PPL Skill Test - to split or not to split?

[Rishy]

Hi All,

There are bits of info on the forum but mostly old stuff, hence my post.

My PPL Skill Test is imminent. It's been cancelled a couple of times for one reason or another and I'm looking into splitting the test into 2 parts as outlined by the CAA. What do people think - good idea, or not? It's been agreed by the examiner so no issues there.

I can think of a number of pros and cons and really am undecided. On balance I'm leaning towards a split but would like to hear what you nice people think.

Many thanks :ok:

Tim

[Lister Noble]

I did it in one go and wish I had not.
I got a partial pass with the nav and resat the skills a few days later and passed that.
It is 3 hours of non stop exercises and I found it too much in one go.
Others may say different?
Lister

[mad_jock]

Its swings and roundabouts to be honest.

You do get retested on certain exercises but then again they arn't ones that people generally have any problems with.


And some people do have brain farts in the last hour due to the concentration factor.

If the examiner is keen go for it.

[matman]

personally id do it in one go, im waiting to do mine but ive had to cancel it 3 times now due to weather. now it just seems to be dragging on and on. if the weathers good, just go for it.

[Redbird72]

Mine was split into two due to weather; it turned out to be worse than forecast and we found out when we reached the first SHP for the Nav.

It caused me some problems with my general handling - I was very nervous and had been looking forward to the less intensive period of the Nav to settle down, but then again I think I would have been very weary in the circuit if I had done it all in one go.

Ultimately it's down to your own preference, but you shouldn't waste a good weather opportunity to do the Nav - General handling is much easier to slot in.

[modelman]

Did mine in 2 bits on the same day Nav first then Gen Handling and it seemed the way to go.
If you are using a C150/152 you could have a fuel issue if you both are of a reasonable size.
I am 100kg,my examiner was 75Kg (thank God!) but I seem to remember that this still meant less than full tanks to stay under max weight.(about 3.5 hrs to empty IIRC).

After all the training,why rush this vital last bit?

Good luck whichever way you chose.
MM

[Cricket23]

Pros and cons as you say. If you split it, the gap could be quite large coz of the weather, your availability and the examiners etc. Will you go 'off the boil' in the intervening period. Even if you stay 'topped up' by taking further practise lessons with your instructor, it will only last for so long.

If you weren't ready for your test the instructors wouldn't have put you in for it.

Personally, I'd rather do it in one go (and did) and get it over and done with. Sure, I was pretty knackered at the end of it, but the joy of passing meant that I wasn't too tired to celebrate.

Good luck.

C23

[Whopity]

As an examiner I considered the JAA Skill test to be too long and split a number of early tests. There are problems splitting a test as the only real place to split it is at the diversion. This requires a suitable airfield, and if the split is too long, the candidate can find it more tiring than on a continuous test; it also means some inevitable duplication. Having tried it, I now prefer to conduct the test all in one and most students seem to agree.

The old UK system of Nav Test and a separate GFT was a far better way of doing things, and whilst you could still do this under the JAA rules, it can only be done by the same examiner making it much more difficult to arrange.

[flybymike]

The really old UK system of GFT and no nav test at all was even better....

[znww5]

Did mine in one shot, but there's no doubt that it is tiring. Perhaps the ideal scenario would be to do the whole thing on the same day, but with a break between the two parts.

In fact I was under the impression that the test could only be split due to weather or tech problems until I read this thread - I suppose I shouldn't complain as I passed, but it would have been nice to have had the option!

Good luck with your test / tests :ok:

[Rishy]

Thanks for all the replies people, much appreciated.

The split I'm intending to do will mean it's done on 2 separate days, as opposed to a hour's break (or so) between the NAV and GFT. Part 1 is booked in for this Thursday evening, part 2 on Saturday or Sunday, weather dependent.

Modelman - I'm in a PA28 so endurance wouldn't be an issue. I agree with you though: after all this hard graft I don't want to blow it now!

Thanks again :)

Tim

[Lister Noble]

Rishy,
I think you have made the right choice.
Good luck and safe flying.
Lister:)

[poss]

Doing a 3 hour test is extremely tiring and given the option I would probably opt to have it split up but on the same day so that I wasn't having to wait around to do the second part as I would want it over and done with. Unfortunately that isn't an option for myself but if it is for you I'd say do it that way!

[DX Wombat]

I did mine in two parts which fitted in nicely with me and my examiner. The two parts were a week apart. From what I remember being told, you can't have any more tuition from your FI once you have started the test ie during the interval between the two parts. I also remember being told by the examiner that the landings would be assessed for both flights and had to be passed for both of them.

[Keith_P]

Mine was split into two but because of weather. I planned for the whole test, we did the briefing and got airborne. Once we got up to the altitude planned for the nav, the visibility was right on minimum. I told the examiner I wasn't happy with the weather and didn't think we should do the nav. He accepted my decision and asked if I was still happy to the GH part of the test which we did. When we landed from this flight he congratulated me on a sensible decision as the weather was significantly worse than the TAFs etc. I felt so much better than if I had tried doing the nav in borderline visibility. Sadly, due to weather conditions, it took us 2 weeks before we managed to get the second flight sorted but I am glad we made the decision to delay. If the weather had been good on the first try then I would have gone ahead with the full test but I have no idea whether I would have passed.