Spins

I went over to the student board a while back. Someone, who I believe
was not yet even a student pilot, was all on about how spins should
not be allowed because they were too dangerous to be taught.

That's a complete and total crock.

Airplanes are suspended in a 3D space, they can be in any orientation
in that space, at any speed within their envelope, at any angle of
attack. I've heard this fact called "flight situations", which is a
good term.

If I'm uncomfortable or afraid when in any of the possible flight
situations that I could be faced with while flying a typical GA
aircraft, if some of the potential attitudes and dynamics of that
aircraft make me cringe, then I need to learn how to master those
flight situations -- BEFORE I get a PPL. Not only for my safetly, but
for the safety of any and all kinds of non-participants in what I'm
doing.

Why is it that a PPL is obtainable without basic spin recovery
demonstration? What about inverted recoveries?

Spins were demonstrated to me during primary training -- twice. I have
read that even a commercial license is issued for some (maybe all)
without the pilot really demonstrating competence in recovering from a
spin. You just need to prove theoretical knowledge, which the FAA
calls "spin awareness", or similar. Inverted flight? Never.

I think this is bizarre.

The reality is that I am to date completely UNTESTED against spins and
inverted attitudes.

I can recall practicing power-on stalls (full stall breaks, not the
pre-stall variety), and being puckered because it occured to me that I
was up there with only *theory* to deal with a potential spin because
of a screwed up practice stall (power on or off).

No dual instruction, just PARE.

Well, I'll be fixing that soon, on my own initiative.

Anyway I say all of us should have to be able to save our butts (and
those of our passengers) from all unusual attitudes. Make us learn
spins and aileron rolls. Teach us how to deal with any "flight
situation" that can -- and frequently does -- occur.

Does anyone know why the FAA ****e-canned the spin recovery
demonstration requirement in the PTS? Was it fear of litigation (since
a spin might lead to a crash, after all)?