mikegreatrex
24th Mar 2003, 11:23
To all those who gave advice on the requirements for the skills test ...thankyou.
The important bits
Brief the examiner, talk to him/her as if it was your granny, insult there inteligence, doesnt matter if they have 2000 hrs plus, make sure they know to keep the feet off the pedals etc
Tune your navaids and identify the beacon with morse ( saves you doing it in the air and demonstrates good airmanship. Write down the dits & dahs on your plog and prove you are able to do this. Check the bearings from & to, and the dme. This is on the airfield plates.
Know your emergency drills off the top of your head, fire on the ground etc
The nav section was I thought not brilliant as by the half way mark was sufferring quite badly with poor viz 5km and stronger than anticipated winds and was about 20 degrees off, but as my instructor has always said do not panic, make the course correction, and continue to fly the leg for the time and it worked. Was working Waddington at the time receiving an FIS, but upgraided to an RIS, gave some comfort both to me and the examiner I think.
The diversion went well, all be it the wind messed up my timing a little. The biggest lesson confirmed was always start your diversion from a prominent landmark. Once you have decided which landmark you will use as the startpoint, start the watch from the overhead, make sure you are in trim and then start the planning, as it is easier to plan when flying straight and level than trying to orbit your start point! Once done with the numbers return on a recipricol heading to the start point (this is why you set the watch).
General handling was reasonable, all be it put a little aileron when doing the turning stall with flap...dont do it!
PFL was marginal by my own admission, yes we would have landed safely but would probably have gone through the fence. Most important lessons learnt was trim the dam aircraft, nail that glide speed (i didnt and wasted spare mental capicity watching the asi increase and the height reduce). Secondly be prepared to change your field, there was a huge common to starboard but I stuck with the lawn with a fence!!
To all those about to go through this mill, revise thoroughly your drills and relax... good luck
What now???
The important bits
Brief the examiner, talk to him/her as if it was your granny, insult there inteligence, doesnt matter if they have 2000 hrs plus, make sure they know to keep the feet off the pedals etc
Tune your navaids and identify the beacon with morse ( saves you doing it in the air and demonstrates good airmanship. Write down the dits & dahs on your plog and prove you are able to do this. Check the bearings from & to, and the dme. This is on the airfield plates.
Know your emergency drills off the top of your head, fire on the ground etc
The nav section was I thought not brilliant as by the half way mark was sufferring quite badly with poor viz 5km and stronger than anticipated winds and was about 20 degrees off, but as my instructor has always said do not panic, make the course correction, and continue to fly the leg for the time and it worked. Was working Waddington at the time receiving an FIS, but upgraided to an RIS, gave some comfort both to me and the examiner I think.
The diversion went well, all be it the wind messed up my timing a little. The biggest lesson confirmed was always start your diversion from a prominent landmark. Once you have decided which landmark you will use as the startpoint, start the watch from the overhead, make sure you are in trim and then start the planning, as it is easier to plan when flying straight and level than trying to orbit your start point! Once done with the numbers return on a recipricol heading to the start point (this is why you set the watch).
General handling was reasonable, all be it put a little aileron when doing the turning stall with flap...dont do it!
PFL was marginal by my own admission, yes we would have landed safely but would probably have gone through the fence. Most important lessons learnt was trim the dam aircraft, nail that glide speed (i didnt and wasted spare mental capicity watching the asi increase and the height reduce). Secondly be prepared to change your field, there was a huge common to starboard but I stuck with the lawn with a fence!!
To all those about to go through this mill, revise thoroughly your drills and relax... good luck
What now???