NZFF

Today I was told of an account were an examiner failed a PPL candidate for busting airspace.

Roughly, the circumstances were as follows: during the flight test the examiner instructed the pilot to climb to 2500ft in an area where, if this instruction was complied with, the aircraft would enter controlled airspace. The pilot unfortunately followed the instructions given and upon completion of the test was failed for ‘busting airspace’.

Now before we go any further, I know that the pilot was the PIC and should not have followed the instructions and ultimately failed because he broke the law and this was his own fault.

My question is, do you think this practice is ok? Personally I’m not a fan! I was always told and it’s always been my experience that instructors and examiners aren’t there to ‘try and catch you out’. They are there to pass you unless your prove otherwise....etc etc. Has something changed since I was told this, is this part of the syllabus now?

Names and organisation’s details have been omitted as they are irrelevant.

I’m just interested from a purely theoretical and moralistic standpoint what other pilots points of view are on this one......

I had a similar circumstance when I did my PPL flight test, he told me he wanted me to climb to 3,000ft . I knew the upper limit for the Tauranga control zone is 2500ft so I told him if we attend to go that high we would need to get a clearance to enter Christchurch’s Airspace. One I told him that he said "good" and we just stuck at 2500ft or below, so I’m guessing it was test regarding situational awareness and knowing the airspace boundaries..

I suppose it depends on your examiner and what he wants you to do but regarding this case knowing airspace boundaries is part of the syllabus so yea..

further - who is the PIC on a flight test? Am I correct in thinking (remembering) that if you PASS you are PIC and if you fail the examiner is PIC and you are dual / PUT?

If this is the case, as the student failed the test, doesn't this in fact mean that it was the examiner that was PIC and them whom 'bust' airspace - legal technicalities................

HercFeend wrote:

QUOTE (HercFeend @ Jul 5 2010, 12:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

further - who is the PIC on a flight test? Am I correct in thinking (remembering) that if you PASS you are PIC and if you fail the examiner is PIC and you are dual / PUT?

If this is the case, as the student failed the test, doesn't this in fact mean that it was the examiner that was PIC and them whom 'bust' airspace - legal technicalities................

The student logs flight as PIC (pass or fail) but obviously if an emergency did occur the examiner may wish to take over, but it is the pilot who is being tested that has to make all decisions and at the same time comply with the examiners instructions in order to pass the test.

I have registered just to comment on this.

Ignoring the issue as to who is PIC, the candidate entering controlled airspace without a clearance results in a mandatory fail.