Cheating on an FAA knowledge test

Plus the ATP requires you be of good moral character, if you cheated on an FAA test i don't think they would approve that rating.
 
Maybe he thought he could use one of his lifelines and "phone a friend".

Just as Letterman always says, "There is no off position on the genius switch."
 
I am not going to comment on the cheating thing but, I just want to illustrate the different ways to study for an FFA written. Way back when I took my flight engineer written (yup, airlines used to require that) I went to ATP to take it. Along with myself there were two USAF KC-135 guys and one other civilian that flew Chieftains. I was just a lowly CFI at the time.

The way ATP prepares you for the test is that you take practice tests and study for the first half of the day. Later, you take the test. So, I spent all of my study time memorizing all of the answers and coming up with various mnemonic devices. Things like, "all questions about W&B are C".

When it came time for the test I breezed through in fifteen minutes and got a 98. I decided to hang around the school and chat with the instructors there who were friends of mine while I waited for the other guys to finish.

The Chieftain guy was out in another fifteen minutes, did basically the same thing as me and scored in the high 90's as well. TWO HOURS later the USAF guys came out. Instead of just memorizing answers they actually tried to learn the stuff (which was pretty archaic even then). They both scored in the low 90's.

Who took the test correctly?
 
Good story

Cheating on a written? oy...what's the old saying, "Superior pilots use their superior judgement...."
 
saragousa75 said:
Plus the ATP requires you be of good moral character, if you cheated on an FAA test i don't think they would approve that rating.
Click to expand...


Actually thats a requirement for every cert. "Sorry sir, your an •, I can't be your flight instructor anymore.":laff:
 
Capt. Caucasian said:
I am not going to comment on the cheating thing but, I just want to illustrate the different ways to study for an FFA written. Way back when I took my flight engineer written (yup, airlines used to require that) I went to ATP to take it. Along with myself there were two USAF KC-135 guys and one other civilian that flew Chieftains. I was just a lowly CFI at the time.

The way ATP prepares you for the test is that you take practice tests and study for the first half of the day. Later, you take the test. So, I spent all of my study time memorizing all of the answers and coming up with various mnemonic devices. Things like, "all questions about W&B are C".

When it came time for the test I breezed through in fifteen minutes and got a 98. I decided to hang around the school and chat with the instructors there who were friends of mine while I waited for the other guys to finish.

The Chieftain guy was out in another fifteen minutes, did basically the same thing as me and scored in the high 90's as well. TWO HOURS later the USAF guys came out. Instead of just memorizing answers they actually tried to learn the stuff (which was pretty archaic even then). They both scored in the low 90's.

Who took the test correctly?
Click to expand...

The guys that actually made an effort to understand the material and be able to apply it rather than just memorizing answers.
 
trafficinsight said:
The guys that actually made an effort to understand the material and be able to apply it rather than just memorizing answers.
Click to expand...

OldTownPilot said:
Yeah, I'd much rather have a student get a 80-90 and know the material than a 90-100 and memorize the material.
Click to expand...

For the Private and Instrument writtens maybe. However, being able to figure out floor loading for a DC9 probably isn't something that is going to help you in the future too much.
 
BobDDuck said:
For the Private and Instrument writtens maybe. However, being able to figure out floor loading for a DC9 probably isn't something that is going to help you in the future too much.
Click to expand...

Bingo. In the ten years I have been flying 121 transport category jet airplanes I have never used anything from that test. I have barely used anything from the ATP test. The most useful thing in that one is knowing what the slowest airspeed ATC can assign you when departing a terminal area (230).
 
BobDDuck said:
For the Private and Instrument writtens maybe. However, being able to figure out floor loading for a DC9 probably isn't something that is going to help you in the future too much.
Click to expand...

True, I've only dealt with private, instrument, and commercial students, so thats what my perspective is.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top