 |
Matronics Email Lists
Web Forum Interface to the Matronics Email Lists
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
cookwithgas
Joined: 06 Nov 2007
Posts: 159
|
 Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 11:27 am Post subject: It all comes down to this - the Sport Pilot Check Ride |
 |
|
Hi Guys:
Many of you have been a part of my journey to build my airplane and learn to fly it - I truly appreciate all of the encouragement and tips. The airplane is performing well and I have completed all of my training. I solo'd two weeks ago and my cross-country solo was completed last weekend.
Next week I take my check ride with an examiner. For those of you that have been through this can you email me some ideas of how to prepare? Are there any "lessons learned" you can share with me that you wish you had done in advance to the check ride?
Thanks,
Scott Laughlin
601XL/Corvair
Omaha, Nebraska
www.cooknwithgas.com
| | - The Matronics Zenith-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Zenith-List |
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Gig Giacona
Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1416
Location: El Dorado Arkansas USA
|
| Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 12:15 pm Post subject: Re: It all comes down to this - the Sport Pilot Check Ride |
|
|
The oral will be the harder of the two part test. At least it was back in the 70's when I got my PPL. Don't try to impress the examiner with how much you know. Answer the question as asked. Much like being deposed for a court case. If he asks you what 2 + 2 equals the answer is 4 not why the answer is 4 unless he asks. I have watched people getting tested blow an oral by giving the right answer and the wrong reason for it when the reason wasn't asked in the first place.
As for the ride. You won't be asked to do anything you haven't been doing for a while now. Just enjoy the flight. It's no different than the last one you take with your instructor. You know the plane better than 99.9999% of people the examiner is ever going to test.
Get a good night's rest the night before and as I said enjoy the flight. It is just one of many many more in your future.
| cookwithgas wrote: | Hi Guys:
Many of you have been a part of my journey to build my airplane and learn to fly it - I truly appreciate all of the encouragement and tips. The airplane is performing well and I have completed all of my training. I solo'd two weeks ago and my cross-country solo was completed last weekend.
Next week I take my check ride with an examiner. For those of you that have been through this can you email me some ideas of how to prepare? Are there any "lessons learned" you can share with me that you wish you had done in advance to the check ride?
Thanks,
Scott Laughlin
601XL/Corvair
Omaha, Nebraska
www.cooknwithgas.com |
| | - The Matronics Zenith-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Zenith-List |
|
_________________
W.R. "Gig" Giacona
601XL Under Construction
See my progress at www.peoamerica.net/N601WR |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
n4546v(at)mindspring.com
Guest
|
| Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 1:20 pm Post subject: It all comes down to this - the Sport Pilot Check Ride |
|
|
Do not archive
A good friend, during his PPL flight test, was asked some Nav question that
he couldn't readily answer and got rattled. He called off the test half way
through.
If you are asked to do something like demonstrate a short field landing and
blow it, tell the Examiner "I can do this, let's go around again and I'll
show you". Then do it.
Even if things seem to go all wrong, don't quit, fly the airplane!
Above all, the Examiner wants to know that whatever goes wrong, you will
bring your ship and the Innocents that climbed aboard safely home.
You're joining the proud tradition of American Pilots, you'll do just fine.
Best Regards,
Randy, Las Vegas
Are there any "lessons learned" you can share with me that you wish you
had done in advance to the check ride?
| | - The Matronics Zenith-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Zenith-List |
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ding(at)tbscc.com
Guest
|
| Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 1:36 pm Post subject: It all comes down to this - the Sport Pilot Check Ride |
|
|
Scott,
"Runway Encroachment" is a major current issue. My examiner,
after the test, told me if I hadn't stopped properly at the stop bars and
carefully looked both ways before entering the runway, the test would have
been over. The other big issue (this was in crowded Florida airspace) was
"clearing" the area before performing maneuvers. And relax, you'll do
fine.
Lynn Corry, PA
601XL/Corvair complete, now painting
| | - The Matronics Zenith-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Zenith-List |
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
jmaynard
Joined: 27 Feb 2008
Posts: 394
Location: Fairmont, MN (FRM)
|
| Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 2:04 pm Post subject: It all comes down to this - the Sport Pilot Check Ride |
|
|
On Tue, Jul 08, 2008 at 12:27:08PM -0700, cookwithgas wrote:
| Quote: | Next week I take my check ride with an examiner. For those of you that
have been through this can you email me some ideas of how to prepare? Are
there any "lessons learned" you can share with me that you wish you had
done in advance to the check ride?
|
1) Leave your ego on the ramp. He cares much more that you're a safe pilot
than that you can salvage that rotten landing. If you think it's going to
suck, don't be afraid to go around. He's testing your judgment just as much
as your flying skills.
2) Don't be afraid to admit you don't know, or haven't done, something.
That's much better than trying to BS your way through it. My examiner asked
me if I'd ever landed on a grass strip - and when I told him I hadn't, we
did a touch and go at one just so he could show me that it's really not all
that much different.
3) That ties into something that may not be universal, but should be: Treat
it as a learning experience. There are minimum test standards, and then
there are things you're not expected to know well. Just do your best, and
don't sweat the small stuff. Unless you do something grossly unsafe, a few
mistakes won't sink you.
4) Be proud of your airplane, and unafraid to show it off on the ground...
just make sure it's airworthy first. You put a lot of work into it, and
you've got every right to be proud of it. Examiners are aviators, too, and
he's almost certainly going to be interested to look it over.
Your CFI should know what the examiner will expect, and what he does and how
he does it. He's not going to sign you off until you're ready. Take his word
for it, and you'll do fine.
--
Jay Maynard, K5ZC http://www.conmicro.com
http://jmaynard.livejournal.com http://www.tronguy.net
Fairmont, MN (FRM) (Yes, that's me!)
AMD Zodiac CH601XLi N55ZC (got it!)
| | - The Matronics Zenith-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Zenith-List |
|
_________________
Jay Maynard, K5ZC
AMD Zodiac XLi N55ZC |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
LHusky
Joined: 19 Jun 2008
Posts: 86
Location: Madras, Oregon
|
| Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 3:44 pm Post subject: It all comes down to this - the Sport Pilot Check Ride |
|
|
Scott, I prepared for everything and still found myself stumbling with answers. The airport crew grilled me for 2 weeks and I could knock out the answer easy. When the day of the test came, it was nerves that got me. I had a very turbulent day and that did not help me. Know your airspace and the charts. At least know where to find the information. The hardest part of the flying portion was the short field landing and flying under the hood. I don't think you have to fly under the hood as a Sport Pilot, but if the examiner weights a lot different than your instructor, go around a few times to get a feel what the plane is doing. My examiner weighted 80 lbs more than my instructor and the plane acted different. I went around 4 times before I nailed the landing right in the middle. The examiner never said a thing about going around. The only other thing that stuck out in my mind was when I was doing my steep turns. I was doing my steep turn and halfway through the turn, a huge gust of wind, them my Cessna perpendicular to the ground. Without thinking, I brought the plane back and broke out of the turn. The examiner asked me why I broke out of the turn. I thought it was obvious, and him asking the question kind of rattled me. He then told me to head back to the airport, which scared the hell out of me. Once we had landed, he announced on the radio that I was the newest private pilot. I was shocked and told him that I thought I had flunked the check ride due to breaking out of the steep turn. He told me that he was looking for a decision when that happened and that I had made the right decision to terminate the turn and fly the plane. So, even if you think you have blown the test, keep flying the plane and keep going. One thing I found different than other people experienced, was the fact that my examiner did not want me to explain what I was doing. He wanted me to say things I would say to a passenger and treat him as if he had never flown before. That was cool with me. Kept me from fumbling with the words. You will do fine! Good luck!
Larry Husky
Madras, Oregon
In a message dated 7/8/2008 12:31:09 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, cookwithgas(at)HOTMAIL.COM writes:
| Quote: |
Hi Guys:
Many of you have been a part of my journey to build my airplane and learn to fly it - I truly appreciate all of the encouragement and tips. The airplane is performing well and I have completed all of my training. I solo'd two weeks ago and my cross-country solo was completed last weekend.
Next week I take my check ride with an examiner. For those of you that have been through this can you email me some ideas of how to prepare? Are there any "lessons learned" you can share with me that you wish you had done in advance to the check ride? |
Gas prices getting you down? Search AOL Autos for fuel-efficient used cars.
[quote][b]
| | - The Matronics Zenith-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Zenith-List |
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
thesumak(at)aol.com
Guest
|
| Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 4:06 pm Post subject: It all comes down to this - the Sport Pilot Check Ride |
|
|
Hi Scott,
Went through it not so long ago. It helps is to get off to a good start and given your circumstance, you will certainly do that. The examiner will probably first look over your airplane it's records. The examiner will also probably want to see a weight and balance calculation for your specific check ride flight. This may sound strange, but you might e-mail ahead of time to get your examiners weight so that you can do a very precise weight and balance. My examiner was large and with my airplane, we had to go with less than full tanks. This may be too late for you, but I took my written exam just before my check ride. That way, all the studying was parlayed to help with both written and oral tests. The whole thing will be much easier that the demons in your head would have you believe. I'll bet you a beer that you make it through with no problems.
Cheers,
Bill
601xl
do not archive
Scott asked: For those of you that have been through this can you email me some ideas of how to prepare?
The Famous, the infamous, the lame - in your browser. Get the TMZ Toolbar Now!
[quote][b]
| | - The Matronics Zenith-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Zenith-List |
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Andrewlieser
Joined: 15 Mar 2008
Posts: 43
Location: Chicagoland
|
| Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 4:09 pm Post subject: Re: It all comes down to this - the Sport Pilot Check Ride |
|
|
Lots of good advice already! My 2 cents worth is trust yourself and your instincts and you'll do fine! The day of my PPL checkride the weather was scattered thunderstorms and 3-5 visibility. To top it off my checkride was in Kenosha WI and I was flying from Aurora IL which meant I had to navigate around busy Chicago class B airspace. My checkride was supposed to be at 1 in the afternoon but by 12 I knew that while it was legal to fly then it was not smart so I called and my examiner luckily said he had an open schedule and to come once I THOUGHT the weather was good enough. Once I got there I could tell he was already satisfied in my ability to make the right decision and not the rushed one. As for the oral I did get asked some question about if I would take a passenger flying who had recently been scuba diving (to 2 certain depths ( I don't remember what they were)) I was terrified in one moment I had gone from cruising through this to sweaty palms. At that point I told the instructor that I did NOT know the answer to that but if the situation presented itself I would consult my FAR/AIM, which I always keep in my plane, before hand. So he said alright lets go look it up and we did. I believe this was just another test of my decision making abilities to make sure I would be safe rather than make a rash decision. On the checkride itself your examiner will try and distract at some point generally when he or she knows that something important needs to be done soon. Laslty remember that you are the pilot in command of your aircraft unless the examiner advises you otherwise. After we landed my examiner asked if he could open the door to let some air in and I said no (not until the engine is safely off) he insisted about 3 more times before the engine shut down and I continued to tell him no because he was my responsibility. I still don't know if he was really that hot or he was testing me to this day but I do know that I have my license and thats because I kept each situation controlable. ahhhhh sorry if that drug on but it will be one of the best feelings in your life once you pass and you wont be able to resist telling your stories as well GOOD LUCK!
| | - The Matronics Zenith-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Zenith-List |
|
_________________
Andrew Lieser
S/N 6-7045
http://websites.expercraft.com/andrewlieser |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum
|
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group
|
Get Email Distribution Too!
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
