How does your school handle check ride priority

That's different. They had the plane. What you're saying and what he's saying are two different things. If you were scheduled for a dual, and someone had the aircraft on a ride and it was taking longer than expected, would you get pissed at said person?

I know I wouldn't. I'd give up my spot to see someone succeed.
RD


Even still, If you book it make sure you've put down enough time. It's not that hard really. I would expect somebody to be mad at me if I'm going over what I booked. It's not fair to them just because I have a checkride.
 
Juan,

My school has the same policy. We may even train at the same school. Actually I took my Commercial ride last week and I was given priority as well. It pretty much came down to when the DPE had time, and when he did, whatever student had the a/c at that time got bumped.

My instructor actually nixed a guys flight the night before so I could use the a/c the following morning. Kinda felt bad, but then again, I'd be willing to give up my block for someone taking a checkride.

I'm sure it's frustrating and I'm sure I'll have to give up a flight or two for a checkride sometime, but it's to be expected I suppose.
 
The 2 schools I've trained at I've never been given priority over another guy just because I've had a checkride. That's ridiculous to me, who cares if you have to put it off another 1 or 2 days? Honestly if you're going to not be able to take a checkride a couple days later, maybe you're not ready. There have been times when I've had to put off a ride because somebody else had the plane, no biggie, you just schedule it when available and pass it then.

Certain schools don't schedule their resources days in advance (see ERAU); they only schedule based on availability of number of aircraft. It's an imperfect system, but I'd much rather take my checkride the day I get it rather than waiting a couple of more days. A non-ERAU ride I had I was able to get in one last flight with my instructor the day before, to "stay sharp".... at ERAU even with "priority", you're put in a queue and sometimes have to wait a week or more for a checkride. Once your paperwork is submitted you aren't really permitted to go up for a spin to keep sharp.
 
That's different. They had the plane. What you're saying and what he's saying are two different things. If you were scheduled for a dual, and someone had the aircraft on a ride and it was taking longer than expected, would you get pissed at said person?

I know I wouldn't. I'd give up my spot to see someone succeed.
RD
WOW. You need to go back and re read my post.

I HAD THE AIRCRAFT SCHEDULED FROM LAST WEEK. Yesterday my instructor called and told me they had switched me to a different aircraft. The SECOND aircraft is the one who came back late, meanwhile the original aircraft I scheduled took off for a checkride. That's what I don't get.
 
seriously... i dont know why you care so much.. get over it or switch schools
Wow you must have missed the part where I said VA. That means I can only train at certain places. If you don't know that then dont comment.

somebody gear up'd the afternoon before one of my buddies was supposed to take his ride.

RD
So no one is allowed to fly until after the checkrides? I mean bad luck on someone landing gear up but is the school supposed to not rent the aircraft simply because someone had a checkride the next day?
 
Juan,

My school has the same policy. We may even train at the same school.
No I am down in the SE of H town. Way too far of a drive to go up your way.

I know it will probably even out, but I know I do my best to get back on time. And I know that if I bumped someone off the aircraft that they had scheduled for a week that I would feel bad.
 
The 2 schools I've trained at I've never been given priority over another guy just because I've had a checkride. That's ridiculous to me, who cares if you have to put it off another 1 or 2 days? Honestly if you're going to not be able to take a checkride a couple days later, maybe you're not ready. There have been times when I've had to put off a ride because somebody else had the plane, no biggie, you just schedule it when available and pass it then.

Sometimes the examiner won't be for available for weeks not just days later.
 
We have this policy with some heads up. We will call and ask the student if it is ok first and go from there. 9 times out of 10 its fine. Usually we can move people around, or do ground school. Every once and a while someone is butthurt about it but when it comes time for them to take their ride they will be happy that they have priority.

The problem is we have to work around our examiner. We really only use one designated examiner because he has twinstar experience. There is one examiner who is banned from flying in our aircraft do to safety reasons (its a long story). Also the designated examiner flies a private PC-12 for a family and so it's hard to get him pinned down on a date. Because of this we don't schedule the plane for the checkride until we know absolutely for sure the checkride is a go. This is usually a week in advance. Most of our students schedule their regular flights a month to two weeks ahead of time. That means that the planes are more likely than not all spoken for so you need to bump someone.

I know it can be frustrating.

-Matt
 
WOW. You need to go back and re read my post.

I HAD THE AIRCRAFT SCHEDULED FROM LAST WEEK. Yesterday my instructor called and told me they had switched me to a different aircraft. The SECOND aircraft is the one who came back late, meanwhile the original aircraft I scheduled took off for a checkride. That's what I don't get.

You need to check to see who I was quoting :banghead: (it was TGatch BTW)

Wow you must have missed the part where I said VA. That means I can only train at certain places. If you don't know that then dont comment.


So no one is allowed to fly until after the checkrides? I mean bad luck on someone landing gear up but is the school supposed to not rent the aircraft simply because someone had a checkride the next day?

You completely missed the point, and don't get pissy with me because my opinion on the subject is different than yours...this is a discussion board, right? I said he was flying it the afternoon before my buddy's ride, has nothing to do with it not being rented before a checkride. Somebody who they had rented to (we only rent to our students, and he was not one of our shining stars from what I hear) had a gear up incident. It was just coincidently the afternoon before his ride. The aircraft was scheduled for 2 more blocks after that incident.



On a sidenote -- TGatch,

I would have definitely scheduled more than enough to complete the ride. But I'm saying hypothetically if they had what seemed like enough, and they still ran over, yeah I might be angry, but you know what I'd probably let them have it for as long as they needed it. We're all learning to fly, and you know what, this is kind of the who basis of this site. Paying it forward.

RD
 
On a sidenote -- TGatch,

I would have definitely scheduled more than enough to complete the ride. But I'm saying hypothetically if they had what seemed like enough, and they still ran over, yeah I might be angry, but you know what I'd probably let them have it for as long as they needed it. We're all learning to fly, and you know what, this is kind of the who basis of this site. Paying it forward.

RD


I have no problem with paying it forward, the problem is, what makes you think your checkride is more important than whatever I have the plane scheduled for? What if I was doing an Angel flight, and now somebody won't get to the hospital in time, because you might not be as "Sharp" a day or a week later. My bad, but I'm pretty sure your checkride isn't more important than a life.
 
I have no problem with paying it forward, the problem is, what makes you think your checkride is more important than whatever I have the plane scheduled for? What if I was doing an Angel flight, and now somebody won't get to the hospital in time, because you might not be as "Sharp" a day or a week later. My bad, but I'm pretty sure your checkride isn't more important than a life.

Why are you renting an airplane for an Angel Flight? Aren't most of those participants aircraft owners?
 
I have no problem with paying it forward, the problem is, what makes you think your checkride is more important than whatever I have the plane scheduled for? What if I was doing an Angel flight, and now somebody won't get to the hospital in time, because you might not be as "Sharp" a day or a week later. My bad, but I'm pretty sure your checkride isn't more important than a life.

Well that's pretty extreme wouldn't you say? I'm referring to just a dual flight..which I'm pretty sure I stated somewhere in here...if you have an angel flight, I don't know if I'd give up my checkride for you to do it. You can use another one of our aircraft. But if it were critical enough, sure I would let you without a doubt. I have been talking from the student waiting for an aircraft out on a ride the whole time....check my point of view before assuming I'm the one on the ride.

Thanks
RD
 
You need to check to see who I was quoting :banghead: (it was TGatch BTW)



You completely missed the point, and don't get pissy with me because my opinion on the subject is different than yours...this is a discussion board, right? I said he was flying it the afternoon before my buddy's ride, has nothing to do with it not being rented before a checkride. Somebody who they had rented to (we only rent to our students, and he was not one of our shining stars from what I hear) had a gear up incident. It was just coincidently the afternoon before his ride. The aircraft was scheduled for 2 more blocks after that incident.



On a sidenote -- TGatch,

I would have definitely scheduled more than enough to complete the ride. But I'm saying hypothetically if they had what seemed like enough, and they still ran over, yeah I might be angry, but you know what I'd probably let them have it for as long as they needed it. We're all learning to fly, and you know what, this is kind of the who basis of this site. Paying it forward.

RD
Actually I'm not getting pissy with you. After re reading your quote I think I see what you're saying now. And if I do choose to get pissy with you, oh well deal with it.:laff:
 
In my CFI days, if one student needed an airline for a checkride, I would ask the student that was already scheduled if they were willing to give up their slot for the checkride. If they weren't, that was cool. They could keep the plane, and find a new CFI.
 


Juan, to me it sounds like you need to relax a bit, and not get involved in the politics of it, its just not worth it. Gettin pissy at something you can't control is just bogus anyways. I awlays give priority to my students when they went on checkrides. Just how it goes, they are much more "current" and "proficient" like what others have said, so it makes sense to not delay them. At my former school this was the same way, you could show up at the school and then you find out a checkride took your plane. Just something you gotta get used to in the industry. As for the GPS thing.. ya it has to be current for the ride, however, why rain down on the guys parade if the DE says its ok its ok. I know as far as the PTS for Instrument says.. it has to be current in IFR flight conditions during approach mode only. It can be expired for enroute.
 
I was supposed to fly today to New Orleans (KNEW) and am limited to only flying the 172's that the school has bc of the VA.
Anyway I had one scheduled but got bumped from it yesterday, well I found out yesterday as that was when I spke with my instuctor. No big deal I said, the kid needed the one with the GPS so I got rolled to the other one. I guess back to basic VOR nav for me!
Anyway I go to the airport today and wait for over half an hour. The bird I got rolled to is still not there, meanwhile the original one I scheduled taxiis off and flies away. Over an hour later I get a call saying the plane is back and wondering if I still want to go. By this time it's too late as I won't be back on time for the next guy and am pissed from the whole situation.
My instructor tells me this is school policy. This is the 5th place I've trained at and maybe I've just never come across this before but I have never heard the "check ride guy gets priority". Now I can't even re schedule til next monday because of the length of the flight and prior reservations already made.
Anyway does your school have this checkride priority policy?
Also the GPS database is expired which I read to mean you can't use for IFR nav even if in VFR conditions. Anyone care to elaborate on that for me if you have a reference. I looked in the AIM and my instructor and I are reading it differentely I guess (guy I got bumped for is on his IFR checkride today).
Juan,

It was a bad day and we all wish we could have allowed you to fly your X/C. However with that being said it is still very important that EVERYBODY be mindful of the pilot ,and possibly instructor, behind them. When I was a CFI I would be constantly checking my watch during duel flights because I wanted to make sure that the people renting behind my flight would have enough time in the aircraft. The problem is that sometimes you have to go over because the student really really needs to work through some things in the air. It does not make it any better with the fact that the plane came back over one hour late but realize that as a CFI you will have to consider all of these things while keeping a cool head and trying to teach your student dead reckoning or some other maneuver for the 30th time. Keep your head up and things will get easier. I cannot tell you when, but at some point things will even out and you will get preference over everybody else.
 
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