Contents
Notes from the FAA to Checkride Designated Examiners
--Checkrides are to be as comprehensive and practical as possible
--Emphasis on aerodynamics, airworthiness, basic navigation, runway safety and flight planning
--Specific new addition is aerodynamics which is usually incorporated into other areas of the test.
--Unacceptably high numbers of accidents, incidents and deviations are showing pilot knowledge problems
--FAA expectation is that the oral and flight parts of the checkride be completed on the same day.
--DE's to have enough time to cover all PTS required tasks
--Applicant to allow for a four-hour checkride
--DE not to accept Form 8710-1 unless maintenance records are available before oral
--All airworhiness documents to be checked during preflight
--Checkride cannot be done in an aircraft that is not airworthy
--FAA has found that many checkrides have not been in compliance.
FAA Expected Checkride Timeframe
Minutes
--10 Getting acquainted
--20 Checking documents and confirming aircraft airworthiness
--5 Testing process, options and answering applicant's questions
--50 to 90 Oral knowledge of PTS operations and tasks
--10-20 Review of aircraft maintenance records
--15 Preflight of aircraft
--1:20 lto 1:30 for flight test
--10 Postflight test
--10 Postflight documentation
--10 Post-test critique
The Unwritten PTS Standards
--The ground reference and airwork maneuvers are basic to flying patterns in winds
--Poor judgment and making an unsafe decision are deadly mistakes
--Multi-tasking is an unmentioned PTS requirement that can fail any one applied to excess.
--Multi-tasking that is applied to situations involving fatigue and hypoxia are most prone to failure.
Problem
Getting Ready for My Checkride
Advice
Student License & Medical
Logbook -- current endorsements--Log sheets
POH from plane or Airplane pilots manual
FAR/AIM
Textbook (preferred Private Pilot book)
Systems documentation (or book)
Current Sectional
Current AFD Facilities Directory
Plotter
E6B -- mechanical or electronic (check batteries)
Form 8710-1
Knowledge Test Score sheet (written exam)
Check $??? to (DE)
Hood
Head set
Kneeboard
Airframe and Engine Maintenance logs for aircraft
Registration
Certificate of Airworthiness
Fuel Tester
Pencils and Pens
PTS
Personal for me:
Computer
Glasses
Cross-country plan
Weather contingencies
Post-it the required inspections in the logbooks
Note: double-check currency on AFD, Charts, and endorsements
Student Logbook Requirements
Student solo license endorsements for each type aircraft
Student solo cross-country license endorsement
Logbook signoff for ground instruction
Pre-solo aeronautical knowledge and instruction endorsement
Logbook signoff for aircraft test each aircraft
Logbook solo requirements endorsement
Logbook solo endorsement
Day solo endorsement
Logbook local airport solo endorsement
Individual signoff for EACH x-country
NA-Signoff for review of questions missed
Aeronautical knowledge and instruction endorsement
-Take Practical Test endorsement
-NA-Test after failure endorsement
Herb Martin
Advice
These are the things I found out about the checkride.
Do learn as much as possible during your first 10 hours. It is this training you will revert to on the checkride (under stress)
Don't rush to get to solo. See above.
Do fly as much as possible during the 3 weeks prior to your checkride. Try to alternate between dual and solo, so that you can practice then ask questions.
Do go over your logbook about 6 weeks before your checkride to catch anything you might be short on.
Do have 2 or 3 practice orals within 2 weeks of the practical. Have you CFI grill you unmercifully.
Do all the prep work you can as far in advance of the test as you can. (x-country plan,W&B,etc.)
Try not to think about aviation or airplane for a couple of days before your ride.. Use this time to relax.
These are the things that I did or on 20/20 hindsight I should have done to make my ride more pleasant and bearable.
From: KLGBDan
Advice
I would add...
--Save yourself money and time and spend a few hours in the plane going over procedures without leaving the tie-down.
--I have found that such 'chair-flying' in the cockpit going over procedures using just imagination and visualization is 'almost' as good as time in the air. (but not loggable).
--Know your airspace!
--Study a map and be able to indicate VFR cloud clearances and visibilility for each different feature that you can find.
Possibly the best advice...seek out other pilots who have done the check-ride with the examiner you will be seeing, find out what he or she is like, what kinds of things they are 'sticklers' for.
Most of the time, you'll also find out what a nice person the examiner is, how they are not out to bust you, and how it turned out to be both fun and educational.
Mike Conway
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