taking my checkride today, or tomorrow

[mcurcio1989]

Kind of a big mix of nervousness and excitement. I've spent so much time flying and studying. I have read through more material and memorized more information than I ever did in the course of getting my engineering degree and I feel well prepared. I just hope I don't get the jitters or anything. Any last minute suggestions other than the usual have fun and don't get nervous?


The only thing I am sort of nervous about is the clearing turn business. My instructor says clearing turns basically just for stalls and steep turns - maneuvers outside of normal operation that are not essentially a clearing turn in themselves. I know there are a lot of different schools of thought on this and I'd like to ask the examiner what he would like to see without giving any impressions I don't want.

[MrMorden]

Kind of a big mix of nervousness and excitement. I've spent so much time flying and studying. I have read through more material and memorized more information than I ever did in the course of getting my engineering degree and I feel well prepared. I just hope I don't get the jitters or anything. Any last minute suggestions other than the usual have fun and don't get nervous?


The only thing I am sort of nervous about is the clearing turn business. My instructor says clearing turns basically just for stalls and steep turns - maneuvers outside of normal operation that are not essentially a clearing turn in themselves. I know there are a lot of different schools of thought on this and I'd like to ask the examiner what he would like to see without giving any impressions I don't want.

Depends on the examiner. If you ask a DPE what to do, they might say "you are PIC" and give you no help...or they might tell you their preference. I would not want to ask the examiner any "what should I do" questions, that might indicate indecisiveness or lack of preparation.

Just do a clearing turn for everything would be the safe play. The DPE might roll his eyes privately, but he can't ding you for being too safe and cautious.

[CTLSi]

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[3Dreaming]

The first thing to remember is when the instructor signs you off the DPE is expecting you to pass the checkride, you have to do something wrong for that not to happen. Also I don't know of any instructor who would sign you off if they didn't think you were ready.

As for clearing turns, that is your primary means of collision avoidance. Make sure that you do them anytime that you plan on making a quick change in altitude or direction. Your instructor should have been teaching this all along, so it should be second nature.

The DPE will know that you are nervous, and should do what he can to help calm you down.

One other thing to remember is that the DPE doesn't want to hear a memorized answers, but rather that you understand and can relate the information you know to practical applications.

[SportPilot]

.......

[rezaf_2000]

Best of luck pal!

[sandpiper]

Not a news flash but be well prepared for the oral. It can set the tone for the entire event. The DPE is going to know in the first few minutes of the oral what kind of a ride you will likely give to them.

You will do fine. Otherwise your CFI would not have signed you off. Why? Because your performance is a reflection of their performance.

We will all be waiting to hear the details of your successful check ride.

[CTLSi]

......

[Horatio]

Best wishes!

[drseti]

CFIs are only allowed three fails (students they sign-off on) in a given period of time and they lose their instructor ticket.

Where did you get that exact figure, and what is the "specific time", as you understand it? I don't find this in the FARs, though it may be in an FAA operating rule somewhere.

So when a CFI sends you up, they have a BIG interest in you succeeding.

That part is certainly true. We also have a BIG interest in the student being safe, so we won't sign off anyone who isn't, regardless of what the DPE may or may not do.

[FastEddieB]

I've only had two students not pass, out of about 55 total.

One was a paperwork misjudgment - missing W&B info on the Mooney being used for a Commercial checkride.

The other was a blown oral regarding the crossfeed on an Apache for a multiengine ride. I had not gone into it deeply enough with the student, obviously, probably because the candidate was an A&P and further he maintained the Apache in question.

But you know what happens when you assume!

Both passed as soon as they managed to make it to the flight portion!

Anyway, relax. You'll almost certainly pass, but even a pink slip is just a speed bump on your way to greater accomplishments!

[drseti]

I've only had two students not pass, out of about 55 total.

My results are similar - only two busts (both retested a week later, and passed easily, after receiving remedial instruction on their areas of weakness). Problem is, if a DPE passes everybody, he or she comes under scrutiny. So, they are effectively required to fail somebody from time to time. Unfair to the student (it's like grading on a curve which requires you to fail your weakest student), and even less fair to the very active CFI, if CTLSI's statement is true.

[3Dreaming]

CFIs are only allowed three fails (students they sign-off on) in a given period of time and they lose their instructor ticket.

Where did you get that exact figure, and what is the "specific time", as you understand it? I don't find this in the FARs, though it may be in an FAA operating rule somewhere.

So when a CFI sends you up, they have a BIG interest in you succeeding.

That part is certainly true. We also have a BIG interest in the student being safe, so we won't sign off anyone who isn't, regardless of what the DPE may or may not do.

I tried to look it up, and the best I could find is if you have 3 fail in a row they might take a look at you. I think the worse case is a retest for your CFI certificate.

[mcurcio1989]

Hey guys, thanks for the words of advice. Ended up doing the checkride on Saturday and I passed. As I anticipated, the DPE is a pretty laid back guy so he wasn't looking to grill me during the oral. I think I was very well prepared regardless so it went smoothly. The flight portion went well as well but I was certainly nervous at first. I think future check rides will be easier as I'll kind of know what to expect.

I'm very comfortable flying the plane I took the test in but I was flying in air that was a little bumpier that I usually fly in, just because it typically works out best for me to fly in the evening, and the DPE was quite a bit heavier than my CFI. Once I got accustomed to that it was pretty easy. My cross country portion was very simple as my first checkpoint was a railroad intersection right near a massive quarry so I pretty much had is spotted right after leaving the airport.

Oddly enough getting the certificate was not really as rewarding for me, initially, as when I had my first solo. I sort of left like, okay that's it. When I had my first solo it was totally unexpected and the two CFI's I had been flying with were there and had huge smiles when I taxi'd back from my landings. Of course with this there is no relationship with the DPE so. It was more exciting once I got back to the airport and club members and my cfi's were giving there congrats. Like you say I already knew I could fly the plane I was just showing the DPE that. It's really a cool, rewarding feeling to be able to take my dad, and other family, up for a ride. I have so much passion for flying and being able to experience life and view the world in that extra dimension. I've spent so much time (from flying a paramotor) wishing I could share that with people but knowing that words were falling on deaf ears. For me it was cool to see people who aren't interested in flying begin to appreciate the world they never knew existed (and if anything had a twisted view of from flying commercial).

I was also very impressed by the feeling of responsibility you get flying with non pilots. Of course safety is always paramount but for me, flying with someone who doesn't know how to fly makes gives it a different meaning, knowing that I'm responsible for someone else's life in there.

[Wm.Ince]

Congratulations . . . well done!