Skills Test!!!

[Dispatch-king]

Hey!

I'm ready for my PPL skills test - just waitin for the suitable weather to arrive!

Can anyone give me any advice from their experience of the test?

Cheers!:O

[OBK!]

Hi!

I know exactly what your going through, I was very nervous on the day of my skills test, but afterwards, and even half way through it I thought to myself 'Why did I get so worried!'.

I think the best advice anyone could give is to fly it like you've been taught, safety being paramount in everything you do but most of all, ENJOY IT! That's what the examiner said to me before we went flying anyway :cool:

I had a little mock test before the real thing, where I got the oppurtunity to go through everything on the practical flying syllabus just to make sure I was confident, and that helped a lot.

Very best of luck to you, and when you pass, I think you'll already know what's best...straight down to the local :ok: You'll also be high on adrenalin post skills test for about a month!

[Maxflyer]

I passed my test on Tuesday this week. Check out my thread - "I Passed". Now that I have calmed down I am more conscious of all the things I did, didn't do and should have done. If you want to email or PM me I'll let you have some pointers based on my very recent experience.

Tim

[Holloway]

The weathers perfect! get up and do it asap, I passed mine about a week ago and im sitting here waitin for my licence to arrive and its the worst waiting out of the whole thing!!

Being honest I was more nervous on the RT oral exam than my skills test. The skills test went really well and all I can say is plan and you wont have any probs. Its not like a driving test u just need to be safe and know the procedures which you will do or your instructor wouldnt put u up for it. Make sure u put the wind on your map and draw a compass with the wind directions and drift so on your diversion you can quickly work out the drift and what new heading to take up. Make sure your bag is behind you and spare pens ur wiz wheel, rulers etc in case u need them. See if u can get a plane that has the programable radio to put all ur on route frequencys in :)

Other than that relax, ull be supprised that u actually know all to do but u think you dont and u worry. I wrote the same thread as you askin what it would be like but ull be replyin to someone elses next week with your PPL :ok:

Enjoy it, in few weeks u can go up with friends :)

[DRJAD]

Did mine just over a month ago, and the main thing was - as has been said - to be in the right frame of mind to enjoy it.

You can rehearse some of the RT (if that might be a problem) beforehand - that may help with initial confidence. But I think that confidence builds as you go through it.

Perhaps the most important thing is to keep in mind that, in the nav bit, you are the commander.

Anyway - enjoy it - once you pass you'll be so elated it will be difficult to remember the details until later!

[Juliet Papa]

Dispatch,

Did mine yesterday - plan it well, and try to relax and enjoy it. I think being safe is paramount, from what my examiner said - and be in command - take time if you need to to get yourself sorted out. Worked for me!

Holloway - strage that, about the RT practical - I was nervous as anything too! I think coz it's recorded, you know that any embarassing errors will be held 'for posterity' for a few years! :uhoh:

JP

[High Wing Drifter]

Hi King,

The only advice I can offer is that you ensure that you perform all the critical safety elements of the flight. You probably create concerns if you taxi too fast, are not keeping a good lookout, neglect regular FREDA checks, forget to perform the proper HASELL and HELL checks, are unable to nail the best glide speed and forget to provide proper briefings prior to start-up and departure.

In addition I would tell the examiner when something is wrong (off heading, wrong alt, etc) and what you are going to do about it. If you don't spot it he will. He will also give you enough time to spot it before he mentions the error.

Furthermore, set the pace and don't feel pressured to complete a set of tasks in a hurry. During mine, I would tell the examiner when I intended to change frequency or when I intended to check my position - that sort of thing.

A very accurate navigation will also go along way to convincing the examiner that you are competent even if you do make some error or other in the general handling and glide approaches.

Finally, make sure you are familiar with the Flight Manual for the weight, balance and performance calculations.

Alot of if maybe obvious but these seemed to be the things that made an impression on my day. I had a great time and I am sure you will too so...

...Good Luck! :)

[Dispatch-king]

Hey Everyone!

Thanks for all your sound advice! I will definately take them into account when the big day comes!

It was a pity that i didn't get to do it last week due to the weather conditions! I knew as soon as I got back to uni the weather would improve and look at it now!!

Now i'll just have to wait till I finish my finals - i was gonna get a cheapie ticket and fly back to n.ireland to do it, but they aren't the cheapest right now.

Cheers! DK:{

[proxus]

I'm sorry that I'n not very good in abbreviations & acronyms so please explain to me what: FREDA, HASELL and HELL means.

Thanks
Proxus

[Barney_Gumble]

FREDA is a cruise/re-join check

F=Fuel Check
R= Radio and Nav Aids
E = Engine temperatures & oil pressures + carburettor heat on to check/remove ice in the carb venturi
D = Direction i.e. heading correct and Direction Indictor alligned with compass
A = Alititude Check

HASELL is a check done prior to doing aeros or stalls etc

H = Height Sufficient to recover by >3000ft AGL
A = Airframe, Flaps etc
S = Security of hatches and harnesses and no loose articles in the cabin
E = Engine mixture rich, carb heat check and engine Temperature & oil pressure
L = Location A = clear of airfields, B = built up areas and C = cloud and controlled airspace D = danger areas
L = Lookout turn

Lastly

HELL is a cut down version of HASELL done in between individual stalls in a sequence of set

H = Height
E = Engine T & P
L = Location
L = Lookout turn

That's it roughly, but there maybe variations on the theme

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[High Wing Drifter]

Dont forget Danger Areas in the check too (ABCD).

L = Location A = clear of airfields, B = built up areas and C = cloud and controlled airspace and D = danger areas

I hate being pedantic but I couldn't resist this time...sorry :O

[BEagle]

There is no need to perform HASELL checks before steep turns unless you're intending to practise maneouvre stalling.

[proxus]

This has been copy/pasted into my niffty little 'flight training' folder.

Þanks

Proxus

[Barney_Gumble]

H.W.D.

No worries about being pedantic from my POV. Thanks for the reminder, I had forgotten D. It will stay in my mind and add value to my flying.

BEagle

Same to you, thanks, I have been doing HASELL checks when practicing steep turns, I will revise that and get more value (financially) from my flying.

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