Now the dust has settled a bit, here is my own self-appraisal of the skills test and maybe a few lessons for the studes coming through to practice or take note from.
Firstly, everyone says that the examiners really want you to pass. Its a strange concept to grasp that you'll be flying a test with someone positive and pilot friendly. You know what? Its true. My examiner was fantastic, the pre test brief was comprehensive and thorough. If anything its there to build your confidence before the flight and to put you at ease. Everything is explained, slowly, in detail with lots of opportunities to ask questions and discuss things. For example, where and when to brief the examiner, what order things will happen, how the plog will be examined and what he/she is looking for. Blimey, how easy and helpful can people be?
Then there is the GST day. My examiner called me the day before and a few hours prior to the test to make sure I was ok, happy with the weather and generally to put me at ease. It sounds formal, it wasn't at all. It was professional but very friendly and helpful.
You can (and probably will make mistakes....I'll go through mine in a moment) these are accepted as 'understandable' in certain circumstances, some are simply silly and some may or will fail you. The ones which may or will fail you are the ones where the examiner has absolutely no alternative than to take control of the aircraft or you show that you have no idea of what you're saying or behaving. This is not likely given that your Instructors and CFI have said you're ready to do the GST!
OK, to the problems I had, and the lessons I learned. Perhaps I should say that I was fortunate enough to gain some experience from an expert...because that is true. We learn all the time, even in the test.
So, what did I do that could have been better;
1. At the hold for power checks I turned the aircraft towards the wind but not in to it. Why not? Well the Foxtrot hold at Newcastle is quite narrow and runs north to south. The wind was southerly (behind me as I approached the hold) I should have swung the aircraft 180 degrees instead of 90. As it was a warm day, the engine wouldn't have cooled sufficiently as I did the checks and held there for traffic. I have never turned the aircraft 180 there nor have I ever seen it done. The aircraft in front of me did the same thing (with instructors aboard) turning 90 degrees to wind. I will swing in future and next time in the club will inform the instructors too.
2. FREDA checks. Familiarity is a bad thing. When in the area where I had done most of my training, I didn't do enough FREDA's. Do them, its habit forming. My DI was precessing during the nav leg and I found it and rectified it after every change of heading. Yet after steep turns and a spiral dive recovery, I didn't check it. Why? because the upper air work was in 'home' territory. Do the FREDA's complete and often. Btw, I was checking the T&P's and applying carb heat often, just not addressing the precessing DI.
3. On the VOR/DME position fix I tuned the VOR to show 'from' St Abbs Head and took the fix. After the fix, I was asked to track directly to the VOR at 105 knots indicated. So, nose down, power up and off we went. The VOR indicater needle moved a little right and so I turned a little right too. The needle mover further right.....hmmmmmmm. Not until I turned the indicater to 'to' the VOR was I flying accurately. It was like flying backwards, luckily I realised something was wrong quite quicky as we'd have been heading for Norway had I continued like that!
4. Be tidy. During training the FI will often take control to allow you to draw a line, do a fix etc. It may not happen in the GST so, be tidy, have everything to hand and remember to keep a look out, often. Its easy to get your head down and the aircraft decides to spiral!
5. Take some water with you, its thirsty (and hot) work.
6. Enjoy it. You're flying...its what we want to do.
Just a few of my experiences from a very enjoyable but stressful day. Believe me, it's worth it.