Andrew Gideon wrote:

Actually, I'm just trying to keep the thread honest
with the post to which you've just replied. You
claimed that Shirley had not followed the thread

I admit I didn't read *every* post, I read the majority of them, and I wasn't
going to argue, but the oral exam certainly WAS discussed. I realize, Dudley,
that you were addressing the competency and comprehension levels of
already-licensed private pilots. My point was simply that even BEFORE a person
gets there, an examiner, during the oral exam, makes an evaluation of
comprehension. Whether or not a "rote answer" by itself is acceptable is, as
you said, left to the discretion of the examiner. One would HOPE that rote
answers for areas where the examiner can clearly perceive little or no
comprehension would not fit into the category of having met minimum standards.
I am sure, depending on the DE, that sometimes they unfortunately do.

I don't see, though, how you can evaluate "comprehension" and NOT be talking
about how a person responds verbally, whether still an applicant OR an already
licensed private pilot. Like it or not, comprehension (on the ground) and
mechanical skill (in the air) do overlap each other or go hand-in-hand, if you
will.

Dudley:
My findings have little to do with the flight test per se.

Andrew:
But you've been mentioning the flight test (and oral)
too! You appear to be [trying to] shift the thread
around in a way I don't grasp.

I agree. The oral exam was part of this discussion. Again, how can it not be if
you're talking about "comprehension"?

Dudley:
I will achieve nothing further by trying to sort all of
it out for you again.

I don't think we need you to sort anything out. Insufficient comprehension
can't be dealt with without at least *some* discussion, regardless of what a
person's flight test looks like. It's just common sense that flying well on a
particular day isn't *necessarily* an indication of comprehension -- gee, maybe
that's why an oral exam is part of the PPL test and a minimum of one hour of
ground part of a BFR.

--Shirley