Check Ride?

Question

I will be taking my faa practical test here in a couple weeks. (hopefully) I am wondering if, when in the cockpit with the examiner, when taxing, flying, what ever..if a checklist is allowed to be used. I was told by a pilot that I cannot use it, but my instructor says I can. ???? I would assume my instructor would know best..however I am his first student he has ever had so... Also I am wondering how the checkride is. Like is there a lot of talking when flying?? Do you have to say aloud what you are doing? Thanks

Answer 1

You should do on your checkride exactly what you did with your instructor, and exactly what you would do if you had a normal passenger, nothing more and nothing less. Imagine you are taking your mother with you for a ride. Would you do a thorough preflight? Would you use a checklist? Would you give her a passenger safety briefing? I would, and do. Would you explain to her in detail every single thing you are doing? Probably not, as it might be distracting.

The checkride isn't some kind of special case where you do things differently. The safety habits your instructor teaches you aren't just for training. They are meant to be used whenever you fly, and that includes the checkride. Like others have said, just concentrate on having a safe flight just like you have done during training. Don't make anything up or do something different because the check pilot is there.

As far as talking is concerned, you don't need to explain everything you are doing to the examiner. Just do it. If it helps you to verbalize certain checks, then that's fine and normal. For example, I verbalize takeoff and landing checks just for my own benefit anyway. Here again, it is just whatever you would do with your instructor or any passenger. You might expect a question from the examiner from time to time, and that is totally normal too.

The check pilot is not out to get you. He wants to give you your license and he wants you to be a safe pilot.  He is on your side, so don't sweat it.

Good luck!

Answer 2

First, relax. If your instructor thinks you're ready, you probably are. And listen to what he tells you. I would not want a pilot who didn't at least give some cursory acknowledgement to his/her checklist. If you can, get a copy of the Practical Test Standards.

The biggest thing is to be safe. Always err on the side of safety. Have your maneuvers down. You don't have to say everything you're doing; if the examiner asks, have an answer and don't be afraid to say you don't know; its better than making something up.

Answer 3

Read what is said in the  Practical Test Standards about checklist use.

Answer 4

Your check ride will probably be a lot easier than you expect. As far as the oral portion goes, it'll be just like having a normal conversation with your instructor. You'll sit down, and chit chat for awhile, and the examiner will ask you questions pertaining to the sectional, the airplane, aerodynamics, and all the other stuff you should know. If you did ok on the written, you'll be fine on the oral. Be prepared to tell him about what you got wrong on the written.

During the check ride itself, the examiner is not so much looking at your piloting skills, as he is looking at your ability to fly the airplane in a safe controlled manner. Use your checklist for everything. Have it in your hand during the preflight. The checklist is a required item, and he will fail you for not using it at all.

Don't forget to brief your examiner as if he were just a passenger you were taking for a ride. Tell him about seat belts, doors, the location of the fire extinguisher, how to get out in case of an emergency. (door or kicking out the back windows i.e. in a cessna) Remember to taxi at a walking pace, and remember your control positions for taxiing with wind. Also, ensure that he has his seat belt buckled, didn't leave it hanging outside the door, didn't unlock the door, or any of that nonsense. He may or may not try to do those things just to see if you are paying attention. Ask him to be your safety pilot and help watch for traffic.

During the maneuvers, one of the most important things is your clearing turns. Especially if you're straight and level, and he asks you to climb or descend. If you s***w up a maneuver, don't sweat it. Just say something along the lines of "Hey, I can do that better, do you mind if I try that again" more than likely, he will oblige you. Also, don't forget to call out "Begin maneuver," and "End maneuver."

It's actually not as bad as most people think, just relax, and go into it as if you were going to fly with your instructor. most people fail their check ride because they are either unprepared, or they worry so much about s******g up, that they s***w up.

When I did my private, both the examiner and I thought I was cursed. Aside from getting delayed a month for weather, as well as some things I wont go into here, the airplane had to be fixed on the ramp. Two unschedueled tfr's popped up in both places we were supposed to go on the check ride, then as we were taxiing out finally, a black cat ran across the taxi way directly in front of us. Everything turned out fine though.

Good luck

Answer 5

Not to make you nervous, but if you DON'T use your checklist, then I guarantee you that you will fail.  If you refer to the PTS (Practical Test Standards), "use of checklists" is one of the special emphasis areas that the FAA Inspectors/Designated Pilot Examiners are specifically looking for.  As far as general advice, here are a couple tips.

1. DON'T forget to make clearing turns before your maneuvers.  Doing that is a guaranteed failure.

2. Use your checklists!

3. Don't volunteer information about stuff that wasn't asked.  Example - if the examiner asks you what kind of airspace you're in, tell him/her "Class E" or whatever the airspace may be.  Don't say, "It's Class E airspace, which requires 3 sm of visibility, and 1,000 above, 500 below, and 2,000 foot horizontal clearance from clouds).  You're just setting yourself up to make a mistake when you volunteer information.

4. If you're not sure about something, ask to look it up in an FAA-approved reference, such as the POH, FARs, Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, etc.  DON'T guess...you can't BS an examiner.  They know more than you can believe, and have heard all the BS answers a million times.

5. Relax.  Checkrides aren't that bad...it's just the hype leading up to them that is tough.  If your flight instructor endorses you for the checkride, they are confident that you will pass.  Remember, they're putting their reputation on the line when they sign you off, so if they weren't confident in your abilities, they wouldn't send you to the ride.

Good luck!

Answer 6

ok i took my pre solo check ride on friday. and i had that question. the examiner wants to see use the check list. this does not mean look down then search for the electric fuel pump and go on to the next one. they want to see you refer to it just as a flow and yes say things out loud so they know what you are doing. in case you make a mistake u say out loud what happened and they will know. they just want to see if u have control of the airplane and dont worry about it do what u always do and dont be nervous.