Failed PPL oral...

First off, you did not fail. The only way to fail in aviation is to quit. (or hit something really hard).

No, actually, it is completely possible to fail. It is possible to not meet standards in aviation.

This isn't the Special Olympics where everyone gets a participation ribbon.
 
I really hate examiners that want you do built the airplane and know everything inside and out like an engineer. It's crap and I don't need to know all about it, as long as I got a basic understanding and know what go do when the system fails or the light turns red.

Also got to love the guys that make you second guess yourself on every question...

:yeahthat:

Go to a new examiner. This guy sounds like a real tool.

My PPL oral was a little over an hour with A LOT of bs'ing. A PPL shouldn't have an oral like that.
 
Heh when the exam started he was like "I have 4 different color-coded tests all with different questions you can choose from, 3 are easy, one no one has ever passed before. Pick one."

I thought he was kidding, I wonder if there really is some BS test in his laptop.

You know, I was kidding about the look at the beacon comment, but if he said something like that, maybe he was expecting you to give that as an answer.

It's too bad that switching schools / cfi's is going to be expensive for you, but I think I would. You might try one more time to have a sit-down with them.

If you happened to have had a written test score in the low range, you might consider hitting the books and taking that thing over. Sometimes you might get a more "thorough" oral exam from some DPE's if you don't have a high written score.

Whatever you decide to do, good luck with it, hope you get this past you before the good flying wx ! Oh yeah, you're in CA, never mind !
 
Brutal is all I have to say, I surely would've failed as well. It's no big deal, study the areas, prove em wrong, pass the ride and get the hell out. Best of luck on the ride.
 
Oh, and once you get this mess sorted out... let's put the name of the school on here!
I always like to give people the benefit of the doubt, I'm going to see how they actually handle making sure I pass this next ride. If it involves me shelling out a ton of money when they told me I was good to go on Monday, then you can be sure I'm not going to be happy with them. The way its looking right now, I'm going to recommend everyone in the SQL area go to West Valley Flying Club instead.
 
I don't know about you, but before every flight I take a sample of fuel. I then go to the local weather station where there is sure to be a big 30 in. tall mercury barometer. I insert the fuel sample into the bottom of the barometer and let it float to the top of the mercury. The fuel equilibrates with its vapor, generating pressure at the top of the mercury and pushing it down. I then compare the vapor pressure against the NIST fluid database to properly identify the hydrocarbon mixture.

It sounds like your DPE and your CFI (and in turn your school, as everyone who works there would be influenced by whatever your CFI is spouting at the water cooler) are not giving you a fair shot. They may not be reacting to anything you actually say or do, but to some conflict of personality that for whatever reason is difficult for them to work past, hiding the real good you are doing. There are many many experienced instructors in the bay area, and I'm sure after you get this one wrapped up you'll find a much better one.
 
I don't know about you, but before every flight I take a sample of fuel. I then go to the local weather station where there is sure to be a big 30 in. tall mercury barometer. I insert the fuel sample into the bottom of the barometer and let it float to the top of the mercury. The fuel equilibrates with its vapor, generating pressure at the top of the mercury and pushing it down. I then compare the vapor pressure against the NIST fluid database to properly identify the hydrocarbon mixture.

I just dump it on the ground.
 
I don't know about you, but before every flight I take a sample of fuel. I then go to the local weather station where there is sure to be a big 30 in. tall mercury barometer. I insert the fuel sample into the bottom of the barometer and let it float to the top of the mercury. The fuel equilibrates with its vapor, generating pressure at the top of the mercury and pushing it down. I then compare the vapor pressure against the NIST fluid database to properly identify the hydrocarbon mixture.

Seems rather crude. I always carry a portable mass spectrometer with me. I like to play it safe.
 
Seems rather crude. I always carry a portable mass spectrometer with me. I like to play it safe.
Sissies...does no one test/dispose of fuel the manly way? 100ll tastes different and has a different quality of burn, duh. I mean gripes...fuel strainers are even in the shape of a shot glass.
 
Re: !

Just the additives AFAIK. I don't know of a civil turbine that burns Jet-A and can't use Jet-A1 or JP-8. The hydrocarbons are pretty much all kerosene

JP-5 is higher flashpoint (for the navy)

Ah I see, I thought Jet-A1 is what is only available in other countries and can be used in engines that burn Jet-A....?

But I didn't know JP-5 had a higher flashpoint, interesting.
 
To the OP, there is no reason you should have to know the difference between military fuel and civilian fuel for the PPL check ride. I would have answered if its clear, it is not going into my airplane. I deal with Jet-A all day at work and just found out the difference in the post above.

Ditch the DPE and CFI, in a political and respectable way. I would be very angered in that situation to, however I've been in situations where I've made harsh, irrational decisions based on how I felt that moment and got myself in a crux. If I would have thought it out and ran it by some unbiased opinion, I could have saved myself some headaches.

With that, I would tell your CFI that you want to sit down with him and figure out what you want to do with him, not that other way around. I would explain my situation and clear the air, but I would not let him take control of the discussion and turn it around on me.

Slow down, gather your thoughts. You know you've been burned. Don't let emotion get in the way. Its a setback, which there are many to deal with, and this is only the beginning. But its not the moment of the setback that you learn from, its how you deal with it after by turning a negative to a positive, then moving on.
 
I don't know about you, but before every flight I take a sample of fuel. I then go to the local weather station where there is sure to be a big 30 in. tall mercury barometer. I insert the fuel sample into the bottom of the barometer and let it float to the top of the mercury. The fuel equilibrates with its vapor, generating pressure at the top of the mercury and pushing it down. I then compare the vapor pressure against the NIST fluid database to properly identify the hydrocarbon mixture.

It sounds like your DPE and your CFI (and in turn your school, as everyone who works there would be influenced by whatever your CFI is spouting at the water cooler) are not giving you a fair shot. They may not be reacting to anything you actually say or do, but to some conflict of personality that for whatever reason is difficult for them to work past, hiding the real good you are doing. There are many many experienced instructors in the bay area, and I'm sure after you get this one wrapped up you'll find a much better one.

At northern California airports I prefer to use the nearest Prius.

Seems rather crude. I always carry a portable mass spectrometer with me. I like to play it safe.


:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:
 
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