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Unless you're the Administrator, I don't think I do! :D ---- For the record, a five mile "final" leg is plenty for most jets that going to be mixing with prop traffic at a non-towered airport. --- Let's do a thought experiment: It's clear and a million. A jet is on downwind, and has begun their...

Is it really "final" if he's outside, and likely well above, the pattern? AFAIK, "final" is a segment of the traffic pattern. If an airplane on base gets to "final" first, they would have right-of-way over someone on a straight-in that's hasn't yet reached the perimeter of the traffic pattern.

In your scenario, the instructor does not need a valid medical. It's 61.23(b)(5). https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/61.23

I believe you're hearing an electric hydraulic pump running. When taxiing on one engine, an electric pump will engage to make up for not having both engine-driven pumps running.

I couldn't disagree more. :D

Haha, probably about that time idnit.

Largely human nature. You, I, and any other normal human are going to be more attentive, more likely to notice an overdue aircraft, and more likely to remember to keep the phone in proximity/charged/off of silent, if that's what we're being paid to do. But also, we're present to answer if...

Our philosophy was different. A student flying one of our planes was a client of our training program, and it was our prerogative to get them back if they had an issue. It was also our intent to offer as high a level of safety as we could without unreasonably impairing their learning and...

I was in a location that got pretty cold in the winter. An aircraft pulled out by the rampers at 7am might have trouble starting at 8am. Aircraft have issues some times, you'll see them more if you're around them more. It's simply a numbers game. I was a full-time instructor, flying 6 days a...

All other things being the same, higher quality briefings take place in person, directly before and after the flight, with someone that's focused on the student and not whatever they have going on elsewhere. Anyone who thinks otherwise is lying to themselves. The instructor being on site, and...

I Nothing we did took away from their PIC status, decision making, or skill building. As explained above. It's just a way to keep track of where the airplane is. Charters do it, airlines do it, and a lot of part 91 operations do it. No reason a student can't or shouldn't do it. There's...

I agree entirely. Taking ownership and developing a PIC mentality is a crucial element of training, and solo is where it really develops. What I'm describing, though, does not detract from that. The instructors not there to instruct (unless absolutely necessary) but rather to facilitate the solo...

Answered multiple times in the replies above. Monitoring the flight doesn't prevent that at all. There are two pertinent questions: (1) Does it increase safety, convenience, and training value to have an instructor physically at the base? (2) Should you charge for your time? I think (1) is...

That comment of mine was meant to be light-hearted. Exhibit A: Let the record show green smiley face was present. I rest my case. Really, Ed, it was just a friendly poke. Sorry if it came off differently. As a point of information though, the conversation about whether it might be school...

I'll go out on a limb and say that at some point since you owned your first cell phone, someone couldn't reach you on it. Forgot it was on silent, dead battery, no coverage, didn't feel like answering, etc. More importantly though, the original post wasn't about what EdFred, the freelance...

And an instructor who is not at work may not be in a position to take that call, may not be in a position to assist, may not be sober, and may not be paying attention if they have a problem that a doesn't result in a phone call. It's prudent for a school to ensure none of those lapses happen...

Even if it could technically be done from the house, I have a hard time believing any human instructor that's enjoying his well-earned time off is as diligent and attentive as he would be if he was at the airport for the purpose of monitoring the student and being readily available. I feel...

I can empathize with your position, but I'd have to respectfully disagree, having seen the policies in action. Any student pilot solo flight started with an in-person review of weather, performance, navigation log, inop equipment, NOTAMs, etc. The student briefed the instructor, instructor made...

I genuinely don't believe that was management's intent. They don't make much money on the ground rate. It's a pretty responsible risk management policy, in my opinion.

Yea, that's how it worked. Student pilots didn't fly solo without instructor interaction and monitoring. Again, it's another layer of safety and accountability. I didn't mind paying it as a student pilot. It seemed reasonable to me that the school would want someone supervising/monitoring a...