The information in the OP is more or less correct. There definitely were some tricky situations in some of the PA problem with very well executed timing on their part to force the trainee to react quickly. On both of my Locals one of the first couple of VFR inbound were a slow guy like a Cherokee or a Skyhawk from MacDonald requesting multiple T/G. A few spawns later there would be a twin of some sort like a C421 or a AC68 just to the south of Riverside that will call up for a full stop. Depending on how quickly you get to the first guy and what pattern entry you gave him, a few situations might develop. If you gave the T/G straight in 28L and the twin a left base 28L, the twin will overtake and likely collide with the T/G before or right at the normal left base turn point/final "pocket" or "box" of 28L. If you gave both left base, same as before but the overtake/sep error will happen a little sooner. If you took the T/G left downwind in anticipation of a faster guy calling in from E/SE, the scenario is timed such that as the T/G is crossing north of Riverside to join left downwind 28L, the twin will call in approx less than 2 miles S/SW of the T/G traffic and will proceed left base absent any commands, which is a guaranteed sep error/collision/missed safety alert situation with your left downwind T/G if no corrective actions are taken.
I appreciate the insight as to what is running through people's heads at the academy now.
There's been a lot of speculation as to why the 2017 classes have done so poorly when the new grading system has been in place since 2014. I never stopped to consider the quality of the lead instructors.
Granted, I'm an old timer, but I'd be curious to hear other old timers thoughts about their experience and instructors prior to 2014.
Do instructors really teach giving someone from MacDonald's bridge a straight in now?
Prior to 2014 we were taught this in reference to MR. SOC...
M - No conflicts? 100% Base. Conflicts arise such as a straight in to 28L? Change to downwind, extend as needed.
R - 100% downwind
S - 100% downwind
O - 100% downwind
C - 100% downwind
Downwind pattern entry differences between type aircraft
Cat 1 - will fly a "normal" downwind
Cat 2 - will fly a wider downwind then Cat 1
Cat 3 - will fly a wider downwind then Cat 2
Cat 1, Cat 2, and Cat 3 will all fly the same 1 mile base leg unless their downwind is extended.
The best way I can describe the leads back then is they made every conflict point black and white. There was a right way to do it and a wrong way that was going to cause you a lot more grief, headaches, traffic calls, safety alerts, etc.
Basically, they would acknowledge what the academy would allow you to do is really only the tip of the iceberg with how you can really control traffic, but they would teach you the technique needed to "beat" the game.
How pro-active are they teaching technique now?