Pre-checkride jitters

[OrcasC180]

I have my commercial checkride this afternoon and looking for any last-minute advice on how to conquere the pre-checkride jitters. I'm nervous because I'm taking the checkride in a 172RG which I'm just not as comfortable in as my own plane (which is unforunately not complex). While I know I can do all the maneuvers, I'm worried about not being very smooth (since the gutless cutlass flys like a tank compared to my 180) or doing something stupid. I know there's nothing anyone can say or do that will change the checkride at this point, but I needed to vent.

-DJ

 

[Flechas]

Good luck on the ride man, don't worry too much, just do everything the same way you've been practicing,, let us know how it goes!!

 

[banned username 2]

If you are comfortable with all the manuevers and have all the knowledge you need, you'll be fine...

Don't think of it as a test, but as an opportunity to demonstrate you knowledge and skills...

Good Luck!

 

[RichardRambone]

I always just try and ignore the fact that theres a check airman there. Just pretend its a normal non aviation type that asking you to show him a steep turn or whatever. And keep your mind off it completely for the day before so you wont overworry. Just go out there and do your thing and get er done. GL.

 

[nosehair]

I can do all the maneuvers, I'm worried about not being very smooth (since the gutless cutlass flys like a tank compared to my 180) or doing something stupid.

??!!...Dood, yer a tailwheel 180 pilot an' yer worried about blowin' it in a cutlass??!! C'mon, man, yer blowin' the image!! You're a tailwheel pilot!! You can jump tall buildings in a single bound...

 

[OrcasC180]

You can jump tall buildings in a single bound...

Have you ever tried to get over a tall building in a Cutlass?

-DJ

 

[Lead Sled]

When it comes to the oral...

Keep your answers simple and to the point. For example, if they ask you the battery voltage, don't describe the entire electrical system, just tell them the battery voltage. If they want you to describe the electrical system they'll ask you to. Don't tell him/her "more than you know", because it will be readily apparent and give them a reason to start probing you. As I said, if they want more detail, they will ask you for it. If you are asked a question that you don't know, don't panic - simply say you don't know the answer. (Hopefully, it won't be in an area that you really ought to know and understand.) Many examiners will ask questions like that to see if you know where and how to look up the kind of stuff that you aren't going to remember out in the real world.

Don't sweat the checkride too much. (Sure, that's easy for me to say.) Just remember that, to one degree or another, your CFI is also on the line here (The FAA gets interested in CFI's with low pass/fail ratios.) and he/she isn't going to recommend you until they are 100% satisfied that you're ready. When I'm prepping a student for a checkride, my oral and final training flight with the student is MUCH more difficult than anything an examiner will require. Most examiners have the point of view that all they are looking for is to verify the instructor's recommendation that you are ready for the license. They're not looking for perfection - no one has ever flown a perfect flight - just safety and compliance with the requirements. Have fun and be sure to let us know how it goes.

'Sled

 

[OrcasC180]

Success!

The examiner wasn't pretty brutal about some of the bad habits I've picked up in the last few years since my last checkride, but in the end I passed. My lazy-eights were horrible (the examiners words, not mine) and my eights-on-pylons were barely passable -- in both cases I was banking to quickly. All my landings were good except my short-field landing got a bit too high on the sink rate after clearing the "obstacle". The examiner and I had a disagreement on whether power simply controlled airspeed (the examiners position) or controls airspeed and lift (my position) -- in the end I shut up (probably later than I should have).

Thanks for all the kind words earlier.

-DJ

 

[Kream926]

did ya bust any tolorrences on any of those manouvers

 

[imacdog]

The examiner wasn't pretty brutal about some of the bad habits I've picked up in the last few years since my last checkride, but in the end I passed. My lazy-eights were horrible (the examiners words, not mine) and my eights-on-pylons were barely passable -- in both cases I was banking to quickly. All my landings were good except my short-field landing got a bit too high on the sink rate after clearing the "obstacle". The examiner and I had a disagreement on whether power simply controlled airspeed (the examiners position) or controls airspeed and lift (my position) -- in the end I shut up (probably later than I should have).

Thanks for all the kind words earlier.

-DJ

Congrats man. Island flying is great up there; I had a lot of fun flying the green 206s around the Juans, especially in the winter.