Sport Pilot Talk

FrankR · Joined: 31 Dec 2011 Posts: 44

Has anyone seen the King Sport Pilot Checkride video?

I am a Sport Pilot student getting ready for my checkride.

Is there anything that the video didn't show?

I watched it, took lots of notes, and it was very good. Even presented in a good way.

I checked the PTS and all of the maneuvers seemd to be there but not every issue that could have been asked in the oral was asked.

I couldn't get over the fact that there seemed to be things left off for the brevity of theatrical presentation.

How realistic is the video?

I was working with my instructor today and a couple of times I busted the altitude or airspeed on my maneuvers. I always caught it and corrected. Is this the kind of thing that will fail me?

drseti · Joined: 28 Nov 2009 Posts: 1390 Location: Lock Haven PA

Frank, most DPEs will not fail you if you bust a maneuver, recognize it, and correct without being told. Sounds as though you are performing well as PIC!

FrankR · Joined: 31 Dec 2011 Posts: 44

My instructor said I was doing very well.

Out of the eight or so landings today, two of them were pretty well chunked. But the others were flawless. I hit my mark today and stopped the plane in 300 ft. In the checkride, if I see a chunky landing coming, I'll just go-around. It will show good ADM. And, as I said, I busted altitude and airspeed a few times but corrected.

My instructor said that I should parctice a bit and the next time he rides with me out, he'll probably sign me off for my checkride.

I tend to be a weekend flier but I'll try to slip an hour in the pattern in during this week. My airport is 1.25-1.5 hours away. It takes a whole afternoon off to fly for an hour.

Helen · Joined: 23 Apr 2007 Posts: 119 Location: Maryland

One of our examiners will start off the checkride asking the student, "How many hours of fuel are on board the plane?"

The student replies, "Four."

The examines then says, "Good. The first hour is for the checkride. The other three are for your go-arounds."

Remember, your examiner is first and foremost a fellow pilot. The one thing all pilots have in common is that we want to see more people become pilots. While examiners profess impartiality, deep down they are all rooting for you. They WANT you to pass. Now that being said, no pilot wants to see someone earn a rating who is a danger to himself, his passengers, or others. So in general, if you know the material, show a reasonable ability to handle the plane and don't scare the examiner, you won't have any problems.

Helen

bryancobb · Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 3:24 pm Post subject: Yess

Helen and Paul,

I appreciate someone FINALLY telling these applicants that there is nothing to worry about! The checkride is just another flight.

The other Paul and some other examiners, who only have a background in ultralights and the Sport Pilot system have scared their readers into thinking that they must be a PhD at every single topic in the PTS to pass.

The folks like yourselves, that got into aviation through the Private License route, and before there was Subpart H and J and K and... have a much more laid back approach toward the checkride.

BC

Paul Hamilton · Joined: 21 May 2007 Posts: 351 Location: Reno/Tahoe Nevada

Frank,
It is hard to duplicate all the possible Checkride questions and responses in a short video. Here is an entertaining look at a Checkride from a trailer of my Checkride video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpnANWRpfBw
The "Sport Pilot Checkride" book is recommended by many instructors and examiners because it has all the PTS information to study plus you can use as a reference during the checkride if needed http://www.ap-stores.com/p-50-sport-pilot-checkride-book.aspx I made sure everything in the PTS is included in this book to help applicants and instructors. Note I have an update to the checkride book at http://www.ap-stores.com/t-updates.aspx

If you can fly to the basic standards of the PTS and your instructor said you are ready you should be good to go. Note that the PTS standards are for calm air.

It is just as important to your instructor as you to know the basic standards to "fly through your checkride".

Examiners know the difference between an applicant knowing how to fly the maneuvers to tolerance and busting altitudes because of nervousness or bumps --- VERSES ----, someone who simply does not have the basic because pilot skill and hopes to get through the checkride with sloppy flying and “constantly” exceeding tolerances in the PTS

Typically, your instructor will not recommend you until you are ready.