Upcoming Flight Test

[k411]

Just a quick question, what should I expect for my upcoming flight test (a week tommorow), like how do they generally work, what are some of the most common ground questions, any tips and tricks you guys know of to keep calm and composed throughout the whole thing, etc?

[E-Flyer]

You know... you see all these people getting worked up about the flight test when in reality it's a safety ride.

Think of it this way buddy, if you're proficient and should deserve the license to learn (PPL), the examiner will sense that through your competence. If there's something truly wrong about your flying, then you wouldn't obviously be safe as a pilot.

Instead of viewing it as a test to impress your instructor or transport canada, view it as a test to tell you how proficient you are in TC's views. And I strongly suggest that once you complete the ride, go up with your instructor and work heavily on any of the items that you might have done poorly. This shows morale and is also a good habit for you to get into as believe it or not, you're going to have to get much better if you decide to get your CPL one day.


Also remember this if you stress out, what are you going to do if you're the PIC with your PPL and you're stuck in a forced approach with three friends that you're supposed to save. Will you be competent to do this? if you think you will be? I don't see any reason why this test shouldn't be a breeze for you.


Good Luck Champ !

[trey kule]

First of all, if I was your instructor I would be ashamed of myself that you have to come here to look for answers that they should be providing....which brings me to the question...

Have you not talked this through with your instructor?

Pilots nowadays seem to often to equate all training to the ride. As someone mentioned that is not what it is about.
Despite the continual bashing of TC and their examination methods here, my experience is the rides pretty well predict your ability to fly safely.

Your instructor should also be able to give you a pretty darn good idea of how the ride will go.

Maybe they are to busy sending out resumes to bother with this non-paying , non-loggbook enhancing stuff.

[flydreams]

Having just passed my flight test this week (yaaay me --- 3 months 2 days after my first lesson), I agree with the comments above.

The examiner was awesome and put me at ease immediately. He asked me what was the worst outcome of the flight test. Was it to fail? No, it was to pass and then be in a situation with friends and family and not be able to fly the plane competently in a dangerous or stressful situation.

Think safety. Try to *not* be nervous - easier said than done. When we are stressed, our brains don't work and the simplest answers won't come.

Don't automatically give the answer you memorized. Pause and Think. If you're asked a question during the ground briefing think it out. It's all about knowing that - in a possible scenario - you can think your way through to a safe outcome using the resources at your disposal.

For the ground, focus on the basics. Know your charts inside and out, your POH upside down and sideways and where to find any other information you may require. And, if your examiner has a lot of flying experience (!), appreciate the opportunity to learn from them during the exam. It's a huge opportunity to fly with someone with boatloads more experience than your instructor (in most situations).

With the hind sight and perspective of having passed ( , I would say it's a great chance to see how safe a pilot you can now learn to be. The examiner is not there to trick you - he/she is there to make sure you have the skills to be safe up there.

Also, I got great advice from two people that you may find helpful, too. We never feel ready - so trust your instructor. If they are recommending you, you're ready - it's their ticket on the line so they won't send you until they're comfortable you will pass.

HTH.

Good luck!

[MorganAirCFI]

Focus on the Aim of the exercises rather then all the little details. You can blow alot of the standards and still pass as long as you acomplish the Aim of the exercises, unless the standards are directly related to the Aim. For example you can blow your landing point by two times the standard, and still pass the short field landing as long as the correct technique is used, basicly don't force it on.

[767]

I agree with trey kule 's post.

Also, do 3 things.

1. Maintain altitude at ALL TIMES.
2. Maintain heading ( If you have visual, screw the heading indicator and fly direct to the visual reference).
3. Stay ahead of the airplane.

That should get you done! Good luck