Piano Tuning and Aviaiton

[Robert Scott]

Joel Rappaport wrote:
>
> [..some snipping..]
>I went looking for a parallel situation in the flying
>community.  And, I thought this would be even more appropriate, since
>flying is a more serious, even life-and-death situation.
>So, I asked an FAA designated examiner if a pilot were being examined in
>an airplane that had an automatic pilot, would the pilot be allowed to
>use the auto-pilot to fly a competency check ride. His
>answer was that during the actual check ride in the actual airplane, THE
>AUTO-PILOT MAY NOT BE USED.  The pilot being tested MUST show
>proficiency in safely controlling the aircraft without using this
>"advanced tool."  I would think that showing proficiency in piano tuning
>should require nothing less:  Pass the tuning test, or simply be able to
>tune a whole piano, without relying on an "advanced tool" in order to
>call yourself a Piano Tuner.

I found this comment interesting because I am now about 75% of the
way into my instrument training in aviation.  However, I must disagree
on the analogy.  The situations are not comparable.  The reason that
a pilot must show competency without the aid of the autopilot is that
when the autopilot fails in flight, there is no choice but to fly
the plane without it.  But in piano tuning there are lots more options.
If you are out on a job and your SAT breaks, you could have one
or more backup ETD's.  You could try to postpone the work until you
get your SAT fixed.  You could call one of you piano tuner friends
to help you out.  Or if all you luck runs out at once, you could
just loose a customer.  As I said, there are lots of options.

Bob Scott
Ann Arbor, Michigan