AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 28

LICENSETOLEARN

BY ROD MACHADO

Checkride-itis

A

n FAA-designated pilot examiner once told me about the most anxious private pilot candidate he ever experienced on a checkride. Aside

that 27 percent took beta blockers to reduce performance anxiety. Now, I’m not a fan of using drugs to handle normal cases of checkride anxiety, but some folks just don’t behave normally (think Hurlman). Just to be clear here, I’m not a doctor, but your aviation medical examiner (AME) is. That’s why you should consult with him or her about short-term use of beta blockers to reduce performance anxiety, and what approval—if any—is required. Many other strategies for reducing performance from sweating and mumbling during the oral exam anxiety involve what I call the “breathe deeply and think happy thoughts” method. Some are effective (the applicant, not the examiner), the ultimate Rod Machado demonstration of in-flight nerves began when the and a few are downright whacky. Fortunately, there is a flight instructor who examiner requested a steep turn. “We were about is one method that works well and doesn’t involve owns a 180 degrees into the turn,” said the examiner, “when robes or a trip to India. Cessna 150. the student hurled up his breakfast. Were it not for In his book, The Relaxation Response, Dr. Herthe G-force, I might have worn a breakfast burrito. bert Benson published a simple five-step method Thank goodness I didn’t ask [Hurlman] for a stall.” of calming your body that you can use before taking Yeah, he might have gotten the whole enchilada. your checkride. You begin by sitting in a comfortable position Perhaps you’ve never been that nervous on a checkride, but (1), then closing your eyes (2), followed by progressively relaxmany people experience nervousness and discomfort to such a ing all your muscles from feet to face (3). Next, you breathe degree that it inhibits their performance. Interestingly, studies through your nose and think about your breathing. As you show that a little anxiety can enhance your checkride perfor- breathe in and out you say the word “one” silently to yourself mance. Too much, however, certainly works against you. So how (4). Breathe in (say one—or any soothing sound), breathe out can a person deal with performance anxiety on a checkride? (say one) and so on. Continue this exercise for 10 to 20 minutes Here are four strategies that might help. (5). With enough practice, your body will produce the relaxation One of the most effective ways of reducing your precheck- response automatically by breathing to your pace word. And ride anxiety is to actually take the checkride before taking the yes, you can synch your breathing to your pace word at any time checkride. Think of it as déjà preview. If you anticipate a case of during your checkride to induce relaxation. I wouldn’t, however, checkride nerves, give those nerves a trial run by taking a simu- recommend saying your soothing pace word out loud, espelated checkride with an FAA-designated examiner. That’s right. cially if you choose the word, parachute. Contact the examiner several weeks before your checkride and Finally, I’ve saved the most useful technique for last. An see if he or she will fly with you for an interim evaluation of your excellent solution to checkride-itis is to look at the experience flying skills. There’s nothing unethical about doing this. Some from a different perspective. This is somewhat like renting the flight-school-based examiners provide stage-check evalua- movie The Godfather and playing it backwards. Now you see a tions for students before giving them their actual checkride. You story about how a horse gets its head back and the humanitarmight also elect to simulate only the oral examination, or the ian Mafia movement uses baseball bats to heal broken knees. in-flight examination instead of the entire checkride, depending This strategy involves letting go of what you want in order on your degree of anxiety. to get what you want. Think of the checkride as an evaluation Of course you’ll have to negotiate the fee with the examiner, of your ability to be safe, not a pass-or-fail inquisition. After who might charge his hourly instructor rate, or her typical all, you wouldn’t want to fly if you weren’t safe, would you? Of checkride fee. This strategy isn’t for those on a tight budget. course not. You’d be exposing your family and friends to potenEither way, making a checkride dry run (which also means tial harm. That’s why you should see successfully passing the you’re unlikely to throw up on the examiner) is a great way to checkride as a confirmation of your ability to fly safely. If you fail make your actual checkride a less stressful experience. the ride, then a part of you should feel grateful about knowing Another strategy used to reduce performance anxiety that a wise DE spotted a deficiency in your flying skills. Correct involves drugs. Wait, don’t call the DEA. These are actually that flaw and you can then have confidence that a representalegitimate prescription drugs in the beta blocker category. Beta tive of the FAA believes in your ability to pilot an airplane safely. blockers help reduce the body’s reaction to adrenaline, which So four strategies for dealing with checkride anxiety. While can produce the feelings associated with situational stress. one size doesn’t fit all, one size is sure to fit you. Reduce those feelings and you diminish your anxiety. A 1982 study of more than 2,000 symphony orchestra musicians found Visit the author’s blog (www.rodmachado.com). 28 • DECEMBER
2011

AOPA PILOT •


http://www.rodmachado.com

AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011

AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011
Contents
President’s Position
Hanger Talk
AOPA Media
AOPA Action
Letters
Waypoints
Proficient Pilot
License to Learn
Pilot Counsel
Fly Well
Pilot Briefing
Rally GA: The Green Flight Challenge
Power Scout
The LSA Starfighter
2012 Tougher Than a Tornado Sweepstakes: The Maine Event
A Window to the World
Honoring the Tuskegee Airmen
Safety Pilot Landmark Accident: Owatonna Overshoot
Challenges: River Dance
Lost Universe
Having a Blast
Avionics: Syn Vis for the iPad
Products: An Array of Apps
Dogfight: For the Holidays
Never Again
Fly-Outs
Fly by Wire
Pilots
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - Cover2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 1
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - Contents
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - President’s Position
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 5
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - Hanger Talk
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 7
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 8
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 9
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - AOPA Media
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 11
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - AOPA Action
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 13
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 14
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 15
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 17
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 16
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 18
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 19
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - Letters
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 21
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 22
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 23
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - Waypoints
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 25
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - Proficient Pilot
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 27
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - License to Learn
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 29
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - Pilot Counsel
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 31
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - Fly Well
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 33
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - Pilot Briefing
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 35
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 36
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 37
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 38
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 39
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 40
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 40a
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 40b
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - Rally GA: The Green Flight Challenge
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 42
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 43
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - Power Scout
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 45
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 46
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 47
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 48
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 49
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 50
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 51
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - The LSA Starfighter
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 53
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 54
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 55
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 56
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 57
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 58
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 59
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 2012 Tougher Than a Tornado Sweepstakes: The Maine Event
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 61
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 62
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 63
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 64
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 65
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - A Window to the World
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 67
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - Honoring the Tuskegee Airmen
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 69
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 70
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 71
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 72
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 73
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - Safety Pilot Landmark Accident: Owatonna Overshoot
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 75
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 76
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 77
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 78
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - Challenges: River Dance
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 80
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 81
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 82
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 83
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - Lost Universe
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 85
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 86
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 87
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 88
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - Having a Blast
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 90
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 91
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 92
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - Avionics: Syn Vis for the iPad
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 94
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 95
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 96
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - I1
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - I2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - Products: An Array of Apps
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 98
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 99
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - Dogfight: For the Holidays
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 101
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - Never Again
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 103
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 104
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 105
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - Fly-Outs
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 107
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - Fly by Wire
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 109
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 110
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - 111
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - Pilots
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - Cover3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2011 - Cover4
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