Contrived tests and advice...
kookabat - I agree with you 100%. I've a few friends who ask how the flying is going. I liken it to the stage where I'm allowed to drive on busy motorways: fast traffic, real world big jets, on my own, controlled airspace, military zones, knowing the emergency drill, obeying air law etc. It seems bizarre that as part of the *qualifying* period you have to go and do the real world stuff - this just wouldn't happen during learning to drive!
So the R/T practical is contrived in that I've done this *for real* with real world significance each time I've taken to the skies. Bizarre.
Penguina - Your examiner has quite a different attitude to mine. He specifically stated that this was NOT a navigation, handing, ability exercise. It was purely about R/T. If I made a diversion call then on my head be it. Also, if I didn't follow the flight plan track then no-problem, he would be able to reset. I can see the argument going both ways but if you are being examined on your R/T capability then so be it. If it is your navigation ability then that is a different matter.
For the record - I spent this Sunday doing circuits at LBA. That was very re-assuring. I've not done any proper circuit learning since February and only getting one landing in an ATC Zone every 3 weeks isn't very reassuring. I did have to do an orbit for a KLM and BMI jet to take off - it was nice just to be able to fly around the sky watching the world go by.
I also notice through re-reading this thread that many of you had to do a lot of solo circuits before being allowed to fly CX solo. I never had this - is it standard? (I did ONE solo circuit before going CX solo - although I did a lot of dual NAV first).
MyData