Spins

wrote in news:9ae769af-dc7c-47d0-bd90-
:



Some recent AOPA pub or maybe Aviation Safety had an article in which
it was claimed some instructors were getting by with mere awareness --
ie an endorsement from some other instructor after a what amounted to
a demonstration of knowledge, not demonstration of practice.

I dunno. I had to do thenm for my private (it wasn't required, but the
examiner had me do some anyway) and it was required for my instructor
rating. They may have changed it, but if they have it was relativley
recently.

I've never soloed anyone who hasn't had some introduction to them.
Usually.I just demonstrated them, the idea to get the mystique out of
the way, and then, if they were of a mind to try them themselves, I'd
let them try one or two. Then I'd show them how to avoid them and the
bulk of the lesson would be centered on how they develop and how to
recover from an incipient spin.

We did that before I soloed too, and if I had asked, I might have
received.

Nonetheless, the reality that I did not have to demonstrate recovery
means there is that "dragon at the edge of the earth" out there. A
great image, by the way. It will remain everytime I practice stalls
until I go get some dual training and do a couple of recoveries (that
will be soon).


Yeah, it;s not a big deal, really. One lesson is enough to give you the
basics.

It might not be a big deal, but at least an endorsement from the
instructor: "This student has recovered from an incipient spin".


Well, the ideal recovery from an incipient spin would mean you hardly
dropped a wing at all!

It sounds like you've done that with some of your students anyway. I
say that's a good idea. Why doesn't the FAA say that's a good idea,
too?


Dunno. It's more than a good idea as far as I'm concerned. It's
essential for any pilot to be able to enter a spin and recover from it
and also recognise an incipient spin and stop it before it develops into
a ful spin.

The spins themselves are no big deal and there's not a lot to be
learned
from doing precise three turn spins for a private pilot.

I'm not arguing for that.


I know, I'm just ranting!


I think this is the right track, but as I note above, since you're
spinning anyway (thus taking on the risk the FAA is saying they want
to aviod) -- make the student recover. At least once. How about twice?
Go higher if the extra altitude is needed for safety. As you say, no
big deal. Yet it looms in the mind of the student and the PPL. I
haven't met a whole lot of people that say they feel comfortable with
stalls, let alone spins. But if they've recovered from a spin, then
the stall shouldn't bother them anymore.

Don't even talk about being upside down.

Well, there's a good case for that being made mandatory for Commercial
pilots.


We're flying. You have to have some cajones.


It really isn't that drastic a thing to learn. I really don't like
teaching developed spins too much. I usualy end up feeling not so great.
And as an aerobatic nmanuever, one is enough per session, You've not a
lot of control during the spin any way, unless you're getting fancy.
One reason most schools don't do them is it's very hard on gyros. you
can completely wreck a DG or AI in one session. An airplane that is spun
regularly will definitely go through some gyros unless they're designed
for it.



Bertie