general oral exam question...

killbilly

killbilly

Vocals, Lyrics, Triangle, Washboard, Kittens
Meyers' post made me think of this...

When you're taking an oral exam, are you allowed to look things up if you don't know the answer off the top of your head, or are you allowed to use published material to help illustrate your answer?

I suppose it might depend on which exam you were taking, but I've wondered about this for a while.
 
KILL....I'm not expert, but will throw my opinion out there. I think it depends on the question and line of questioning at the time. Most examiners will want to see what you know and how you can apply your gained knowledge. I would imagine if you had a question like this: we'll assume a C-172S....how many fuel sumps do you have on this airplane? If you answered 12, the examiner may ask if you are sure...at that time you may say, if you give me one minute to reference my POH/AFM sitting here on the table I will give you a definite answer....and then find that it's actually 13. Just by showing that you know where to find the definite answer could be enough too...without having to look it up. The examiner may just tell you the answer and move on.
On the other hand...if he/she ask for you to describe the fuel system and you immediatly ask to reference the POH/AFM--I'm sure they would frown on that.
It will all depend on the examiner and their style. Some of them are total pricks and think they are so much better than the common person anyway, while others understand what you have been through up to that point in preparation for the checkride and can sympathize. They can understand that in 4 months you've learned so much about something new and may not have all your facts straight, but have the jist of what you trying to explain.
Will be interesting to hear other inputs on this....

Pac Man
 
It sort of depends upon the question. When I give a company check, or have taken an FAA ride, some of the more complex questions are no problem if a candidate needs to look somethng up.

Other things, for example, cloud clearance minimums, or V-speeds for the aircraft we'll be flying, must be memorized. Some check airmen will not require a candidate to memorize speeds that are marked on the airspeed indicator, other will require a candidate to know what Vne is off the top of their head.

I hope that helps a bit!

-LC
 
I think it depends on the question and line of questioning at the time.
Click to expand...

That is the key thing. This obviously is no simple question.

The only ride I really looked things up for was the Commercial ride. For the private, inst and multi, I for some reason felt is was not a wise thing to do. I have since changed to opinion.

What you really need to make sure is that you are able to satisfy the requirements outlined in the PTS orally or at least get somewhat close. Over time you begin to realize there are simple questions that you should be able to spit out easily. Some others you will need to reference a text in order to better facilitate and explain.

Case in point for me was the fuel system on the C172S. I told the examiner my way of thinking how it worked. I wasn't wrong by any means, but he just wanted to look into it in more detail, he claimed he doesn't fly them much. Say I played the game too and opened the POH and he told me to read it to him. After the fact he said thats a terrible description and no wonder it is difficult for a candidate to explain it. So we just talked a bit more about the fuel system while he basically educated me on how it works.

Another question posed to me in a stage check however was the tire pressure on the Seminole. I was like wtf and kind of sat there making faces. I wish I would have said let me take a look. Thats where you reference a text IMO.

Still another question I had was about VORs and their useful range and altitudes. I didn't look it up and came out sounding like an idiot. Not knowing enough about them, I should have looked them up.
 
I know from today if I had a question the DE would have allowed me to look it up. However, looking up the systems obviously would be considered poor in the my DE's mind. However, it it were something like what is the VFR requriment and you were to say, I cant recall and want to assure my answer is correct can I reference Far 91.155 (or w/e it is) they would be ok with that. But again from each DE it is different it does sound. Hey from the sounds of it the PPL oral is rather easy, well as long as you do not have the FAA sitting in I hear.
 
I don't think there's anything wrong with it, as long as it's not a "basic" question and you know exactly where to look. On my ATP/type ride oral, there were a couple questions I wasn't 100% sure about, so I looked them up before answering, rather than guess. I think I maybe looked up one or two fairly complex systems questions, and maybe a reg/ops spec question or something, can't remember for sure. This was with a company check airman/DE, and our FAA POI was observing. Neither one said a word about it (and I passed).
 
Like the others, it's the type of question, and maybe even how much you need to do it.

On the type of question, one key is whether you would have time to look up in a real-world situation. If you would, then there's not a lot of sense =purposely= memorizing it.

Is an operable stall warning horn a required piece of equipment? Perfectly okay to look at the weight and balance section of your C172 POH find out. On the other hand, it' probably not a very good idea to be given an engine fire scenario and need to look up the immediate action items.

On the overuse part, there are pieces of information that you naturally learn (as opposed to purposely memorize) in the course of training. Even if they are individually "okay to look up in the real world" type questions, needing to look up too many of those can make the examiner wonder about your overall ability to understand and retain information.

Obviously, there is a bit of gray and examiner preference floating around in there.
 
Best thing I heard in regards to looking up answers is

"so long as it is reference material and not research material"

That came from my DPE and is in regards to charts and difficult systems etc and you should have them tabbed and be able to go direct. Same with the AIM for those tricky FARS...have it tabbed and get right to it.
 
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