Generally, I leave the engine running, unless some some circumstance
makes it more 'hazardous' than usual (i.e. ice, rain). Approaching or
leaving an aircraft from the rear with a running prop is not inherently
'unusually' dangerous. I explain to my student what I am doing, and
why. I tell him that I shut off the engine if somebody who *isn't* a
pilot, mechanic, or experienced jumper is entering or leaving the
plane, but if it is one of the above, then I assume they have enough
understanding and experience to manage any dangers that might be
lurking.

It's like hand-propping a plane. It isn't 'unusually' dangerous when
performed by somebody who knows what they are doing, but isn't
something I'd let somebody who *wasn't* a pilot or mechanic do. And if
I trust my student to have the judgement to safely fly his family
halfway across the country, then I trust him to use reasonably
judgement in this kind of situation as well.

Cheers,

Cap

Larry Dighera wrote:
On Sun, 23 Jan 2005 19:49:00 GMT, "G.R. Patterson III"
wrote in ::

I'll shut down if I think there's a chance they could get near the
prop, even if
I think they don't intend to do so.

Flight instructors soloing student pilots are faced with this issue.
It would be interesting to know their personal procedure. Do they
leave the student at the controls with the engine running when they
send them on their first solo, or require a re-light? If the former,
it could unintentionally set a poor precedent for students.