Lesson 25: Checkride scheduled - OMG, Panic!
07/27/2007 Filed in: Flying
Friday - 7/27/07
As I'm on my way to the airport, I get an email on my Treo from the scheduling system at the school. It's html mail though, and the Treo handles those correctly about 1 out of 3 times. Oh iPhone, how I want you so.
I call to make sure CFI1 hasn't cancelled our lesson today. I'm assured that he hasn't by another CFI, so I press on.
When I get to the school, I am told the contents of that email.
CFI1: Your checkride is scheduled. It's August 9th. Plan a trip to Huntsville, and the DE's weight is [xyz].
Me: <stunned, terrified silence>
CFI1: Sorry it's two weeks out, I'd rather you take it sooner.
Me: Oh no! Don't be sorry, that's perfectly ok with me!
So that's that. I now have a deadline. There is a firm, inflexible deadline on the non-suckery that is required to earn a PPL. For the first time, I mentally count the days and hours until my ride. This is an exercise I will perfect with practice over the coming days. I even find myself wanting to check the weather forecast for that day, despite it being 13 days out.
CFI1 and I go out and practice some more. I need something like .4 of hood work left, so he slaps me on his new glasses and we're off.
I'll tell you this, I brought my A-game today on instruments. Even CFI1 noticed it.
CFI1: So, can you do this if your attitude indicator fails?
I think for a second.
Me: Yep. You'd use the turn coordinator and VSI.
CFI1: Very good. And the altimeter as well.
Then he covers up my attitude indicator. That's hardly a fitting reward for a correct answer under pressure.
I still manage to handle his vectoring and keep us both alive without the AI. Cuz that's how I roll.
CFI1: Nice. I usually don't do that with private students but you were doing so well I figured you could handle it.
Hear that? I was doing well. It's only fitting it was on a task upon which I will not be tested anytime soon.
After that, we try a bit more pattern work. You'll be shocked to hear that my short field landings were only marginally tolerable. And those were the good ones. Argh!
So we go shutdown, and after a final salute to CFI1, I see CFI3 (banana) in the breakroom.
Me: I'm flying with you on Monday. It's your job to find ways to remove the suck from my short-field landings.
CFI3: I can do that. All private pilot applicants suck at short-field landings.
Me: Yes, but there's a certain margin of suck you've come to expect, and then there's my level of suck.
CFI3: Ok, I have some ideas. We'll get it.
So I'm off for home, where I definitely will not obsess about the pending, scheduled check ride. Nope, not once. Probably won't even cross my mind. No sir...
Logged: 1.3
Comments
deedus
Member
Registered: Jan 2007
Location: North Alabama
Posts: 37
OK today is August 14th. Do we have a Checkride post coming soon?
__________________
All things are possible to him that believes.
nathan42100
Student Pilot-Lesson 4
Registered: Jul 2007
Location: KHPN
Posts: 178
Give him a break, it takes enough energy and time to write one, letalone three...
Sysvr4
Senior Member
Registered: May 2007
Location: KMQY
Posts: 174
Originally posted by deedus
OK today is August 14th. Do we have a Checkride post coming soon?
It's a definite maybe. Just remember that checkrides are frequently postponed for a host of reasons.
hg
Member
Registered: Mar 2006
Location: FME
Posts: 36
Well, in case your checkride was delayed and you haven't taken it yet:
I felt the same as you when we scheduled mine, I always felt like I wanted more time to practice everything and make sure it was all well within the PTS. My instructor had been saying I was ready since after I finished my XCs, even before brushing up on the maneuvers, and it turns out he was probably right. On my checkride it always felt like the examiner wanted to make sure I was competent and knew what I should be doing, and less interested in making sure everything was perfect.
Since your instructor has sent lots of students to the DPE already, you should just trust him when he says you're ready.
And on short field landings, just nail the airspeed on final and you won't be able to float at all. It might also help to aim somewhere past the numbers (use one of the centerline stripes) so you're not worried about landing too early.
Just keep in mind that you're going to be disappointing your loyal audience here when your lesson write-ups come to an end...
battmain
Checkride Passed!
Registered: Oct 2006
Location:
Posts: 367
Originally posted by Sysvr4
It's a definite maybe. Just remember that checkrides are frequently postponed for a host of reasons.
Talk about suspense!
So when is the new date for the checkride?
__________________
PP ASEL
As I'm on my way to the airport, I get an email on my Treo from the scheduling system at the school. It's html mail though, and the Treo handles those correctly about 1 out of 3 times. Oh iPhone, how I want you so.
I call to make sure CFI1 hasn't cancelled our lesson today. I'm assured that he hasn't by another CFI, so I press on.
When I get to the school, I am told the contents of that email.
CFI1: Your checkride is scheduled. It's August 9th. Plan a trip to Huntsville, and the DE's weight is [xyz].
Me: <stunned, terrified silence>
CFI1: Sorry it's two weeks out, I'd rather you take it sooner.
Me: Oh no! Don't be sorry, that's perfectly ok with me!
So that's that. I now have a deadline. There is a firm, inflexible deadline on the non-suckery that is required to earn a PPL. For the first time, I mentally count the days and hours until my ride. This is an exercise I will perfect with practice over the coming days. I even find myself wanting to check the weather forecast for that day, despite it being 13 days out.
CFI1 and I go out and practice some more. I need something like .4 of hood work left, so he slaps me on his new glasses and we're off.
I'll tell you this, I brought my A-game today on instruments. Even CFI1 noticed it.
CFI1: So, can you do this if your attitude indicator fails?
I think for a second.
Me: Yep. You'd use the turn coordinator and VSI.
CFI1: Very good. And the altimeter as well.
Then he covers up my attitude indicator. That's hardly a fitting reward for a correct answer under pressure.
I still manage to handle his vectoring and keep us both alive without the AI. Cuz that's how I roll.
CFI1: Nice. I usually don't do that with private students but you were doing so well I figured you could handle it.
Hear that? I was doing well. It's only fitting it was on a task upon which I will not be tested anytime soon.
After that, we try a bit more pattern work. You'll be shocked to hear that my short field landings were only marginally tolerable. And those were the good ones. Argh!
So we go shutdown, and after a final salute to CFI1, I see CFI3 (banana) in the breakroom.
Me: I'm flying with you on Monday. It's your job to find ways to remove the suck from my short-field landings.
CFI3: I can do that. All private pilot applicants suck at short-field landings.
Me: Yes, but there's a certain margin of suck you've come to expect, and then there's my level of suck.
CFI3: Ok, I have some ideas. We'll get it.
So I'm off for home, where I definitely will not obsess about the pending, scheduled check ride. Nope, not once. Probably won't even cross my mind. No sir...
Logged: 1.3
Comments
deedus
Member
Registered: Jan 2007
Location: North Alabama
Posts: 37
OK today is August 14th. Do we have a Checkride post coming soon?
__________________
All things are possible to him that believes.
nathan42100
Student Pilot-Lesson 4
Registered: Jul 2007
Location: KHPN
Posts: 178
Give him a break, it takes enough energy and time to write one, letalone three...
Sysvr4
Senior Member
Registered: May 2007
Location: KMQY
Posts: 174
Originally posted by deedus
OK today is August 14th. Do we have a Checkride post coming soon?
It's a definite maybe. Just remember that checkrides are frequently postponed for a host of reasons.
hg
Member
Registered: Mar 2006
Location: FME
Posts: 36
Well, in case your checkride was delayed and you haven't taken it yet:
I felt the same as you when we scheduled mine, I always felt like I wanted more time to practice everything and make sure it was all well within the PTS. My instructor had been saying I was ready since after I finished my XCs, even before brushing up on the maneuvers, and it turns out he was probably right. On my checkride it always felt like the examiner wanted to make sure I was competent and knew what I should be doing, and less interested in making sure everything was perfect.
Since your instructor has sent lots of students to the DPE already, you should just trust him when he says you're ready.
And on short field landings, just nail the airspeed on final and you won't be able to float at all. It might also help to aim somewhere past the numbers (use one of the centerline stripes) so you're not worried about landing too early.
Just keep in mind that you're going to be disappointing your loyal audience here when your lesson write-ups come to an end...
battmain
Checkride Passed!
Registered: Oct 2006
Location:
Posts: 367
Originally posted by Sysvr4
It's a definite maybe. Just remember that checkrides are frequently postponed for a host of reasons.
Talk about suspense!
So when is the new date for the checkride?
__________________
PP ASEL