Preparing for the Checkride
March 3, 2024
After my long cross country, I could feel that checkride - FAA practical test, to receive a private pilot’s certification - was not too far out. There are two major parts I need to to prepare at this point in time. Oral examiniation preparation, and practical test preparation.
To gauge where I stand in my preparation Drew suggested that I reach out to Mr. Fred Reeb, who is a retired DPE (Designated Pilot Examiner) for Pittsburgh area. In fact, the plane I rent is owned by Fred. So in past couple of weeks I was able to schedule some time with Fred to go over some ground session and a flight review geared specifically towards checkride.
Ground Session Prep
Checkride typically is scenario based, and it begins with a simple question - “Where are we going today?”. There is sufficient time provided to prepare, as there is a lot of theory I need to familiarize myself with -
Pilot Qualifications,
Airworthiness Requirements
Weather Information
Aircraft Performance and Limitations
Operation of systems, such as Engine, and other equipments
Cross-Country flight planning
Night Operations
Human Factors
And, all of the questions will be asked in the context of checkride’s cross country journey. So there is not one right answer, rather answer will be very much situation based. For example:
Q: After an exhausting three hour business meeting, you are preparing to leave for the journey back home, you realize that you can’t find your reading glasses. You can see in the distance, but you can’t read the instruments, or a chart very easily. Weather is good and if youd epart in the next 20 minutesm you can be back home before dark. What will you do?
A: There is no right answer. I need to demonstrate my risk management and ADM. - Do I have passenger that I can rely on to help read the instruments?
- Does my medical cert state that I need corrective lenses to fly?
- How familiar am I with the plane?
- Can I spend the night, buy new pair of glasses, get some rest, and depart in the morning?
As long as I am able to explain my thought process to the examiner, that’s what he’s looking for.
Practical Test Prep
After the oral examiniation, comes the practical test. I will be tested on variety of skills, such as straight and level flight, maneuvers, emergency procedures, etc. Each of the maneuver has a standard with respect to altitude, heading, airspeed, that I have to adhere to.
What I have been practicing is to follow a regime of performing these maneuvers during my solo time.
Start with a normal take-off and normal landing, to a full stop.
Perform a short-field take-off and short-field landing, to a full stop.
Perform a soft-field take-off, and leave the area to perform other maneuvers
Go over Cal-U, climb up to 3500 feet, and start with Slow Flight maneuver.
Clear the area.
Checklist for maneuver - Before Landing checklist.
Configure the plane for maneuver - straight and level plane.
Perform Maneuver and recover.
Perform Steep Turns
Clear the area.
Checklist for maneuver - Cruise checklist.
Configure the plane for maneuver - straight and level flight.
Perform Maneuver and recover.
Perform a Power-off Stall
Clear the area.
Checklist for maneuver - Before Landing checklist.
Configure the plane for maneuver - straight and level flight, landing configuration.
Perform Maneuver and recover.
Perform a Power-on Stall
Clear the area.
Checklist for maneuver - Before Take-off checklist.
Configure the plane for maneuver - straight and level flight, take-off configuration.
Perform Maneuver and recover.
Forward slip down to 2500 feet.
Perform a Turn Around a Point
Clear the area.
Checklist for maneuver - Cruise checklist.
Configure the plane for maneuver - straight and level flight.
Perform Maneuver and recover.
Perform S-Turns
Clear the area.
Checklist for maneuver - Cruise checklist.
Configure the plane for maneuver - straight and level flight.
Perform Maneuver and recover.
During my session with Fred, we followed the same pattern, and for the most part he seemed to be happy with my progress. There were a few minor but important tidbits that he gave me, that are important to build good habits, especially for checkride. For example, getting distracted with anything while taxiing, or while on runway after landing - anything as simple as checking weather - can be dangerous, and is the most common cause for runway incursions. When flying the plane, pilot’s main focus should be only and only to fly the plane. When taxiiing, pilot’s main focus should be only and only to taxi the plane safely.
Examiner will try to distract me at all the times during the checkride. It is my job as a pilot to continue to fly the plane until it is at a full-stop.
Wish me all the very best for my checkride, guys ! I can smell it comin’ very very soon.