|
Learn About Check rides |
 |
|
|
Whether you're preparing for your first
check ride, or you already have several under your belt, you are sure to be
at least a little nervous before your check ride. A.C can provide you with
information to help settle your jitters. We'll advise you on the do's and
don'ts of a check ride. Whether you are taking your initial private check
ride
or your ATP, A.C. can help prepare you by making you aware of common
questions and best procedures. The best solution to any problem is
communication, so check Flightinfo.com, LLC to alleviate your check ride
jitters. |
What Is A Check ride?
A check ride is the final step in achieving your rating or certificate.
Before you can exercise the privileges of a rating or certificate, you must
have taken and passed a check ride. This flight exam is taken with a, FAA
designated flight examiner, and consists of a two part exam, an oral and a
flight portion. |
| The Oral Portion:
The purpose of the oral portion of the exam is for the FAA designated flight
examiner to ask you questions to test your knowledge in non-flight related
items such as.
|
- Certification and documents
- Obtaining weather information
- Determining performance and limitations
- Cross-country flight planning
- Aircraft systems
- Aero medical factors
Radio communications and ATC light signals
- Visual inspection
- Cockpit management
|
The Flight Portion:
The purpose of the flight portion of the exam is for the FAA designated
flight examiner to test your ability to perform specific flight maneuvers
and fly the aircraft safely. According to the PTS (Practical Test
Standards), the examiner can ask you to perform any or all of these flight
maneuvers. |
- Normal and crosswind takeoffs and landings
- Maximum performance takeoffs and landings
- All stalls
- Minimum controllable airspeed
- Steep turns
- Recovery from unusual flight attitudes
- Any commercial maneuver
- Instrument approaches etc.
- Simulated flight emergencies
|
The Typical Check ride
The typical check ride lasts approximately 4-5 hours. It begins usually in
the morning with a flight to another airport (unless the examiner is at your
airport) to meet the examiner. After a brief getting-acquainted-time, the
examiner will have you sit in a room where the examiner will ask you to 1)
plan a cross-country to a place of his or her choice 2) perform take-off and
landing distances, and 3) perform a weight and balance computation.
The FAA allows 30 minutes of cross-country planning time. However, you will
be given more time if the examiner assigns other things for you to do.
After the time limit is up, the examiner will come back and check your work.
This is where the oral exam begins. The entire oral exam often stems from
the work that the examiner asks you to do. All the non-flight questions
usually start from the map, Fars, airspace, performance charts. Be prepared
to know everything on those sectionals, L-charts, and approach plates.
Depending on the examiner, most will ask extensive questions about the
airplane that is being used; oil type and quantities, fuel type and
quantities, brakes, HP, engine manufacturer, static systems, vacuum systems,
hydraulic and electrical system, etc.
After you have passed the oral portion of the test, the examiner will watch
how you perform the preflight, start-up, taxi, run-up and departure
checklist. You will almost always begin your flight portion with the
cross-country (VFR or IFR). The examiner will be checking your ability to
follow your preflight plan. From here you will be asked to perform all or a
portion of the flight maneuvers outlined in the PTS; steep turns, stalls,
minimum controllable, slips, unusual attitude, hood work and simulated
emergencies. If those maneuvers are successfully accomplished, you will fly
back to the airport. (Your check ride is not finished here, so don't let down
your guard.) The examiner will be inspecting your takeoff and landing
abilities. Expect some short and soft field takeoffs and landings, missed
approaches, and a possible go-around. |
| 
Do's & Don'ts of a check ride.
Never argue with the examiner. They have much more flying experience than
you do.
Don't bring A.R.R. of ARROW into the exam unless the examiner asks to see
it. You might forget to take it back to the airplane during the flight
portion, thus making the airplane unairworthy.
Remember the tach time so you don't have to run back out to the plane during
the exam.
Don't ride the brakes!
Never do a run-up off the top of your head. Use the checklist!
The examiner does not know you or how you fly. Talk your way through all
your maneuvers so he or she can see that you know what you are doing.
Make sure that you perform clearing turns without being told to do so. Never
do anything to to jeopardize the safety of yourself or that of the examiner.
Be willing and open to learning something from the examiner.
If you make a mistake on a maneuver ask to do it again.
Don't dig yourself into a trap, answer only the question that you are asked.
Trying to impress the examiner by answering more than the question can get
you in trouble.
Be courteous and respectful. Examiners can ask you any questions they want,
and they do know more than you.
Know your airplane.
Be extra organized. Have your map opened to the cross-country and accessible
during the flight.
Know the area where the flight test will take place. If possible have your
instructor take you there for a lesson to get familiar with that airport.
Have all available information about that airport; runway directions, runway
lengths, elevation, surrounding area, VORs, airspace, obstacles, etc.
Nothing is worse than if the examiner ask you to clear a 50' obstacle and
you don't know what altitude that will be.
 Things to remember.
On the way to the flight test, practice your flight maneuvers.
Check out and find the annual and 100 hour inspections before the day of the
test. It is a good idea to mark those pages.
Fly the way the examiner wants you to fly, regardless of how you were
taught. The examiner is most likely trying to teach you that there are other
ways to do things.
If the examiner has to take the controls from you, you most likely have
failed the exam.
Examiners are not out there to fail you, they want you to be a safe
competent pilot.
Take your time. Do the maneuvers the way you were taught and practiced.
Being nervous just gives your mind more work!
Get a good nights sleep and concentrate on what you have learned.
Be confident! A lack of confidence on your part can make the instructor
nervous.
 Items to take with you on a
check ride.
**** (Forgetting any of these usually means failure!)****
1. Make sure A.R.R.O.W is in the airplane.
2. Some kind of view limiting device.
3. Airplane logbooks.
4. Personal logbook.
5. Current maps.
6. Current Fars / AIM
7. Medical certificate.
8. Pilot certificate.
9. Written test results.
10. 8710 exam application
11. Payment for the examiner.
|
|
