Canadian CPL Flight Test: Nav log routes?

[kwuen]

Hello all!

I am a student pilot who will get a date for a CPL flight test in Vancouver, Canada.

I am wondering when I will be getting my nav log routes for the flight test.
Instructors at my school told me they got their commercial pilot licenses when there was 45 minute limit preparing nav log from scratch (basically gets the route 45 mins before the test), weather package, weight and balance, take-off and landing distance and approach speed calculation..............

I have been told, however, that the limit has been lifted.
I am wondering when people gets their routes for CPL flight test trip planning.

[Mostly Harmless]

Here's the CAR's Standard on the flight test. Part IV - Personnel Licensing and Training - Transport Canada

It was so long ago that I did my test, I don't remember a time limit. I think you get the route the night before and you have to assess the weather, etc in one hour.

[kwuen]

Thank you but...

Thank you for your reply.
However, I do not see the time limit. I believe it is removed now.
I am wondering how long before people get the route before their CPL flight test in Canada.

[Birthday Boy]

Here is part of the Flight Test Guide for the CPL flight test. Your instructor should have gone through this with you very thoroughly well before the flight test.

You are going to be a commercial pilot and you need to be more proactive with regard to your training. You obviously have a PPL so what did you use to study for that flight test.

The flight test guide is available for free on the Transport Canada web site.

A. Pre-Flight Planning Procedures (Ground Item)
Aim
To determine that the candidate can efficiently plan a VFR cross-country flight, demonstrate practical knowledge of cross-country flight planning and demonstrate the ability to manually recalculate one leg for the examiner, based on a scenario such as a wind change or altitude change.
Description
The examiner will ask the candidate to plan a VFR cross-country flight of at least 2.5 hours cruising range to an assigned destination, including an intermediate stop. Preliminary planning and map preparation may be done prior to the day of the test. Final flight planning will be completed based on real time weather, and a loading scenario with all passenger seats occupied as well as a significant baggage load, as specified by the examiner. Software or online flight planning may be used for the planning and generation of a navigation log.

Performance Criteria
Assessment will be based on the candidate’s ability to:
(a) use appropriate and current aeronautical charts and other current flight publications to extract and record pertinent information;
(b) correctly identify airspace, obstructions, terrain features and map symbols;
(c) obtain pertinent information about the en route and destination airports;
(d) retrieve and interpret weather information and NOTAMs relevant to the intended flight;
(e) determine the acceptability of the departure and destination runways under existing or forecast conditions;
(f) select a safe and efficient route;
(g) prepare contingency plans for intermediate or alternate destinations;
(h) select the most favourable and appropriate altitudes, considering weather conditions, terrain and equipment capabilities;
(i) prepare a chart and navigational log, including estimated headings, fuel requirements and time en route, either manually or with flight-planning software;
(j) make a competent “GO/NO-GO” decision based on available information for the cross-country flight;
(k) demonstrate knowledge of how to file a VFR flight plan;
(l) complete planning, preparations and calculations, excluding weight and balance computations for the actual flight, within 45 minutes; and
(m) manually recalculate one leg of the flight plan (with E6B or equivalent) based on a scenario specified by the examiner during the evaluation of the ground portion of the flight test.

[kwuen]

Thank you again but...

Thank you for your reply.
I have the guide and have looked through it thoroughly throughout my flight training.
However, the flight test guide does not specify how long before I get to know the route.
The part "(l) complete planning, preparations and calculations, excluding weight and balance computations for the actual flight, within 45 minutes" is not on the current flight test guide that I have (third edition: April 2010).
I would like to know how long before the routes are given to other cpl flight test candidates in Canada.

[Birthday Boy]

The Pilot Examiner will typically assign the route on the day before the flight test.

Are you sure that you are looking at the latest copy of the flight test guide as it does have paragraph (l) "complete planning, preparations and calculations, excluding weight and balance computations for the actual flight, within 45 minutes".

Download the copy from the TC web site to confirm you have the latest copy.

[albatross]

I know you will be doing a W+B for your trip with a fictional pax and baggage load but it is a good idea to do an actual weight and balance for your flight reflecting just you and the inquisitor. This can be done well ahead of time.
( I once had a TC inspector ask for it on an IFR check ride. In over 30 years in aviation he was the only inspector I ever met who wasn't a pleasure to deal with! It was a long and interesting ride to say the least. There were some heated discussions during the debrief. Passed it but we went our seperate ways having not exchanged terms of endearment. My instructor afterward said, between fits of laughter, that he had never seen two angrier people not resort to physical violence!)
Also remember that a lot of the stuff can be prepared ahead of time. Aircraft empty weight, IAS , most of the flight plan form, flight log ECT. Then it is a matter of fill in the blanks.
Best of luck.

[J.O.]

In over 30 years in aviation he was the only inspector I ever met who wasn't a pleasure to deal with!

Were his initials "E.C."?

[albatross]

So long ago I couldn't remember if I tried.
He was having a bad day and just wanted to spread it around.
He wasn't a happy camper when he arrived at Les Cedres and was even more unhappy when he departed into the sunset to spread joy and good fellowship elsewhere.

Winds aloft at 5000 were easterly at 50 Kts so the hold was sporting. Thank god for good ATC.! What fun it was.
I laugh about it still!

[J.O.]

Apologies to the O.P. for the thread hijack.

If your test was at Les Cedres, I doubt it was the same guy, which means there was more than one who liked to spread his own brand of joy and enlightenment. My encounter was at YYZ on a recurrent multi-IFR ride. He accused me of bringing an aircraft log book that contained illegal entries. I tried to explain that my employer had an exemption that allowed for a single log entry for each flight day when flights were local training only but he was having none of it. When his own boss explained that he was wrong (in my presence), let's just say that the seed was planted. My ride was 45 minutes longer than my initial had been 2 years earlier. He took the requirements of an initial ride and added to them. Fortunately I had a good day and came away with my rating intact, but my boss was none too pleased with the extra hours that had been put on his Aztec. The resultant phone calls had several sets of ears ringing at 4900 Yonge St.