed below 500' (unless taking off, landing,
training for a rating or crashing), and you have shown poor judgement in
allowing your "passenger" to goad you into low flying.

Tough but real worldish.

Well, your premise is incorrect. As the PIC you are allowed to fly from
California to Maine with your wheels an inch above the terrain so long as
you 91.119(c) stay 500' away from any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure.

And they aren't a "Test Officer". They are a Designated Examiner. Somehow
I think this is a troll thread. Name the guy. Name the FSDO from which he
operates.

Until then, I suggest we let this thread drop.


Where I live, when you take an automobile driving test you are told
clearly
at the start "the examiner *will never ask you to do anything illegal*".

Is this not the case for a PPL exam? If so, I'm astounded.
That could lead to some very dangerous situations.


As a retired examiner, I can tell you that you cannot ask or require the
examinee to do anything illegal. Now he can ASK would you fly below xxx
altitude around here? And if the answer was yes and clearly illegal, then
you are correct, exam over. But to trick, coerce, or otherwise act as the
cop behind the billboard is clearly against FAA ops standards.

Jim


I agree. I've known many examiners through my career in aviation both
designated and FAA. I've known very few what I would call "bad" examiners.
Many examiners develop their pet ways of stressing this or that with an
applicant, but I can't remember ever dealing with an examiner who used
illegal or even devious means to make an applicant fail a flight test.
In fact, many of the examiners I knew and know today are the type who
enjoy the work to the point where once a decision has been made that the
applicant will pass the flight test, they will use the remaining time to
"teach" a bit and share with the applicant the good feelings associated
with the moment of passing the flight test.

--
Dudley Henriques