Flight Training - July 2021 - 13

ASI NEWS
BY ALICIA HERRON
CHECKRIDES DEMYSTIFIED
TIPS FOR SUCCESS FROM ASI'S FLIGHT INSTRUCTORS
the void. The examiner
is required to notify
you upon failure of an
airman certification
standards item, and
if you bust, you bust
immediately. As long as
the ride is continuing,
you're passing, so even if
you perform a less-thanperfect
maneuver, don't
give up. If you do make
a mistake, say why you
made it, and then apply
corrective action. It will
demonstrate your ability
to quickly identify and
correct errors, even
your own.
Finally, remember
that the examiner
AFTER HOURS OF TRAINING, HARD WORK,
and thousands of dollars, it'll soon be time
for the final test: the checkride! Like much
of flight training, the checkride is a new
experience, and stress of the unknown
can make the day more challenging than
it needs to be. Here are some insights
from the AOPA Air Safety Institute's flight
instructors to help you succeed.
Make sure you get a good night's
rest before the checkride. Don't stay up
studying or cramming; try to relax. Eat
normally even if you're nervous and don't
feel hungry, and pack some of your favorite
energizing snacks and water in your
flight bag.
Before showing up to the checkride,
ensure you have all the required
documentation (such as logbooks,
endorsements, and Airman Knowledge
Test Report) with you. Don't forget to
bring necessary equipment (plotter, flight
computer, view limiting device) and make
sure you know how to use it. If you're
relying on an electronic device, bring the
charger as well.
The checkride consists of two main
parts-the oral exam and the flight test.
During the oral portion, the designated
pilot examiner (DPE) will ask questions
to assess your knowledge. If you don't
understand a question, ask the examiner
to rephrase or restate it. If you're still
unsure after that, don't try to bluff your
way through the answer, but offer to
look it up (see " Checkride 101: In the Hot
Seat, " p. 14).
Once you move on to the flight test,
you're halfway there. Don't think of the
DPE as an instructor-you are the PIC
during the checkride. In flight, remember
the three Ds: Don't do anything Dumb,
Different, or Dangerous. The examiner
is a resource for you to use, and it might
be helpful to think of them as your first
passenger. They will help scan for traffic
and may even hold charts and nav logs (or
your electronic flight bag) for you.
Silence from the examiner is normal,
and you are under no obligation to fill
CHECKRIDE TIPS FROM DPES
Q: Should the CFI be available on the
scheduled checkride day?
A: Yes! It shows the instructor's commitment
to the student, which is important.
Also, it allows the DPE to contact the CFI
if there's a need to fill out missing paperwork
or provide needed information.
Ideally, the CFI should be at the checkride
to support his or her student. A CFI
who is present on the day of a test often
can remedy documentation hiccups that
would otherwise cause a test to be unable
to proceed. The CFI doesn't need to be
there during the whole test but being
there at the beginning is a best practice.
Learn tips from pilot examiners,
submit questions, and discover tips for
proficiency in the AOPA Air Safety Institute's
CFI to CFI quarterly newsletter.
airsafetyinstitute.org/cfi-to-cfi
AOPA.ORG/FT
13
really wants you to succeed but is
obligated to ensure you are a safe pilot
and can perform according to the FAA's
standards. If you are not able to do that,
it doesn't mean you're a bad pilot; it
just means you need a little more work
to hit that mark. Review any problem
areas with your CFI and you should be
successful on your retest.
Earning your certificate is an invitation
to continue to train, not a reason to stop.
After you pass, stay in touch with your CFI
and plan to fly with them occasionally, and
at least once a year. The sky will be yours
to explore, and the more you fly, the better,
safer, and more proficient you'll be.
alicia.herron@aopa.org
http://www.airsafetyinstitute.org/cfi-to-cfi http://www.AOPA.ORG/FT
Flight Training - July 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Flight Training - July 2021
