Lesson 30: Checkride - And then I farted on the DE...
08/09/2007 Filed in: Flying
Thursday - 08/09/07
No, not really. But I'm flattered that you've come to expect as much from me.
I managed to sleep fairly well last night, but while lying half asleep in bed at 5am my mind briefly flickered to the checkride and that was that. I'm up.
Deep breath. Today's the day.
I've been obsessively watching the weather forecasts for a week now. Amazingly, they've never once waivered from both "Clear" and "Hot". I can live with hot if the DE can. Looks like today is a go, at least where weather is concerned. Here's the radar:
I get the winds aloft and record them on my flight planning sheet. Then I run through my checklist of stuff to bring for the 1000th time and head out to Krispy Kreme for doughnuts. As another PPL applicant astutely observed in the checkride thread , if he's chewing he can't be asking me questions.
Laden with two dozen of modern day's finest sugar delivery mechanisms, I head for the school. I'm set to arrive around 8am so I can do some last minute preparation and fire the winds aloft through my flight computer.
CFI3 meets me there and we briefly go over the airplane maintenance logs, then he wishes me luck and is off for a lesson. I fill out the remainder of my flight planning sheet for the Huntsville trip and then beginning going over my notes for the oral. Not 10 minutes later, and a full 30 minutes early mind you, the DE enters and introduces himself.
DE: Well, I'm a little early, but if you're ready we can get started.
I'd love to tell him, "No, you said 9am buddy, and I want my extra 30 minutes of study." After carefully weighing that option for all of about a half second I opt to reply instead:
Me: Yes, sir, it's only going to get hotter the longer we wait.
We head upstairs and find an empty office and he very quickly rifles through my logbook, 8710, and other paperwork. I was really kind of hoping he'd take his time on this part, but it lasted all of about 10 minutes.
Me: Would you like to see the airplane logs?
DE: Nah, I'm very familiar with these planes.
Argh. With that I've fired my last stalling bullet, so now it's just a matter of knowing the answers to his questions. Then he glances at my written test paper.
DE: Ah, GOOD score on the written. That means we won't have to drill down quite so much.
Me: Works for me!
Thus begins the oral.
I'll just give you a brief synopsis of the questions asked and the (again, brief) answers.
Questions -
1. What do we need to take to be legal to fly that airplane?
2. Do you need the POH to be legal to fly?
3. What if the airplane is placarded and you're told that the FBO doesn't have a POH?
4. What are currency requirements of a private pilot?
5. What documents do you need to carry as a private pilot?
6. What class medical are you required to have?
7. How often does it expire?
8. What maintenance is required for the airplane?
9. What are the fuel reserves we'll need for our flight today?
10. What equipment is required to be legal to fly?
11. What are the characteristics of a thunderstorm?
12. How far away from a thunderstorm should we fly?
13. If you see an anvil on a thunderstorm that extends out a ways from it, can you fly under the anvil? [2]
14. What are the control inputs required to break a spin?
15. What is the significance of the R-XXXX and W-XXXX at the top of your sectional?
16. Tell me every airspace we'll encounter on our flight to Huntsville
17. What instruments on the airplane will indicate the operating temperature of the engine? [3]
18. Walk me through how you got the headings, etc for our cross country.
19. What would you do to fly through a warning/restricted/alert area?
20. What weather sources do you use before a flight?
21. What is an MEL and its significance?
22. Is there an MEL for our airplane?
(there were lots of others that I cannot remember right now)
Answers -
1. AROW
2. Yes
3. Airplanes built before 1979 are exempt [1]
4. BFR, 90 day landings, etc
5. License, medical, govt issue ID
6. Third class
7. I'm under 40, so 36 calendar months
8. Annual, 100 hours on rentals, ELT 12 months, transponder and altimeter 24 months
9. 30 minutes
10. See 91.205 (I actually mentioned 91.205 by number, which he seemed to like)
11. Lightening, updrafts in forming, downdrafts dissipating, turbulence, etc
12. Not closer than 20 miles
13. No, hail [2]
14. Opposite rudder, forward elevator to break stall, then aft elevator
15. IDs and times of restricted and warning airspace
16. Ooh, good question. D, E, C.
17. EGT, CHT, Oil temp [3]
18. Winds aloft + TAS from POH + variation + deviation, and so on
19. MOA / Alert - check with FSS if hot. Restricted - get auth from controlling agency or steer clear.
20. I use ADDS where I'll check METARs, TAFs, FAs, satellite, radar, and winds aloft. I also get a standard briefing.
21. Minimum equipment list = Tells you what can be broken on the airplane and still be able to fly it
22. No MEL.
[1] My answer was, "I think I still need the POH". He reminded me about the older airplanes not having a POH, which I had read but not remembered from the context of our discussion.
[2] My answer was, "I would not fly under it, but I honestly cannot provide you a specific reason why not. Does not seem safe though."
[3] After EGT and CHT, he prompted me with "What else?" and I thought a moment and came up with Oil temp gauge
Keep in mind, the questions are not rapid fire as I've presented them. Often I'll give an answer and he'll provide some additional context for the answer through an anecdote or other wisdom imparting mechanism. It's all very laid back and informal.
In fact, I sometimes get the feeling that my nerves are causing me to answer too quickly rather than providing the rationale and explanations behind the answers. Problem is that most of the questions are factual in nature rather than judgment calls, which doesn't leave me much room to negotiate around the rote memorization required for correctness.
Now he tells me to prepare to fly. I'm thinking that means I passed the oral. Woot! I give CFI a thumbs up on the way out to the preflight, after telling the DE to make himself comfortable in the air conditioning while I check the airplane.
Foiling me again, he comes out about halfway through and quietly stands on the hot ramp watching me. I ignore him and continue the preflight at a normal pace. That was not easy, mind you. I really don't need the heat making him cranky, but I don't hurry my preflight for anyone, so....
We climb in and I stop on the "passenger brief" item for the first time.
Me: Here is where I'd normally give a passenger briefing on the airplane...
DE: That's ok, I got it.
Me: Ok.
Moving on, I fire up and we're cleared to taxi to runway 19. During the runup, I turn to him.
Me: I'll be talking a lot this flight, telling you what's in my head at every step. If you...
DE: That won't be necessary. I can see what you're doing from here.
Me: Yes, sir.
After the runup he requests a normal takeoff and I give him a fine example of one, if I do say so myself. Then we're off on the trip. I inform him when I'd normally open my flight plan, do the cruise checklist, etc. He seems fine with it all. Now it's time to find my first checkpoint - the tower.
I've never been more anxious about finding a 15 story tower. It just wasn't appearing as fast as I thought it should. I was just about to abandon finding it and rely solely on the VOR when it jumped out of the ground at me like a whack-a-mole. Phew!
Me: There's our first checkpoint.
DE: Alright. See these fields and glider port on the sectional... let's divert to those.
Me: Ok... let's see, that looks like about a 190 heading and <measuring with my finger> 10-12 miles. Should take us around 5 minutes.
I immediately set course for 190, climb to an acceptable VFR cruising altitude for our new heading, and then begin to pray that I can find these things. I've done it once before, but, if you'll recall, it took me forever. That needs to not happen now. I haven't watched a clock this nervously since the last time my wife was in labor.
Then, as if by magic (and I'm not yet convinced there was none involved), I have a crystal clear view of the glider port right off the nose. I point it out to the DE.
DE: Ok, pull your power back and setup for an emergency landing there.
Me: Sure thing. First, I'll set the glide to 73. Do you see any signs of wind direction out your side?
DE: No, no smoke or anything on this side.
Me: Ok, nothing here either. We'll use the wind from back at Smyrna then and I'll land facing south.
De: Sounds good.
It's a long glide down from cruise altitude so I've got plenty of time to tell him about mayday, the checklist, and all that jazz. I'm also trying very, *very* hard not to screw up this landing setup.
I turn base and note (outloud) that I'm a little high, but that I will slip us down onto the grass runway. Full flaps, then turn final, and immediately I begin to slip. It's very obvious we're going to make the landing, but again probably be a little longer than I'd prefer.
DE: Ok, that's good, go around.
Me: Going around.
De: Now take me to Shelbyville for some landings.
Me: Yes, sir.
I'm keenly aware at this point that the hardest part (for me) of the checkride is over. I've really grown quite confident in my landings recently. We're about to see if that confidence is well-earned.
Someone calls out of Shelbyville that they're using runway 36 for takeoff. The wind is favoring 18, so I want to use it instead.
Me (radio): Shelbyville traffic, is anyone still using 36l, 223NH incoming for landing, will enter 45 on downwind for 18.
I'm greeted by silence. I turn to the DE and shrug.
DE: That's a good way to do it.
Me: I'll just take another look as I get over the field to make sure we're in good shape.
As I'm heading to overfly the field, Mr. DE points out some traffic directly above us, and flying opposite our heading. If he were 200-300 ft lower, that would have been the worst checkride ever.
Me: Good eye.
DE: I should have seen him sooner.
Me: You and me both.
This is why I want an airplane with TCAS. *shiver*
I overfly the field and do a long, slow 270 back to my 45 entry and suddenly I'm on downwind for my first checkride landing. I am hyperalert, as I suspect I'll be judged more on this first landing than any of the rest. I'll bet I ran through my landing flow 3 times, minimum.
DE: Ok, give me a soft-field landing.
Soft-field, got it. No problem. I get on final and it's looking great. Like, really great. Speeds are perfect, descent rate is nice and stable, this one may be a keeper, if I can keep from blowing it in the playoffs.
I get down over the numbers and pull the airplane into ground effect and perform easily my best soft-field landing. Ever. An absolute greaser. I damn near leaped out of the chair and gave myself a standing ovation. Instead, I remembered to keep the nose wheel up and keep the airplane moving.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see the DE nodding his head. You'd think I sold my soul for that landing. And if I'd known about it ahead of time, I might have.
DE: Ok, now taxi back and give me a soft-field takeoff.
I get up to the line and announce I'm taking the runway, then the simulation begins and I keep her rolling with full aft elevator. One textbook soft-field takeoff later and he requests a short-field landing.
Me: You mind if I use that first marker as the short field threshold?
DE: That's fine.
So it's down to this. My old nemesis, the short-field landing. Now you listen here, me. You can do this. Remember the speeds, remember the lesson with CFI3, and, for God's sake, remember to go around if you f*ck it up! Now shut up and concentrate. There's a ticket waiting for you if you get this right.
I turn base like normal, but through some minor misjudging of my distance from the aiming point, it looks like I'm a little high. Then again, maybe not.
Me: I'm a little high, but my glide still looks ok, so let's see what happens here before we do anything drastic.
It actually comes together pretty well with nothing other than some minor power adjustments. It really looks like this is going to happen. I get down over the marker, put in a brief flare, and then set it down firmly (but not terribly so) only a few feet past the end of the marker.
So there you have it, a +60 foot or so short-field landing on my checkride. I will absolutely take that. I make a mental note to procure for CFI3 the hooker of his choosing.
Next is a short-field takeoff and then immediately he puts me under the hood. I'm really not sure what the significance of this is, but honestly, I really didn't want to give him the controls. I actually find myself hurrying to put on the hood so I can take the airplane back. It was a weird sensation, but I'm guessing it's from my lack of familiarity with his flying. Or perhaps it's than I'm an unabashed control-freak. Let's call it a tie.
He vectors me around a bit and I have no problems there at all. Then the hood comes off (what, no unusual attitudes?! Oh, c'mon man....) and he requests slow flight.
Now, up until this point, you may have noticed that things are going swimmingly. Better even than I realistically could have hoped. But here I screw up two things at once... first, I forgot my clearing turns. Now, I *did* look around for traffic, but the distraction of pulling the hood off allowed me to forget that all-important step.
Luckily, the DE says nothing of it, so I enter slow flight. Now, it's gotten pretty hot, and consequently, very bumpy. My second mistake is I lose 150 feet right away before I can maintain and begin climbing back up.
DE: You'll need some more power to climb back up.
I add in the power, very aware that I may have just busted my ride. As I get back to the original altitude (all at 45 knots, mind you), he requests I pull back into a power-off stall. I do so and recover without issue.
After a few other maneuvers, he requests we head back to Smyrna. On the way, I'm really wondering about that slow flight.
Me: That wasn't my best slow flight.
DE: It's bumpy out today, so it's harder to control it.
I guess if he were going to allow a do-over, he'd say so then. I refuse to dwell on it right now, so off it goes to the back of my mind. I call the tower, and request a full stop without thinking.
Me: Oh wait, sorry, did you want a full stop or some more pattern work?
DE: Full stop is fine.
Now, the ASOS I listened to says the wind is out of something like 280, so I expect runway 32. Tower gives me 19.
Me: Smyrna tower, can I get 32 please?
Tower: Winds are currently 180 at 7. Report left base for 32.
Hrm. 180 is clearly not favoring 32, and I've just requested a direct crosswind landing for the last landing on my checkride. Sheee-it.
DE let's me sweat a bit and then...
DE: You can get 19 again if you want.
Me: Thank you, I believe I will.
I crawl back to tower with my tail between my legs and he graciously allows my change of heart. I'm one landing away from the end of this ride. Whether there's a ticket at the end of it remains to be seen.
As I'm entering the downwind for 19, I momentarily get confused, and I *almost* setup for a pattern on runway 14. I catch my mistake a few seconds later with a brief "Uh oh."
DE: Uh oh?
Me: Yeah, not the words you ever want to hear a pilot say, huh?
DE: Well, you didn't say it with a lot of feeling, so I wasn't too concerned.
He never asked to what I was referring, so I can only guess he noticed my mistake and correction.
I get all setup for a normal landing on the correct runway, and it's an unremarkable approach and touchdown. I taxi off the runway and I'm cleared to the ramp.
Now, one of the CFIs at the school has informed me that this particular DE likes to say, "Congratulations, you're the world's newest private pilot" as you're taxiing back to the ramp. So I'm quietly waiting to hear something, but nothing is forthcoming. Rut roh.
Was he upset about the clearing turns or slow flight? Maybe it was something I missed in the stall, or maybe that airplane with whom we almost played chicken. Or something else altogether that I just plumb forgot or didn't notice. I'm starting to get a little antsy. Surely he'll say something in a minute. Just be patient. Speak, man, speak!
We get back to the ramp, I shut down and we're idly chatting about some subject I can't remotely recall. As I'm tying down the airplane, the conversation pauses and there's a notable silence. I can wait no longer.
Me: So, how long you gonna make me sweat?
DE: <chuckle> Oh, no we're ok. Sorry, I wasn't even thinking about it.
Me: That's ok, I was thinking about it enough for both of us!
So there you have it. "We're ok". Which I believe is DE parlance for... "Dstang, buddy, you owe me a beer!" Suhweeeeeet!!
As he's preparing my temporary ticket, we talk briefly about the flight.
DE: I really don't have anything to say about your performance. But good job. Just make sure you stay not only current, but proficient.
Me: I certainly will, thank you.
DE: Also, if there's a day where the conditions or wind aren't what you're used to, that's the day you need to go up. You know you can do it in calm conditions, so you've got to practice in other conditions to improve.
After we finish up, I text my wife to ensure she's the first to know. Then I call everyone I know, including CFI1. He comes down to congratulate me and get the play by play.
So now I are a pilot. It's still very strange for me to think of myself as such. For some reason I'd built it up enough that I still don't consider myself on par with "real pilots". I suppose only the further accumulation of experience, good judgment, and training will bring me to the proper level in my own mind.
For all you nutjobs with no life that read this far, I've prepared a short photo montage of my journey towards my PPL and uploaded it to YouTube. You can view it below.
And yes, you'll get to see my dead-sexy, private pilot visage in there as well, so prepare yourself. As for the choice of song and the lyrics, well, you just have to know me. Nuff said.
I'm also taking Jeff S KDTW's advice, and I'm going to put all my writeups on a blog. I suspect any new writeups I do will be put there as well for anyone who cares. It's not finished yet, but the address will be:
http://jeff.carneal.com/
To everyone here that read my writeups and offered advice, encouragement, or general comments, I sincerely thank you. I've very much enjoyed writing up my adventures for you all, and the help you've provided in return has proved invaluable in achieving my goal.
Until the next round of training,
Sysvr4
PS - My stats as of the end of the checkride:
Hours: 55.8
Landings: 178
Dual: 41.2
PIC: 14.6
Comments:
Bigscrb15
Broke Student
Registered: Jan 2006
Location: Winter Haven, FL
Posts: 56
Awesome, Congrats!!!!
I have been waiting for you to post this all day. I guess I have no life.
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Dstang65
Member
Registered: Jul 2007
Location: S.FL (KFXE)
Posts: 36
CONGRATS!!!
Sysvr is a PILOT.
Forget the one beer, name your brand and I'm in for a case... Remember when you decide to become an airplane owner, that Thing To Do with your PPL #102 is:
"Fly to distant airports and collect on beer offers from people you met on Studentpilot.com. "
After my tire smoking incident I really needed some encouragement and I stuck to your posts for a much needed moment of levity. I am ecstatic, seriously I'm giddy like a girl. It couldnt have happened to a nicer guy.
I know I wont be the first to say this...but you will need to continue to post here...often. It is simply not accceptable that you get a PPL and "disappear".
I therefore would like to make the first entry on the "Petition for Sysvr to enter IFR training thread."
All parties interested in continuing Sysvr's superior writing and posts please indicate this below.
Seriously, I am very pleased and I want to thank you for helping those of us currently "in training", through with some excellent and thoughtful writing.
Congrats.
Dan
FlyGuy
Into the wild blue yonder
Registered: Oct 2005
Location: Cowtown, USA
Posts: 568
Aye, savy, now oft to plunder!
Edit: Duh, forgot that it's "Pilot" not "Pirate".
Congratulations, Pilot !!
Bigscrb15
Broke Student
Registered: Jan 2006
Location: Winter Haven, FL
Posts: 56
Re: CONGRATS!!!
Originally posted by Dstang65
I therefore would like to make the first entry on the "Petition for Sysvr to enter IFR training thread."
I second that.
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castlepines
Bovine Scatologist
Registered: May 2004
Location: Denver
Posts: 4336
Nice job, Jeff. It's been a trip following your progress on here. A huge congratulations!
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ohiopilot
Arrow Driver
Registered: Nov 2004
Location: Western Ohio
Posts: 3208
Congrats!!
HSP
Senior Member
Registered: Jan 2006
Location: Pearland, TX
Posts: 255
Congratulations!!! A most enjoyable read for sure!
JR
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soulie13
Senior Member
Registered: Feb 2006
Location: KHEF
Posts: 391
Way to go, Pilot. It was a real trip to see someone else go from zero hrs to checkride in the same type of plane I did, only two months after my ride. Your hours are almost a spot match for mine, too.
Biggest question - who's going to be the first victim...er...passenger?
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5/22/2007
clh
Senior Member
Registered: Dec 2005
Location: houston
Posts: 127
congrats on your license to learn... Great write-up
rjh
Member
Registered: Jun 2007
Location: KC
Posts: 70
Wooohoooo. I was absolutely, 100% convinced that you would nail that checkride. Congratulations.
And thanks for taking us along for the ride. It was a good one.
toxic111
ASEL
Registered: Feb 2003
Location: CYLL - Lloydminster, AB/SK
Posts: 1571
Way to go.. now go out and enjoy that ticket!
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Maybe VFR over the top next
Rizzo
Always learning!
Registered: Nov 2006
Location: Minnesota ... KFCM
Posts: 52
Best of luck and congratulations ... great accomplishment ... now you have to go on for your instrument rating so I can continue to enjoy your write-ups! LOL
Seriously - well done!
cindi
earthbound misfit
Registered: Jan 2002
Location: KCGI, KK02
Posts: 3008
CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!
Truly enjoyed every one of your posts....
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Dot_AK
Not A Bush Pilot
Registered: Sep 2002
Location: Anchorage, AK (PAMR)
Posts: 1100
Congratulations!
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JCAviation
boo-yah!
Registered: Jan 2006
Location: So Cal
Posts: 364
Good stuff! Congrats! Your DE hit it on the head. Aim to not only be current, but proficient. No truer words which I can relate with. Fly safe and often!
Sysvr4
Senior Member
Registered: May 2007
Location: KMQY
Posts: 183
Re: CONGRATS!!!
Originally posted by Dstang65
I therefore would like to make the first entry on the "Petition for Sysvr to enter IFR training thread."
...
Seriously, I am very pleased and I want to thank you for helping those of us currently "in training", through with some excellent and thoughtful writing.
Dan
Thanks Dan, much appreciated.
I may as well announce here that I've already signed up for the next phase of my training: Multi-engine VFR. There's a seminole over at M54 just waiting for me to dribble it down the runway.
After that it's instrument... lot of reading that one.
Jeff
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Sysvr4
Senior Member
Registered: May 2007
Location: KMQY
Posts: 183
quote:Originally posted by soulie13
Way to go, Pilot. It was a real trip to see someone else go from zero hrs to checkride in the same type of plane I did, only two months after my ride. Your hours are almost a spot match for mine, too.
Thanks soulie, I've really appreciated your comments and help along the way.
Biggest question - who's going to be the first victim...er...passenger?
There was no decision here. I've made no secret of the fact that I won't be putting my family in the airplane with me until I'm a more seasoned pilot. However, since you only get one first passenger, it had to be my wife. Took her up two days ago and she did fabulously, despite bumps o' plenty.
She's requested I write up her flight as well, so I'm going to honor that on the blog shortly...
Jeff
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wildblueyonder
Junior Member
Registered: Apr 2007
Location: KJWN, KMQY
Posts: 24
Great job! and Congratulations!
Also, like always great writeup.
How many hours did you have when you did your check ride?
I have about 30 hours now so I think I'm about half way or so.
Jeff S KDTW
Patent Pending
Registered: Jan 2003
Location: Flying at Mach 0.30
Posts: 7869
Congratulations, Jeff. That is a great accomplishment.
Glad your wife was the first you took up. I did the same-- although I also took up my daughters too. They were 2 and 4. I canceled the flight 2-3 times before we actually went because I was waiting for both clear and smooth, which you know does not happen often. The aviation gods were with me that day.
Congrats again and glad you have blogged all of your lessons and writeups. They are fun to look back on.
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battmain
Checkride Passed!
Registered: Oct 2006
Location:
Posts: 382
Congrats! Great writeup as usual.
Lets see, it's been a few days, no, almost two weeks. You wipe the grin off your face yet? (especially at the way you left us in suspense?)
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smitty
Senior Member
Registered: May 2006
Location: KSPA
Posts: 240
Congrats!! It's been a great read through the whole adventure. Thanks for sharing the memories!
CFtO
Junior Member
Registered: Jun 2007
Location: Michigan
Posts: 5
Congratulations!
Cool vid, thanks for sharing.
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Michael
My blog: Cleared for the Option
ace007
PP ASEL-IA
Registered: Mar 2005
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 456
Congrats again... your picture montage on Youtube reminds me why I like flying Diamond aircraft so much. You just can beat the visiblity.
I took up my family with my 1 & 2 year olds at the time a few months after I got my private. I felt confident but I now feel much better after finishing up my IFR. Really any post-Private training only helps to make you a better pilot. EVen just going up every 6 months or so with CFI to review is a great idea.
Rob
Bob Chiang
Junior Member
Registered: Jun 2006
Location: Ithaca, NY
Posts: 15
Congratulations, and once again thanks for the entertaining write up. Looking forward to reading about your adventures with twins.
-Bob
dkalwishky
1966 Cessna 182J
Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 5135
Jeff; let me add a belated congrats! Super job, I've enjoyed reading your posts.
Dave
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Freeski
Student Instructor
Registered: Mar 2005
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 782
Great job! Congratulations, thanks for all the write-ups.
No, not really. But I'm flattered that you've come to expect as much from me.
I managed to sleep fairly well last night, but while lying half asleep in bed at 5am my mind briefly flickered to the checkride and that was that. I'm up.
Deep breath. Today's the day.
I've been obsessively watching the weather forecasts for a week now. Amazingly, they've never once waivered from both "Clear" and "Hot". I can live with hot if the DE can. Looks like today is a go, at least where weather is concerned. Here's the radar:
I get the winds aloft and record them on my flight planning sheet. Then I run through my checklist of stuff to bring for the 1000th time and head out to Krispy Kreme for doughnuts. As another PPL applicant astutely observed in the checkride thread , if he's chewing he can't be asking me questions.
Laden with two dozen of modern day's finest sugar delivery mechanisms, I head for the school. I'm set to arrive around 8am so I can do some last minute preparation and fire the winds aloft through my flight computer.
CFI3 meets me there and we briefly go over the airplane maintenance logs, then he wishes me luck and is off for a lesson. I fill out the remainder of my flight planning sheet for the Huntsville trip and then beginning going over my notes for the oral. Not 10 minutes later, and a full 30 minutes early mind you, the DE enters and introduces himself.
DE: Well, I'm a little early, but if you're ready we can get started.
I'd love to tell him, "No, you said 9am buddy, and I want my extra 30 minutes of study." After carefully weighing that option for all of about a half second I opt to reply instead:
Me: Yes, sir, it's only going to get hotter the longer we wait.
We head upstairs and find an empty office and he very quickly rifles through my logbook, 8710, and other paperwork. I was really kind of hoping he'd take his time on this part, but it lasted all of about 10 minutes.
Me: Would you like to see the airplane logs?
DE: Nah, I'm very familiar with these planes.
Argh. With that I've fired my last stalling bullet, so now it's just a matter of knowing the answers to his questions. Then he glances at my written test paper.
DE: Ah, GOOD score on the written. That means we won't have to drill down quite so much.
Me: Works for me!
Thus begins the oral.
I'll just give you a brief synopsis of the questions asked and the (again, brief) answers.
Questions -
1. What do we need to take to be legal to fly that airplane?
2. Do you need the POH to be legal to fly?
3. What if the airplane is placarded and you're told that the FBO doesn't have a POH?
4. What are currency requirements of a private pilot?
5. What documents do you need to carry as a private pilot?
6. What class medical are you required to have?
7. How often does it expire?
8. What maintenance is required for the airplane?
9. What are the fuel reserves we'll need for our flight today?
10. What equipment is required to be legal to fly?
11. What are the characteristics of a thunderstorm?
12. How far away from a thunderstorm should we fly?
13. If you see an anvil on a thunderstorm that extends out a ways from it, can you fly under the anvil? [2]
14. What are the control inputs required to break a spin?
15. What is the significance of the R-XXXX and W-XXXX at the top of your sectional?
16. Tell me every airspace we'll encounter on our flight to Huntsville
17. What instruments on the airplane will indicate the operating temperature of the engine? [3]
18. Walk me through how you got the headings, etc for our cross country.
19. What would you do to fly through a warning/restricted/alert area?
20. What weather sources do you use before a flight?
21. What is an MEL and its significance?
22. Is there an MEL for our airplane?
(there were lots of others that I cannot remember right now)
Answers -
1. AROW
2. Yes
3. Airplanes built before 1979 are exempt [1]
4. BFR, 90 day landings, etc
5. License, medical, govt issue ID
6. Third class
7. I'm under 40, so 36 calendar months
8. Annual, 100 hours on rentals, ELT 12 months, transponder and altimeter 24 months
9. 30 minutes
10. See 91.205 (I actually mentioned 91.205 by number, which he seemed to like)
11. Lightening, updrafts in forming, downdrafts dissipating, turbulence, etc
12. Not closer than 20 miles
13. No, hail [2]
14. Opposite rudder, forward elevator to break stall, then aft elevator
15. IDs and times of restricted and warning airspace
16. Ooh, good question. D, E, C.
17. EGT, CHT, Oil temp [3]
18. Winds aloft + TAS from POH + variation + deviation, and so on
19. MOA / Alert - check with FSS if hot. Restricted - get auth from controlling agency or steer clear.
20. I use ADDS where I'll check METARs, TAFs, FAs, satellite, radar, and winds aloft. I also get a standard briefing.
21. Minimum equipment list = Tells you what can be broken on the airplane and still be able to fly it
22. No MEL.
[1] My answer was, "I think I still need the POH". He reminded me about the older airplanes not having a POH, which I had read but not remembered from the context of our discussion.
[2] My answer was, "I would not fly under it, but I honestly cannot provide you a specific reason why not. Does not seem safe though."
[3] After EGT and CHT, he prompted me with "What else?" and I thought a moment and came up with Oil temp gauge
Keep in mind, the questions are not rapid fire as I've presented them. Often I'll give an answer and he'll provide some additional context for the answer through an anecdote or other wisdom imparting mechanism. It's all very laid back and informal.
In fact, I sometimes get the feeling that my nerves are causing me to answer too quickly rather than providing the rationale and explanations behind the answers. Problem is that most of the questions are factual in nature rather than judgment calls, which doesn't leave me much room to negotiate around the rote memorization required for correctness.
Now he tells me to prepare to fly. I'm thinking that means I passed the oral. Woot! I give CFI a thumbs up on the way out to the preflight, after telling the DE to make himself comfortable in the air conditioning while I check the airplane.
Foiling me again, he comes out about halfway through and quietly stands on the hot ramp watching me. I ignore him and continue the preflight at a normal pace. That was not easy, mind you. I really don't need the heat making him cranky, but I don't hurry my preflight for anyone, so....
We climb in and I stop on the "passenger brief" item for the first time.
Me: Here is where I'd normally give a passenger briefing on the airplane...
DE: That's ok, I got it.
Me: Ok.
Moving on, I fire up and we're cleared to taxi to runway 19. During the runup, I turn to him.
Me: I'll be talking a lot this flight, telling you what's in my head at every step. If you...
DE: That won't be necessary. I can see what you're doing from here.
Me: Yes, sir.
After the runup he requests a normal takeoff and I give him a fine example of one, if I do say so myself. Then we're off on the trip. I inform him when I'd normally open my flight plan, do the cruise checklist, etc. He seems fine with it all. Now it's time to find my first checkpoint - the tower.
I've never been more anxious about finding a 15 story tower. It just wasn't appearing as fast as I thought it should. I was just about to abandon finding it and rely solely on the VOR when it jumped out of the ground at me like a whack-a-mole. Phew!
Me: There's our first checkpoint.
DE: Alright. See these fields and glider port on the sectional... let's divert to those.
Me: Ok... let's see, that looks like about a 190 heading and <measuring with my finger> 10-12 miles. Should take us around 5 minutes.
I immediately set course for 190, climb to an acceptable VFR cruising altitude for our new heading, and then begin to pray that I can find these things. I've done it once before, but, if you'll recall, it took me forever. That needs to not happen now. I haven't watched a clock this nervously since the last time my wife was in labor.
Then, as if by magic (and I'm not yet convinced there was none involved), I have a crystal clear view of the glider port right off the nose. I point it out to the DE.
DE: Ok, pull your power back and setup for an emergency landing there.
Me: Sure thing. First, I'll set the glide to 73. Do you see any signs of wind direction out your side?
DE: No, no smoke or anything on this side.
Me: Ok, nothing here either. We'll use the wind from back at Smyrna then and I'll land facing south.
De: Sounds good.
It's a long glide down from cruise altitude so I've got plenty of time to tell him about mayday, the checklist, and all that jazz. I'm also trying very, *very* hard not to screw up this landing setup.
I turn base and note (outloud) that I'm a little high, but that I will slip us down onto the grass runway. Full flaps, then turn final, and immediately I begin to slip. It's very obvious we're going to make the landing, but again probably be a little longer than I'd prefer.
DE: Ok, that's good, go around.
Me: Going around.
De: Now take me to Shelbyville for some landings.
Me: Yes, sir.
I'm keenly aware at this point that the hardest part (for me) of the checkride is over. I've really grown quite confident in my landings recently. We're about to see if that confidence is well-earned.
Someone calls out of Shelbyville that they're using runway 36 for takeoff. The wind is favoring 18, so I want to use it instead.
Me (radio): Shelbyville traffic, is anyone still using 36l, 223NH incoming for landing, will enter 45 on downwind for 18.
I'm greeted by silence. I turn to the DE and shrug.
DE: That's a good way to do it.
Me: I'll just take another look as I get over the field to make sure we're in good shape.
As I'm heading to overfly the field, Mr. DE points out some traffic directly above us, and flying opposite our heading. If he were 200-300 ft lower, that would have been the worst checkride ever.
Me: Good eye.
DE: I should have seen him sooner.
Me: You and me both.
This is why I want an airplane with TCAS. *shiver*
I overfly the field and do a long, slow 270 back to my 45 entry and suddenly I'm on downwind for my first checkride landing. I am hyperalert, as I suspect I'll be judged more on this first landing than any of the rest. I'll bet I ran through my landing flow 3 times, minimum.
DE: Ok, give me a soft-field landing.
Soft-field, got it. No problem. I get on final and it's looking great. Like, really great. Speeds are perfect, descent rate is nice and stable, this one may be a keeper, if I can keep from blowing it in the playoffs.
I get down over the numbers and pull the airplane into ground effect and perform easily my best soft-field landing. Ever. An absolute greaser. I damn near leaped out of the chair and gave myself a standing ovation. Instead, I remembered to keep the nose wheel up and keep the airplane moving.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see the DE nodding his head. You'd think I sold my soul for that landing. And if I'd known about it ahead of time, I might have.
DE: Ok, now taxi back and give me a soft-field takeoff.
I get up to the line and announce I'm taking the runway, then the simulation begins and I keep her rolling with full aft elevator. One textbook soft-field takeoff later and he requests a short-field landing.
Me: You mind if I use that first marker as the short field threshold?
DE: That's fine.
So it's down to this. My old nemesis, the short-field landing. Now you listen here, me. You can do this. Remember the speeds, remember the lesson with CFI3, and, for God's sake, remember to go around if you f*ck it up! Now shut up and concentrate. There's a ticket waiting for you if you get this right.
I turn base like normal, but through some minor misjudging of my distance from the aiming point, it looks like I'm a little high. Then again, maybe not.
Me: I'm a little high, but my glide still looks ok, so let's see what happens here before we do anything drastic.
It actually comes together pretty well with nothing other than some minor power adjustments. It really looks like this is going to happen. I get down over the marker, put in a brief flare, and then set it down firmly (but not terribly so) only a few feet past the end of the marker.
So there you have it, a +60 foot or so short-field landing on my checkride. I will absolutely take that. I make a mental note to procure for CFI3 the hooker of his choosing.
Next is a short-field takeoff and then immediately he puts me under the hood. I'm really not sure what the significance of this is, but honestly, I really didn't want to give him the controls. I actually find myself hurrying to put on the hood so I can take the airplane back. It was a weird sensation, but I'm guessing it's from my lack of familiarity with his flying. Or perhaps it's than I'm an unabashed control-freak. Let's call it a tie.
He vectors me around a bit and I have no problems there at all. Then the hood comes off (what, no unusual attitudes?! Oh, c'mon man....) and he requests slow flight.
Now, up until this point, you may have noticed that things are going swimmingly. Better even than I realistically could have hoped. But here I screw up two things at once... first, I forgot my clearing turns. Now, I *did* look around for traffic, but the distraction of pulling the hood off allowed me to forget that all-important step.
Luckily, the DE says nothing of it, so I enter slow flight. Now, it's gotten pretty hot, and consequently, very bumpy. My second mistake is I lose 150 feet right away before I can maintain and begin climbing back up.
DE: You'll need some more power to climb back up.
I add in the power, very aware that I may have just busted my ride. As I get back to the original altitude (all at 45 knots, mind you), he requests I pull back into a power-off stall. I do so and recover without issue.
After a few other maneuvers, he requests we head back to Smyrna. On the way, I'm really wondering about that slow flight.
Me: That wasn't my best slow flight.
DE: It's bumpy out today, so it's harder to control it.
I guess if he were going to allow a do-over, he'd say so then. I refuse to dwell on it right now, so off it goes to the back of my mind. I call the tower, and request a full stop without thinking.
Me: Oh wait, sorry, did you want a full stop or some more pattern work?
DE: Full stop is fine.
Now, the ASOS I listened to says the wind is out of something like 280, so I expect runway 32. Tower gives me 19.
Me: Smyrna tower, can I get 32 please?
Tower: Winds are currently 180 at 7. Report left base for 32.
Hrm. 180 is clearly not favoring 32, and I've just requested a direct crosswind landing for the last landing on my checkride. Sheee-it.
DE let's me sweat a bit and then...
DE: You can get 19 again if you want.
Me: Thank you, I believe I will.
I crawl back to tower with my tail between my legs and he graciously allows my change of heart. I'm one landing away from the end of this ride. Whether there's a ticket at the end of it remains to be seen.
As I'm entering the downwind for 19, I momentarily get confused, and I *almost* setup for a pattern on runway 14. I catch my mistake a few seconds later with a brief "Uh oh."
DE: Uh oh?
Me: Yeah, not the words you ever want to hear a pilot say, huh?
DE: Well, you didn't say it with a lot of feeling, so I wasn't too concerned.
He never asked to what I was referring, so I can only guess he noticed my mistake and correction.
I get all setup for a normal landing on the correct runway, and it's an unremarkable approach and touchdown. I taxi off the runway and I'm cleared to the ramp.
Now, one of the CFIs at the school has informed me that this particular DE likes to say, "Congratulations, you're the world's newest private pilot" as you're taxiing back to the ramp. So I'm quietly waiting to hear something, but nothing is forthcoming. Rut roh.
Was he upset about the clearing turns or slow flight? Maybe it was something I missed in the stall, or maybe that airplane with whom we almost played chicken. Or something else altogether that I just plumb forgot or didn't notice. I'm starting to get a little antsy. Surely he'll say something in a minute. Just be patient. Speak, man, speak!
We get back to the ramp, I shut down and we're idly chatting about some subject I can't remotely recall. As I'm tying down the airplane, the conversation pauses and there's a notable silence. I can wait no longer.
Me: So, how long you gonna make me sweat?
DE: <chuckle> Oh, no we're ok. Sorry, I wasn't even thinking about it.
Me: That's ok, I was thinking about it enough for both of us!
So there you have it. "We're ok". Which I believe is DE parlance for... "Dstang, buddy, you owe me a beer!" Suhweeeeeet!!
As he's preparing my temporary ticket, we talk briefly about the flight.
DE: I really don't have anything to say about your performance. But good job. Just make sure you stay not only current, but proficient.
Me: I certainly will, thank you.
DE: Also, if there's a day where the conditions or wind aren't what you're used to, that's the day you need to go up. You know you can do it in calm conditions, so you've got to practice in other conditions to improve.
After we finish up, I text my wife to ensure she's the first to know. Then I call everyone I know, including CFI1. He comes down to congratulate me and get the play by play.
So now I are a pilot. It's still very strange for me to think of myself as such. For some reason I'd built it up enough that I still don't consider myself on par with "real pilots". I suppose only the further accumulation of experience, good judgment, and training will bring me to the proper level in my own mind.
For all you nutjobs with no life that read this far, I've prepared a short photo montage of my journey towards my PPL and uploaded it to YouTube. You can view it below.
And yes, you'll get to see my dead-sexy, private pilot visage in there as well, so prepare yourself. As for the choice of song and the lyrics, well, you just have to know me. Nuff said.
I'm also taking Jeff S KDTW's advice, and I'm going to put all my writeups on a blog. I suspect any new writeups I do will be put there as well for anyone who cares. It's not finished yet, but the address will be:
http://jeff.carneal.com/
To everyone here that read my writeups and offered advice, encouragement, or general comments, I sincerely thank you. I've very much enjoyed writing up my adventures for you all, and the help you've provided in return has proved invaluable in achieving my goal.
Until the next round of training,
Sysvr4
PS - My stats as of the end of the checkride:
Hours: 55.8
Landings: 178
Dual: 41.2
PIC: 14.6
Comments:
Bigscrb15
Broke Student
Registered: Jan 2006
Location: Winter Haven, FL
Posts: 56
Awesome, Congrats!!!!
I have been waiting for you to post this all day. I guess I have no life.
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Dstang65
Member
Registered: Jul 2007
Location: S.FL (KFXE)
Posts: 36
CONGRATS!!!
Sysvr is a PILOT.
Forget the one beer, name your brand and I'm in for a case... Remember when you decide to become an airplane owner, that Thing To Do with your PPL #102 is:
"Fly to distant airports and collect on beer offers from people you met on Studentpilot.com. "
After my tire smoking incident I really needed some encouragement and I stuck to your posts for a much needed moment of levity. I am ecstatic, seriously I'm giddy like a girl. It couldnt have happened to a nicer guy.
I know I wont be the first to say this...but you will need to continue to post here...often. It is simply not accceptable that you get a PPL and "disappear".
I therefore would like to make the first entry on the "Petition for Sysvr to enter IFR training thread."
All parties interested in continuing Sysvr's superior writing and posts please indicate this below.
Seriously, I am very pleased and I want to thank you for helping those of us currently "in training", through with some excellent and thoughtful writing.
Congrats.
Dan
FlyGuy
Into the wild blue yonder
Registered: Oct 2005
Location: Cowtown, USA
Posts: 568
Aye, savy, now oft to plunder!
Edit: Duh, forgot that it's "Pilot" not "Pirate".
Congratulations, Pilot !!
Bigscrb15
Broke Student
Registered: Jan 2006
Location: Winter Haven, FL
Posts: 56
Re: CONGRATS!!!
Originally posted by Dstang65
I therefore would like to make the first entry on the "Petition for Sysvr to enter IFR training thread."
I second that.
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castlepines
Bovine Scatologist
Registered: May 2004
Location: Denver
Posts: 4336
Nice job, Jeff. It's been a trip following your progress on here. A huge congratulations!
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ohiopilot
Arrow Driver
Registered: Nov 2004
Location: Western Ohio
Posts: 3208
Congrats!!
HSP
Senior Member
Registered: Jan 2006
Location: Pearland, TX
Posts: 255
Congratulations!!! A most enjoyable read for sure!
JR
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soulie13
Senior Member
Registered: Feb 2006
Location: KHEF
Posts: 391
Way to go, Pilot. It was a real trip to see someone else go from zero hrs to checkride in the same type of plane I did, only two months after my ride. Your hours are almost a spot match for mine, too.
Biggest question - who's going to be the first victim...er...passenger?
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PP-ASEL
5/22/2007
clh
Senior Member
Registered: Dec 2005
Location: houston
Posts: 127
congrats on your license to learn... Great write-up
rjh
Member
Registered: Jun 2007
Location: KC
Posts: 70
Wooohoooo. I was absolutely, 100% convinced that you would nail that checkride. Congratulations.
And thanks for taking us along for the ride. It was a good one.
toxic111
ASEL
Registered: Feb 2003
Location: CYLL - Lloydminster, AB/SK
Posts: 1571
Way to go.. now go out and enjoy that ticket!
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PPL Holder
Maybe VFR over the top next
Rizzo
Always learning!
Registered: Nov 2006
Location: Minnesota ... KFCM
Posts: 52
Best of luck and congratulations ... great accomplishment ... now you have to go on for your instrument rating so I can continue to enjoy your write-ups! LOL
Seriously - well done!
cindi
earthbound misfit
Registered: Jan 2002
Location: KCGI, KK02
Posts: 3008
CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!
Truly enjoyed every one of your posts....
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Dot_AK
Not A Bush Pilot
Registered: Sep 2002
Location: Anchorage, AK (PAMR)
Posts: 1100
Congratulations!
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JCAviation
boo-yah!
Registered: Jan 2006
Location: So Cal
Posts: 364
Good stuff! Congrats! Your DE hit it on the head. Aim to not only be current, but proficient. No truer words which I can relate with. Fly safe and often!
Sysvr4
Senior Member
Registered: May 2007
Location: KMQY
Posts: 183
Re: CONGRATS!!!
Originally posted by Dstang65
I therefore would like to make the first entry on the "Petition for Sysvr to enter IFR training thread."
...
Seriously, I am very pleased and I want to thank you for helping those of us currently "in training", through with some excellent and thoughtful writing.
Dan
Thanks Dan, much appreciated.
I may as well announce here that I've already signed up for the next phase of my training: Multi-engine VFR. There's a seminole over at M54 just waiting for me to dribble it down the runway.
After that it's instrument... lot of reading that one.
Jeff
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Sysvr4
Senior Member
Registered: May 2007
Location: KMQY
Posts: 183
quote:Originally posted by soulie13
Way to go, Pilot. It was a real trip to see someone else go from zero hrs to checkride in the same type of plane I did, only two months after my ride. Your hours are almost a spot match for mine, too.
Thanks soulie, I've really appreciated your comments and help along the way.
Biggest question - who's going to be the first victim...er...passenger?
There was no decision here. I've made no secret of the fact that I won't be putting my family in the airplane with me until I'm a more seasoned pilot. However, since you only get one first passenger, it had to be my wife. Took her up two days ago and she did fabulously, despite bumps o' plenty.
She's requested I write up her flight as well, so I'm going to honor that on the blog shortly...
Jeff
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wildblueyonder
Junior Member
Registered: Apr 2007
Location: KJWN, KMQY
Posts: 24
Great job! and Congratulations!
Also, like always great writeup.
How many hours did you have when you did your check ride?
I have about 30 hours now so I think I'm about half way or so.
Jeff S KDTW
Patent Pending
Registered: Jan 2003
Location: Flying at Mach 0.30
Posts: 7869
Congratulations, Jeff. That is a great accomplishment.
Glad your wife was the first you took up. I did the same-- although I also took up my daughters too. They were 2 and 4. I canceled the flight 2-3 times before we actually went because I was waiting for both clear and smooth, which you know does not happen often. The aviation gods were with me that day.
Congrats again and glad you have blogged all of your lessons and writeups. They are fun to look back on.
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battmain
Checkride Passed!
Registered: Oct 2006
Location:
Posts: 382
Congrats! Great writeup as usual.
Lets see, it's been a few days, no, almost two weeks. You wipe the grin off your face yet? (especially at the way you left us in suspense?)
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smitty
Senior Member
Registered: May 2006
Location: KSPA
Posts: 240
Congrats!! It's been a great read through the whole adventure. Thanks for sharing the memories!
CFtO
Junior Member
Registered: Jun 2007
Location: Michigan
Posts: 5
Congratulations!
Cool vid, thanks for sharing.
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Michael
My blog: Cleared for the Option
ace007
PP ASEL-IA
Registered: Mar 2005
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 456
Congrats again... your picture montage on Youtube reminds me why I like flying Diamond aircraft so much. You just can beat the visiblity.
I took up my family with my 1 & 2 year olds at the time a few months after I got my private. I felt confident but I now feel much better after finishing up my IFR. Really any post-Private training only helps to make you a better pilot. EVen just going up every 6 months or so with CFI to review is a great idea.
Rob
Bob Chiang
Junior Member
Registered: Jun 2006
Location: Ithaca, NY
Posts: 15
Congratulations, and once again thanks for the entertaining write up. Looking forward to reading about your adventures with twins.
-Bob
dkalwishky
1966 Cessna 182J
Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 5135
Jeff; let me add a belated congrats! Super job, I've enjoyed reading your posts.
Dave
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Freeski
Student Instructor
Registered: Mar 2005
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 782
Great job! Congratulations, thanks for all the write-ups.