MEI checkride

[flyer172r]

I'm going to be taking my MEI checkride pretty soon, and I was wondering what people have experienced on it. From what I've heard it isn't too hard, but I'm curious as to what people have been asked on the oral, and how hard the actual flight part was.

 

[guido411]

Flyer,

IMHO, easiest checkride I ever took. You've already demonstrated "instructional compentancy" and you've already shown you can fly a twin. Checkride should be an oral with mostly systems knowledge, perhaps with a drawing. Flying should be a multi-checkride from the right seat with minimal hood work. If you're getting signed off by your CFI you will have NO problem. Have fun, most valuble and most funCFI ticket I had also.

 

[C425Driver]

It was one of the easier checkrides that I've taken. It wasn't a "cash 'n carry" deal. I prepared myself as best I could and my instructor did a great job. I had several hundred hours of dual and a fair amount of multi time by the time I took the checkride so I had some good relevant experience. The examiner kept the oral to realistic topics and offered a lot of advice from his years of experience. I got a lot out of the oral. The flight was straight forward. He didn't ask for anything that wasn't in the PTS.

Good luck on your checkride! Prepare for it like it's your intial CFI ride and you'll do fine. Let us know how it goes.

C425Driver

 

[flyer172r]

If I prepared for the MEI like I prepared for my initial CFI I'd be so busy I'd fail all the classes I'm in right now because I wouldn't have time to go to class or do homework.

 

[kj6991]

c172

Just like any other checkride, if you prepare well you'll do just fine. It is one of the more easier rides in my opinion. but after all, you are in a twin, and the examiner is going to make sure you show good instructional knowledge on how to teach in the twin and make good safe decisions. I got hit on the following topics from what i can remember. good luck

systems,v-speeds,red-line/blue-line,emergencies,feathering,lots on Vmc,SE stuff

 

[User546]

All the oral was about on my MEI ride was teaching in depth three or four select aircraft systems, and followed up with Vmc, and the factors which effect it in great detail. Probably 3/4 of the oral evolved around the Vmc factors.

The flight portion was similiar to the original multi-engine ride. Taught a short field takeoff, engine failure on upwind, securing of engine, Vmc Demo, Vmc Drag Demo, engine fire / emergency descent, and a stall. The examiner caught me off guard during the stall when he kicked it over and put us into a spin followed by a quick recovery. Then the ride was over, and went back to the airport for a normal landing.

Sounds like a lot, but the ride only lasted 1.1, and the oral was about 45 minutes to an hour.

Hope this helps.

 

[F16fixer]

Took mine 2 months ago. Easiest time I ever did. That doesn't mean that your examiner couldn't be harder than the one I had. Know the order of VMC, make sure your legs are in shape, and relax. If you already have your initial, then they normaly don't go over FOI again. Be able to explain the prop system backwards and forward, but I'm sure you instructor has already told you all of this.

Don't instructors teach for the checkride anymore?

 

[ProLine4]

172R- Its been a few years, but this might help. I am assuming 55908 and a ride with LG. Silver Fox likes the cash, it saves him the trip to the bank and the old lady can't take her cut.
Oral was about 90 minutes, the cornerstone of the discussion was the 12 items, but he didn't require you to write them out.The flight was 1.0 with him flying for at least .2 of it so you can be the MEI and teach. Make sure he shows you what happens when a student buries the wrong pedal into the floor.

 

[HMR]

The examiner caught me off guard during the stall when he kicked it over and put us into a spin followed by a quick recovery.

Does it say anywhere in your AFM that the plane was spin certified? Probably not. Your examiner decided to be a test pilot on your ride. Bad idea.

Flyer172r-I sent many sudents to Multi checkrides. The CMEL and MEI ride are almost identical. Usually, the oral was all about "red line" and the flight was all about "blue line". GOOD LUCK!

 

[User546]

Does it say anywhere in your AFM that the plane was spin certified? Probably not. Your examiner decided to be a test pilot on your ride. Bad idea.

Interesting you asked. I was in a Piper Seminole PA44, and prior to our flight he asked me was spins allowed in it. I immediately answered to him no, and he then had me back it up with the POH.

When he did that in the airplane I was petrified cause I realized what he was going to do about a split second before it happened. The spin and recovery characteristics were just like the Cessna I had done my spin training in (thank goodness!!).

Come to find out later, as I quietly told other of my training buddies what had happened, they started revealing that the same thing had happened to them on other occasions as well in the Seminole. This particular examiner I guess is an accident waiting to happen. He's a very high time airline pilot that does these checkrides on the side, and he's quite proud of his ability and experience. This was the last ride I did with him after that!

 

[HMR]

He's a very high time airline pilot that does these checkrides on the side, and he's quite proud of his ability and experience.

Those are some of the worst guys I've ever flown with.

Am I the only CFI who dreaded trying to walk 30,000hr airline captains through a checkout in a light single or twin?

 

[nosehair]

The examiner caught me off guard during the stall when he kicked it over and put us into a spin followed by a quick recovery.

Therein, young people, is the crux of the problem: He caught you "off guard".

No CFI applicant should ever be caught "off guard" with a student.
Checkrides, especially CFI checkrides, and especially especially multi-engine checkrides should not be all planned and rehearsed like, "OK, now, I'm going to 'accidentally' put the airplane in a potentially unsafe condition, and you, Mr. Instructor should prepare to prevent this from occuring".

Do you really think that student training is always gonna be like that? Thank the man for waking you up! Maybe now you will be a little more prepared for that event when it occurs in real life. And it will.

...mmm, I don't mean that in a mean-spirited way, but I hope you can see the value in being exposed to real life situations in the training environment.

I'm not sticking up for the individual examiner who did it, because I cannot tell the real reason why. If he was really trying to help you by showing you something that most instructor trainees don't get in training, then he has made the flying community safer. If he is really just an old fart gettin' his jollies with a young inexperienced newbie, then he is an accident waiting to happen and his attitude will poison the flying community.

As to the safety of it: Can you say for sure that you went all the way around at least one turn, or was it something over 90 degrees before you recovered? I know, for me, 135 degrees in a light twin sure would seem like all the way over on my back. I don't spin twins, but I sure push the wrong rudder in stalls, and expect the CFI applicant to be right on top of it and catch it before it gets 90 degrees.

 

[User546]

Therein, young people, is the crux of the problem: He caught you "off guard".

...Thank the man for waking you up!

Your 100% right, and he sure did. It was a lesson that was not lost on this MEI-To-Be.

Whether it's a 2 hour student pilot, or 300 hour commercial pilot, I always mentally prepare for "what could" before every manuever or demonstration. I don't have a whole lot of instruction under my belt (probably under 100) but I've seen enough in those hours to know to always be mentally alert and never get laxed in the cockpit!

 

[HMR]

Therein, young people, is the crux of the problem: He caught you "off guard".

Puhleeez. If some examiner decided to throw us into a spin on a multi checkride it would catch me off guard too.

Thank the man for waking you up! Maybe now you will be a little more prepared for that event when it occurs in real life. And it will.

I only have 5-600hrs of dual given in twins so I'll admit my MEI experience is limited. However, in the few hundred stalls I've done in the Duchess, Seneca, Twin Cessna's and King Air's I've never come close to a fully developed spin.

How many students have you had kick the rudder to the floor and try to spin the plane while practicing stalls in a twin?

 

[JediNein]

My oral for the MEI consisted of one question, "Did your flight instructor cover the topics?"

Have a DPE like the above really cheats the studying that you did for the checkride.

Fly SAFE!
Jedi Nein

 

[AAflyer]

I have had the occasional airline pilot scare the hell out me, however I have had more 300-500 hour know-it-alls scare me more.

AA

 

[HMR]

I have had the occasional airline pilot scare the hell out me, however I have had more 300-500 hour know-it-alls scare me more.

AA

Agreed, and my instructor (now a captain) could tell a few stories about my first hours.

 

[AAflyer]

HMR,

I went to another field to get checked out, and tried to leave what I do out of it until the local club and CFI checked my license. Then all I heard was oh no I will probably have to change my lesson plan, you will need more time yada yada. I smiled and got in.

After 10 minutes airborne he looked at me puzzled. He never really asked if I stayed current, nor did I mention I fly GA often now, as well as being an ASC and applying for the Sport Pilot DE position.

I think it is funny how some of us are looked at when we fly the airlines, you would think we couldn't tie our shoes. It is a little amusing, and a little annoying.

Fly Safe,

AA

 

[bobbysamd]

MEI practical

I'm going to be taking my MEI checkride pretty soon, and I was wondering what people have experienced on it. From what I've heard it isn't too hard, but I'm curious as to what people have been asked on the oral, and how hard the actual flight part was.

The MEI is not too bad. The flight is essentially a Commercial Multi ride out of the right seat. The oral will consist of Vmc in depth and aircraft systems. I would only warn you to review the FOI because some examiners ask questions about it, even though you've been tested on it at least once previously. Don't ask me why.

Good luck with your practical.

 

[pilotmyf]

Those are some of the worst guys I've ever flown with.

Am I the only CFI who dreaded trying to walk 30,000hr airline captains through a checkout in a light single or twin?

Amen,
"please don't flare 50 feet above the ground in this airplane"
"rotate at 55kts, you are now at 85kts"
"yes capt, you can actually let the stall break"
"capt, i understand that you took a pay cut, but do you know what us CFIs make?"
"an ils at Vne is really not recommended"
"it's been how long since you have done a NDB approach"
"How many wives have you had, **CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED**"

Some of the worst and best checkouts I've ever done, none of these capts were marginal. Terrible or great.

 

[pilotmyf]

Therein, young people, is the crux of the problem: He caught you "off guard".

No CFI applicant should ever be caught "off guard" with a student.
Checkrides, especially CFI checkrides, and especially especially multi-engine checkrides should not be all planned and rehearsed like, "OK, now, I'm going to 'accidentally' put the airplane in a potentially unsafe condition, and you, Mr. Instructor should prepare to prevent this from occuring".

Do you really think that student training is always gonna be like that? Thank the man for waking you up! Maybe now you will be a little more prepared for that event when it occurs in real life. And it will.

...mmm, I don't mean that in a mean-spirited way, but I hope you can see the value in being exposed to real life situations in the training environment.

I'm not sticking up for the individual examiner who did it, because I cannot tell the real reason why. If he was really trying to help you by showing you something that most instructor trainees don't get in training, then he has made the flying community safer. If he is really just an old fart gettin' his jollies with a young inexperienced newbie, then he is an accident waiting to happen and his attitude will poison the flying community.

As to the safety of it: Can you say for sure that you went all the way around at least one turn, or was it something over 90 degrees before you recovered? I know, for me, 135 degrees in a light twin sure would seem like all the way over on my back. I don't spin twins, but I sure push the wrong rudder in stalls, and expect the CFI applicant to be right on top of it and catch it before it gets 90 degrees.

Hey guys,
we have finnaly found the only CFI that has never been caught off guard by a student or even examiner. Congratulations Dynamo!!!!!!

 

[minitour]

"an ils at Vne is really not recommended"

dang.....you sure?

-mini

 

[MTpilot]

Vne

I though thats what the red line was for.

 

[minitour]

I though thats what the red line was for.

I always thought it was more of a goal than a limitation...

 

[pilotmyf]

I though thats what the red line was for.

Those darn twins have two red lines, I'll never know the difference!!!!

 

[pilotmyf]

HMR,

I went to another field to get checked out, and tried to leave what I do out of it until the local club and CFI checked my license. Then all I heard was oh no I will probably have to change my lesson plan, you will need more time yada yada. I smiled and got in.

After 10 minutes airborne he looked at me puzzled. He never really asked if I stayed current, nor did I mention I fly GA often now, as well as being an ASC and applying for the Sport Pilot DE position.

I think it is funny how some of us are looked at when we fly the airlines, you would think we couldn't tie our shoes. It is a little amusing, and a little annoying.

Fly Safe,

AA

Never make judgements before the logbook is reviewed, after that it's a pretty clear picture. 9/10 times the logbook does the talking for the pilot.

 

[HMR]

As I've said before-NEVER fly the Duchess at night while only using the red overhead light for illumination. The red lines on the ASI disappear.

In a descent you'll feel a buffett around Vne +20...at least that's what I've been told.

 

[HMR]

Never make judgements before the logbook is reviewed, after that it's a pretty clear picture. 9/10 times the logbook does the talking for the pilot.

When's the last time you saw a 30,000hr 777 capt. with a logbook? I used to teach near a 777 base and got that scenario a few times.

 

[pilotmyf]

When's the last time you saw a 30,000hr 777 capt. with a logbook? I used to teach near a 777 base and got that scenario a few times.

I always see them come in for a checkout with no logbook, and then take their family up without logging that landings-----I guess they can buy their way out of it , even with the 30% paycut.