SuperCubRick
Well-Known Member
Well I'm half way done as of today!
Got the oral portion out of the way, took about 4 hours. The ceiling wasn't quite high enough to go fly necessary approaches. We're going to do the flying portion on the 31st at 9 a.m. Said we'll just do BAI, unusual attitudes and the two approaches and do one of the missed holds.
The examiner was very laid back with a good personality, he certainly didn't give that examiner vibe, whatever that is - you'll know it when you experience it,
He's 33, ex-airline and I think he said a current charter pilot.
I was pretty surprised at the ease of the ground portion. It started out by making sure all the paper work was in order for the IACRA and that the plane was certified for the flight by going over the maintenance logs - be able to find in them, the ELT check, pitot/static, transponder, 100 hour, annual, AD's complied with, etc. I was sweating to find the transponder check, I found the pitot/static and the sticker in the logbook explaining they had been serviced according to the FARs. I brain farted and it took me a few minutes to realize that even though it didn't specifically say "checked transponder" in the mx log, that the note in it stated the FAR in which the transponder was checked in accordance with.
Then he asked me to qualify myself to show that I had all the necessary endorsements and logbook entries to take the checkride, that went smoothly. Pulled out the AC61-65E and referenced the FARs, also showed him the update in regards to the 60 day endorsement, it's now stated as 2 calender months instead of 60 days. Talked about what an instructor needs to write in a students logbook for flight and ground training, is there a minimum hour ground training required for IFR flight (no, just entries stating you covered the required ground training as stated in the FARs), etc. Discussed instructor records of training, and how long you should keep them.
Then he asked me to do a longhand weight and balance for the airplane and showed him that we were within limits.
Then he asked me about visual scanning techniques and I gave a brief lecture about collision avoidance, the conditions in which most mid-air collisions occur and the importance of an effective scan to mitigate the risk. I mentioned that the FAA recommended scanning 10* segments of the sky for at least one second to facilitate proper focusing and detection - explained empty field myopia. He asked me to find where I had read "10*" - so I went to the index of the FAR/AIM (look under collision avoidance) and found it and showed it to him, he was just making sure I knew how to look up information.
Then it was into the Fundamentals of Instructing, it was more of a guided discussion, where he'd ask me about parts of each of the 4 selected FOI tasks - he gave me scenarios involving a student or pilot (if I were giving an instrument proficiency check to an already rated pilot) and asked how I would handle each one, tying it into the FOI material. I emphasized teaching good ADM and CRM throughout a students training, and especially assessing those skills during an IPC.
Then onto recency of experience requirements for IFR flight, the 6 approaches in the preceeding 6 months, what qualified as an approach, can the field be VFR but you're IFR on the initial segment of the approach, does it still count, etc. Does an IPC reset the currency clock, etc. Also looked this up in the FARs and showed him.
Then taught him about the pitot/static system and vaccum system, how each of the instruments work and what they do when they fail. Discussed the importance of a thorough preflight and continual instrument cross check. Showed him handouts that illustrated each instruments internal workings and their systems. I referenced the Aero Peru 757 accident where they took off with the static ports covered with tape and crashed - as well as the Southwest 727 that had the pitot tube ice up and they stalled it / spun in because they thought it was mach buffet and obviously didn't think about what kind of airspeed indication an iced up pitot tube/drainhole would give while in a climb. Also discussed the importance of being proficient in partial panel flying, and how the symptoms of a vaccum system failure are very insidious and could lead to an unusual attitude if you're not crosschecking.
Talked about the importance of notifying ATC telling them you are no-gyro/vaccum failure and to not hesitate to declare an emergency if you think it's warranted - discussed an accident that resulted in a misunderstanding between the pilot and ATC regarding the severity of a no-gyro situation, a lot of controllers do not know exactly what a vaccum failure means and what a pilot needs in that situation.
Then asked if the airplane (Grumman AA-5B Tiger) had any anti or de-ice equipment. I explained that it only had pitot heat (anti-ice) and carb heat (de-ice) and explained the difference between anti ice and de-icing equipment. Anti ice is designed to prevent the accumulation in the first place, and de-ice is to remove accumulated ice.
Then he asked me to teach him about VOR's, so I went into why we use them, their operating characteristics and how to use them, and gave him some handouts. Explained the importance of being proficient with maintaining your SA with the use of VOR's, and to always know where you are and where you're going.
Then onto logbook entries/endorsements - he just said that we had already covered that task when we started, I was somewhat surprised he didn't have me teach him about this, but I didn't complain, lol.
Then it was to brief him on a maneuver to be performed in flight, he picked holding patterns. So I asked him if we had covered the in depth ground discussion of holding patterns and he said yea, just teach him the entries - so that was a breeze. Again I was surprised at how he didn't really ask me to go into detail. I mentioned the detailed aspects of it anyway, because that's what I was prepared to teach, had handouts for him to better visualize and drew on the whiteboard.
Then we took a break and went to the Wendy's down the street for lunch, talked about flying, how fun tailwheel airplanes are, etc. I joked that if we got back to fly, I was going to taxi out with the foggles and get my 10-9 low vis taxi chart out, he thought that was pretty funny - airline pilot friend of mine recommended that one, if the examiner had a good sense of humor, which he did.
When we got back, it was onto weather information - and this one really surprised me - I was prepared to give a detailed explanation complete with handouts, of each of the available weather products and services and how and when to use each one.
Instead, he just said to show him how I would check the weather for todays flight, and make a go/no-go decision - so I logged onto NOAA Aviation Weather and looked at all pertinent information and decided the ceilings were too low to shoot the intended approaches (they must be flown in VFR conditions on the checkride). Also explained the difference between an official (FSS briefing, DUAT(s) and an unofficial briefing from other sources; internet, wx channel, fltplan.com, etc.
He said that I did a very nice job with everything so far. It was pretty straightforward and much less intense than I had expected, I was way over prepared but I like that, I was prepared for anything he might have thrown at me. I have ~1,200 pages of reference material and lesson plans in two 3" binders, along with all my FAA handbooks I brought with me.
This was a long post! Will update with a debrief of the flight portion on Wed.
Got the oral portion out of the way, took about 4 hours. The ceiling wasn't quite high enough to go fly necessary approaches. We're going to do the flying portion on the 31st at 9 a.m. Said we'll just do BAI, unusual attitudes and the two approaches and do one of the missed holds.
The examiner was very laid back with a good personality, he certainly didn't give that examiner vibe, whatever that is - you'll know it when you experience it,
I was pretty surprised at the ease of the ground portion. It started out by making sure all the paper work was in order for the IACRA and that the plane was certified for the flight by going over the maintenance logs - be able to find in them, the ELT check, pitot/static, transponder, 100 hour, annual, AD's complied with, etc. I was sweating to find the transponder check, I found the pitot/static and the sticker in the logbook explaining they had been serviced according to the FARs. I brain farted and it took me a few minutes to realize that even though it didn't specifically say "checked transponder" in the mx log, that the note in it stated the FAR in which the transponder was checked in accordance with.
Then he asked me to qualify myself to show that I had all the necessary endorsements and logbook entries to take the checkride, that went smoothly. Pulled out the AC61-65E and referenced the FARs, also showed him the update in regards to the 60 day endorsement, it's now stated as 2 calender months instead of 60 days. Talked about what an instructor needs to write in a students logbook for flight and ground training, is there a minimum hour ground training required for IFR flight (no, just entries stating you covered the required ground training as stated in the FARs), etc. Discussed instructor records of training, and how long you should keep them.
Then he asked me to do a longhand weight and balance for the airplane and showed him that we were within limits.
Then he asked me about visual scanning techniques and I gave a brief lecture about collision avoidance, the conditions in which most mid-air collisions occur and the importance of an effective scan to mitigate the risk. I mentioned that the FAA recommended scanning 10* segments of the sky for at least one second to facilitate proper focusing and detection - explained empty field myopia. He asked me to find where I had read "10*" - so I went to the index of the FAR/AIM (look under collision avoidance) and found it and showed it to him, he was just making sure I knew how to look up information.
Then it was into the Fundamentals of Instructing, it was more of a guided discussion, where he'd ask me about parts of each of the 4 selected FOI tasks - he gave me scenarios involving a student or pilot (if I were giving an instrument proficiency check to an already rated pilot) and asked how I would handle each one, tying it into the FOI material. I emphasized teaching good ADM and CRM throughout a students training, and especially assessing those skills during an IPC.
Then onto recency of experience requirements for IFR flight, the 6 approaches in the preceeding 6 months, what qualified as an approach, can the field be VFR but you're IFR on the initial segment of the approach, does it still count, etc. Does an IPC reset the currency clock, etc. Also looked this up in the FARs and showed him.
Then taught him about the pitot/static system and vaccum system, how each of the instruments work and what they do when they fail. Discussed the importance of a thorough preflight and continual instrument cross check. Showed him handouts that illustrated each instruments internal workings and their systems. I referenced the Aero Peru 757 accident where they took off with the static ports covered with tape and crashed - as well as the Southwest 727 that had the pitot tube ice up and they stalled it / spun in because they thought it was mach buffet and obviously didn't think about what kind of airspeed indication an iced up pitot tube/drainhole would give while in a climb. Also discussed the importance of being proficient in partial panel flying, and how the symptoms of a vaccum system failure are very insidious and could lead to an unusual attitude if you're not crosschecking.
Talked about the importance of notifying ATC telling them you are no-gyro/vaccum failure and to not hesitate to declare an emergency if you think it's warranted - discussed an accident that resulted in a misunderstanding between the pilot and ATC regarding the severity of a no-gyro situation, a lot of controllers do not know exactly what a vaccum failure means and what a pilot needs in that situation.
Then asked if the airplane (Grumman AA-5B Tiger) had any anti or de-ice equipment. I explained that it only had pitot heat (anti-ice) and carb heat (de-ice) and explained the difference between anti ice and de-icing equipment. Anti ice is designed to prevent the accumulation in the first place, and de-ice is to remove accumulated ice.
Then he asked me to teach him about VOR's, so I went into why we use them, their operating characteristics and how to use them, and gave him some handouts. Explained the importance of being proficient with maintaining your SA with the use of VOR's, and to always know where you are and where you're going.
Then onto logbook entries/endorsements - he just said that we had already covered that task when we started, I was somewhat surprised he didn't have me teach him about this, but I didn't complain, lol.
Then it was to brief him on a maneuver to be performed in flight, he picked holding patterns. So I asked him if we had covered the in depth ground discussion of holding patterns and he said yea, just teach him the entries - so that was a breeze. Again I was surprised at how he didn't really ask me to go into detail. I mentioned the detailed aspects of it anyway, because that's what I was prepared to teach, had handouts for him to better visualize and drew on the whiteboard.
Then we took a break and went to the Wendy's down the street for lunch, talked about flying, how fun tailwheel airplanes are, etc. I joked that if we got back to fly, I was going to taxi out with the foggles and get my 10-9 low vis taxi chart out, he thought that was pretty funny - airline pilot friend of mine recommended that one, if the examiner had a good sense of humor, which he did.
When we got back, it was onto weather information - and this one really surprised me - I was prepared to give a detailed explanation complete with handouts, of each of the available weather products and services and how and when to use each one.
Instead, he just said to show him how I would check the weather for todays flight, and make a go/no-go decision - so I logged onto NOAA Aviation Weather and looked at all pertinent information and decided the ceilings were too low to shoot the intended approaches (they must be flown in VFR conditions on the checkride). Also explained the difference between an official (FSS briefing, DUAT(s) and an unofficial briefing from other sources; internet, wx channel, fltplan.com, etc.
He said that I did a very nice job with everything so far. It was pretty straightforward and much less intense than I had expected, I was way over prepared but I like that, I was prepared for anything he might have thrown at me. I have ~1,200 pages of reference material and lesson plans in two 3" binders, along with all my FAA handbooks I brought with me.
This was a long post! Will update with a debrief of the flight portion on Wed.
