CFI checkride this Friday
- Thread starter Kmaceri
- Start date
Gonzo
Well-Known Member
Who is your examiner?
I have no clue, Falcon Aviation has set up everything. I'm going to get the guys name tomorrow and number so I can contact him to confirm everything and get his weight for the weight and balance of the a/c.
PlayaSteelo
New Member
We're rootin for ya! 
When (not if) but when you pass, could you please post some details and if possible could you PM me about your expirence at the Falcon CFI program.
Go get em!
When (not if) but when you pass, could you please post some details and if possible could you PM me about your expirence at the Falcon CFI program.
Go get em!
91-3A
Well-Known Member
If I may be so bold... I did my II initial with the FSDO in KC. Super cool guy - Greg Shetterly, he was a retired airline/retired corporate/owned a flight school with his wife/aerobatic pilot. It started at 7 and I was there waiting on him. I was in a suit & tie - the first thing out of his mouth was, "You look better than I do, you should apply with us..." We went to the conference room that I had already set up. As we are walking through the door he literally says, "Wow, I guess you're ready." I had spread across the table everything I had brought along with (which filled one of those blue plastic tubs from WalMart), organized L to R from the beginning of the checkride to the end. First, the paperwork and logbook for myself and the logbooks for the plane were out and broken down into what I needed and didn't - everything was tabbed, next was any FAA pub or PTS I could get my hands on (and even a couple extra) and they were all stacked neatly, then I had various instructional aids (one was a hastily put-together P-51 model - another was a functional gyro from a torpedo), and lastly anything that an instructor might use to teach in a pre-/post-flight brief (dry-erase markers, erasers, etc.) It was overkill and superfluous after a certain point, but all that stuff and preparation and organization let him know within the first two minutes that I was serious and dedicated to being an instructor. When we got through the paperwork and BS, I started into the FOI. I didn't even let him ask me questions, I just lit into the first task in the PTS and didn't stop talking until he was finally tired of hearing it. He literally stopped me, said "I know you know your information", then asked me one question on FOI because I had already covered almost all of it. It was a good oral, then off to get some grub at 2p and come back for the flight. By the time we got back the winds were up and crazy so I waved it off. Crappy part is that 30 mins after he left, the winds died - completely. Anyway, he rearranged his schedule and did the flight the next morning when the frost melted off the wings. Standard flight, not too bumpy, winds out of the South at 29 kts. Showed him unusual attitudes - demonstrated, then he wanted me to put him into a U/A to "make sure he could recover correctly". "Ok sir, eyes closed and chin on your chest please..." Pitch up, pitch down, pwr up, roll left, pwr out, *full flaps*, pitch down..."your aircraft, sir..." "My aircraft" "Your aircraft" Proper recovery..."Ok, only showing 65 kts...mix rich, full throttle...huh, only 65 kts...configuration - OH, FLAPS!!!" HAHAHA...took him about 15 seconds to find it...of course I didn't laugh at that moment. Anyway, I messed up my VOR tracking demonstration because I was trying to get set up for the hold and those damned south winds...nearly went full-scale...told him it was a common error - this is how you recover. Did a VOR-A, vectors for ILS which he flew as I taught, then he gave me the controls after he did the circle-to-land and said "just don't scare me..." Uneventful landing and debrief right there in the plane on the ramp...he told me my VOR tracking was terrible but I recovered, gave me a few extra pointers, printed off my temporary, forgot to sign my logbook, and I was off like a terd of hurtles. Great ride, enjoyed it immensly, and learned quite a bit. My biggest points - look professional, DO NOT LOOK LIKE A BAG OF CRAP, wear a suit and tie...be organized and show him you have lots of tools and you know how to use them to get your point across...start talking about all that information that you know is rattling around in your head, just let it spill out and make him get tired of you talking, you can control the checkride if you do it in an intelligent way that moves down the PTS and shows him you know your stuff...but most of all, try to relax and find a way to crack a smile on his face. Those FSDO guys aren't really as bad as everyone says. Hope this helps and hope I'm not too late...which I am sometimes...but, now that I'm a Flight Instructor, it seems like I'm always a dollar short... Good luck!
PeterPilot
New Member
Excellent post by 91-3A. Let me just throw in a small tweak and a different opinion regarding dress.
Know the correct way to transfer the flight controls. It is written in the Airplane Flying Handbook, the Aviation Instructor's Handbook, and the PTS. It's not "your airplane".
On the subject of dress, don't wear anything that you will be uncomfortable wearing. Nice slacks, a shirt with a collar, and a tie is fine and don't hesitate to take the tie off when you get in the airplane.
Know the correct way to transfer the flight controls. It is written in the Airplane Flying Handbook, the Aviation Instructor's Handbook, and the PTS. It's not "your airplane".
On the subject of dress, don't wear anything that you will be uncomfortable wearing. Nice slacks, a shirt with a collar, and a tie is fine and don't hesitate to take the tie off when you get in the airplane.
c172captain
Well-Known Member
Howd the ride go?!?!?
TOTALLY :rawk::rawk::rawk::rawk::rawk::rawk: Its time to go and celebrate!
c172captain
Well-Known Member
Unless I read it incorrectly, you're not done yet!!! Pre-mature celebration will jinx it!
91-3A
Well-Known Member
PeterPilot - Thanks. I do know that the correct terminology goes "I/you have the flight controls" and do use that in my instruction...I was just looking at how long that msg was and trying to abbreviate (speaking of which, why is that such a long word?!?.):crazy:
Maurus, sorry about the paragraphs...see previous paragraph - same thing. In any case, I hope I "may" have brought some good topics to the table in your opinion...:banghead::whatever:
PeterPilot, I disagree with the dress. I have heard from the mouths of too many examiners that they want a suit & tie. Comfort is obvious - don't get your high school prom tux out and try to squeeze into it. But the story of the day is that you need to show a near over-kill on professionalism to the (usually) much older examiner in the day and age of people wearing shorts and a t-shirt to church.... Btw, jacket comes off for the flight, tie doesn't...in my little opinion.
Kmaceri...great job...keep up the energy for the flight...:nana2::rawk::bandit:
Don't forget to break it down as tho he had never been in a plane...before you step into the aircraft, point out the rudder pedals and show him the toe brakes. Explain that during taxi, pushing on the left pedal makes the plane go left and vice versa. After those basics are squared away, get in and show him how to fly. I'm sure you knew all that, just throwing it out there. Good luck!!
sdfcvoh
This is my Custom Title
I got my flying portion of the checkride tomorrow!! I'll be flying in the morning to refresh myself and then my check ride is at 1:30. I'll have some nice gusty winds for the ride as well. WOOOO HOOO
Be safe and precise. Communicate.
We're rooting for you!!!!!!!!!!