PPL Flight Test
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Join Date: Apr 2002
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PPL Flight Test
guys
I have my much awaited PPL flight test coming up in three days.
I would like you guys to shed some tips/insight on the test ( I already know the syllabus and things I would be checked on) but anything that would do to keep my confidence up during the test/tips etc would be much appreciated.
Thank you all and safe flying.
Richie
I have my much awaited PPL flight test coming up in three days.
I would like you guys to shed some tips/insight on the test ( I already know the syllabus and things I would be checked on) but anything that would do to keep my confidence up during the test/tips etc would be much appreciated.
Thank you all and safe flying.
Richie
Join Date: Jun 2003
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Have Fun
Enjoy it,
You wouldn't have been recommended to take the test if you weren't ready. Do everything as you normally would (I know, easier said than done) and don't worry about making mistakes. As long as you pick them upm you'll be fine. I headed up the YSBK lane and got so engrossed, I kept going at the end, almost up to Warnervale. I was supposed to be heading do Cessnock! But I soon discovered my mistake and corrected the heading (even used the Mcquoid vor to verify track). I thought my test had ended right there, but no, all good.
As long as the flight is conducted is a safe manner, its in the bag.
BP.
You wouldn't have been recommended to take the test if you weren't ready. Do everything as you normally would (I know, easier said than done) and don't worry about making mistakes. As long as you pick them upm you'll be fine. I headed up the YSBK lane and got so engrossed, I kept going at the end, almost up to Warnervale. I was supposed to be heading do Cessnock! But I soon discovered my mistake and corrected the heading (even used the Mcquoid vor to verify track). I thought my test had ended right there, but no, all good.
As long as the flight is conducted is a safe manner, its in the bag.
BP.
Join Date: Apr 2008
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Be prepared for a diversion at a busy time - usually through a restricted area or a CTA step.
Don't relax too much back in the home circuit - keep on top of it all the way to locking the aircraft.
Treat the tester as Auntie Maude, a happy passenger allowing you to fly the aircraft as PIC - that's what the test is set to confirm. (Just make sure Maude does not gently lean on the rudder at any time, or forget to latch door or belt up - been known to happen.)
Don't relax too much back in the home circuit - keep on top of it all the way to locking the aircraft.
Treat the tester as Auntie Maude, a happy passenger allowing you to fly the aircraft as PIC - that's what the test is set to confirm. (Just make sure Maude does not gently lean on the rudder at any time, or forget to latch door or belt up - been known to happen.)
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Don't sweat if you do shag it up, you dont have to redo the whole thing, just what wasn't covered on the initial test. Also my examiner loved it when i gave him estimates asap after take off and way points and dont forget the old 1 in 60. You should get your route a while before the test so maybe look up ground features and tracking points on google earth. Make sure your not that eager to go that you forget about getting the weather just before you depart to check it is not 8/8 at 1000' at your destination. Don't forget all of your checks as well. Good Luck.
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As stated the diversion might trip you up. Usually it will take you through a restricted area, CTA step or similar. The trick will be to find exactly where you are on the map when the diversion is thrown at you, look at where you are going to go for the diversion, then check the map and airspace etc. You might need to call centre for example to check the status of the airspace, even if you have it in your Notams. You may not even actually end up going there, they will just be looking to confirm that you are following the right steps first.
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Sorry to sound crude. But your instructor should be your 1st stop for this type of information. If he has left you in the dark of what to expect that isn't very good at all. Your recommendation is a 2 way street, where both the instructor and the student feel confident about the test!
Good Luck!
Good Luck!
talk things through. It's all well and good that you know what your doing when asked to perform something, but the ATO can't read minds, talk it out loud, it allows them to really understand your thought process. Helps them a lot.
But most of all, have fun mate
But most of all, have fun mate
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Use the ATO/CFI to hold maps / pens / etc. when you're entering the circuit or under the hood. They are there as a pax and have hands to hold stuff with, 99% are happy to help.
It's likely that your diversion will involve low flying towards the end and then finding some remote strip you've never seen or heard of before. Don't stress if you can't spot it at first, just run through the local landmarks and make sure you know the towns you were heading for. Once you've spotted it watch out for the engine failure...
CLEAROF or whatever memnonic you use ever 30 minutes is a must.
Don't forget your pre-take-off brief to yourself. "If engine fails before Xkts maintain control, brake, etc, etc.". Or you might find your mixture being pulled just as you throtte up for take-off.
Don't sweat it. You've made it this far and the instructor thinks you can do it so most probably you can!
flog.
It's likely that your diversion will involve low flying towards the end and then finding some remote strip you've never seen or heard of before. Don't stress if you can't spot it at first, just run through the local landmarks and make sure you know the towns you were heading for. Once you've spotted it watch out for the engine failure...
CLEAROF or whatever memnonic you use ever 30 minutes is a must.
Don't forget your pre-take-off brief to yourself. "If engine fails before Xkts maintain control, brake, etc, etc.". Or you might find your mixture being pulled just as you throtte up for take-off.
Don't sweat it. You've made it this far and the instructor thinks you can do it so most probably you can!
flog.
Dont track crawl (follow your track on the chart along the ground). Fly the planned heading, then make a correction to the heading to get back on track, or to proceed direct to the next waypoint.
You will make it.........
You will make it.........
When you live....
Two of things that helpe me out no end:
1. No matter how much you think you've stuffed up, the test isn't over until the examiner says it is - if they're terminating the test they have to tell you, if they haven't then you're still in the game.
2. They're looking for you to exercise command judgement. While I don't advocate stuffing up an approach, if it looks at all iffy then be prepared to call a go-around early and decisively - will provide a very good impression that you're not going not going to try and save an un-saveable situation.
Good luck,
UTR
1. No matter how much you think you've stuffed up, the test isn't over until the examiner says it is - if they're terminating the test they have to tell you, if they haven't then you're still in the game.
2. They're looking for you to exercise command judgement. While I don't advocate stuffing up an approach, if it looks at all iffy then be prepared to call a go-around early and decisively - will provide a very good impression that you're not going not going to try and save an un-saveable situation.
Good luck,
UTR
Just what some others have said already - if you stuff something up (and no matter how good you are, at some point something will go a little less than perfectly) just move on and forget about it - the testing officer isn't going to be dwelling on it either, at least until after the test is over.
Make sure you are completely clear on everything - if the testing officer says something, and you aren't completely sure what he means, get him to clarify. You won't fail for asking a question that may seem silly to you - you might fail for doing something silly because you weren't sure what you were supposed to be doing.
That advice goes for any flight test I suppose.
Make sure you are completely clear on everything - if the testing officer says something, and you aren't completely sure what he means, get him to clarify. You won't fail for asking a question that may seem silly to you - you might fail for doing something silly because you weren't sure what you were supposed to be doing.
That advice goes for any flight test I suppose.
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Not sure if they do it in your neck of the woods... but make sure you put airsick bags on board. For bonus points, make sure the examiner sees you do it.
I had been reminded twice, by different people, and duly forgot (my flight test was done at the end of an 8 hour day due wx)... when I was setting up downwind during the circuit work, the examiner looks and me and says "gee, i'm not feeling very well"...
Realising that I had forgotten the bags and had been caught out, I tried "Would you like me to make this one a full stop?"
Him: "Got anything on board?"
Me: "Got a headset bag in the back"
Him: "Should I use that then?"
Me: "I'd rather you used a $15 headset bag, than me having to spend the rest of the day cleaning out the aircraft!"
Of course, you're not going to fail for forgetting airsick bags, but attention to detail goes a loooooooong way.
I really had no idea how well I had done, until I had parked up, he turned to me, stuck out his hand and said congratulations... but the thing to remember is, as previously mentioned, that they have to give you the option to terminate the test immediately, if you fail at any part of it... so as long as they're still getting you to do the various exercises, you are still in the game!
Oh, and know your airspace boundaries and look out for cloud... nothing says "FAIL" like executing a turn into controlled airspace without clearance or straight into cloud!
Best of luck!
I had been reminded twice, by different people, and duly forgot (my flight test was done at the end of an 8 hour day due wx)... when I was setting up downwind during the circuit work, the examiner looks and me and says "gee, i'm not feeling very well"...
Realising that I had forgotten the bags and had been caught out, I tried "Would you like me to make this one a full stop?"
Him: "Got anything on board?"
Me: "Got a headset bag in the back"
Him: "Should I use that then?"
Me: "I'd rather you used a $15 headset bag, than me having to spend the rest of the day cleaning out the aircraft!"
Of course, you're not going to fail for forgetting airsick bags, but attention to detail goes a loooooooong way.
I really had no idea how well I had done, until I had parked up, he turned to me, stuck out his hand and said congratulations... but the thing to remember is, as previously mentioned, that they have to give you the option to terminate the test immediately, if you fail at any part of it... so as long as they're still getting you to do the various exercises, you are still in the game!
Oh, and know your airspace boundaries and look out for cloud... nothing says "FAIL" like executing a turn into controlled airspace without clearance or straight into cloud!
Best of luck!
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I was kinda grilled before the flight.
eg. How much flap will you use for takeoff (C172)?
I said, 10 degrees. He says why, I say because that's what the CFI said to do, he said, under who's authority, I said I dunno.... essentially he wanted to make sure that if I crash and kill my passengers and I was doing something that wasn't in the POH, then that's bad, etc, etc, hope that makes sense.
I was also asked basic stuff before the flight, like what does a PPL entitle you to do? (eg, single engine, up to 5,700 kg's) sort of like a quick quiz.
He pretty much set out to make sure that I wasn't gonna do something really stupid once I got my licence to the best he could.
eg. How much flap will you use for takeoff (C172)?
I said, 10 degrees. He says why, I say because that's what the CFI said to do, he said, under who's authority, I said I dunno.... essentially he wanted to make sure that if I crash and kill my passengers and I was doing something that wasn't in the POH, then that's bad, etc, etc, hope that makes sense.
I was also asked basic stuff before the flight, like what does a PPL entitle you to do? (eg, single engine, up to 5,700 kg's) sort of like a quick quiz.
He pretty much set out to make sure that I wasn't gonna do something really stupid once I got my licence to the best he could.
I did mine with the "Gordon Ramsay of ATO's" 
, John Bressington a long time ago. The first thing he said to me as we sat down in the aircraft was:
"Listen, you already have your license unless you do something stupid on this flight to loose it. It's just another
flight. If you're not prepared I'll kill you before the aircraft does. If you are prepared then forget I'm here, relax and just get on with it."
The next thing he said as we were taxiing out - "Get on the yellow line and stay the on it!"........D'OH 
, John Bressington a long time ago. The first thing he said to me as we sat down in the aircraft was:"Listen, you already have your license unless you do something stupid on this flight to loose it. It's just another
flight. If you're not prepared I'll kill you before the aircraft does. If you are prepared then forget I'm here, relax and just get on with it." The next thing he said as we were taxiing out - "Get on the
yellow line and stay the on it!"........D'OH
I did mine with the "Gordon Ramsay of ATO's" , John Bressington a long time ago. The first thing he said to me as we sat down in the aircraft was:
"Listen, you already have your license unless you do something stupid on this flight to loose it. It's just another flight. If you're not prepared I'll kill you before the aircraft does. If you are prepared then forget I'm here, relax and just get on with it."
The next thing he said as we were taxiing out - "Get on the yellow line and stay the on it!"........D'OH
, John Bressington a long time ago. The first thing he said to me as we sat down in the aircraft was:"Listen, you already have your license unless you do something stupid on this flight to loose it. It's just another
flight. If you're not prepared I'll kill you before the aircraft does. If you are prepared then forget I'm here, relax and just get on with it." The next thing he said as we were taxiing out - "Get on the
yellow line and stay the on it!"........D'OH
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A good ATO won't be looking for you to know how to fly an aeroplane. Your license is the starting point in the learning process. What they should be looking for is that you have been trained right and are safe to go out on your own and make decisions without supervision.
You won't be judged harshly if you don't trim the aeroplane exactly right; you will be judged harshly if you don't make any attempt to trim it at all. Getting lost won't be a sin either; failing to recognise that you are lost will be.
And don't be afraid to use commonsense. I was tracking toward a town and realised that I was left of track, so I took out my whizz wheel and started a one-in-60 to get me back on track. The bloke in the right seat asked me where I thought I was, and couldn't I see the town looming large to the right of the nose.
Yes, I replied, I was just doing a one-in-60 to get us back on track, which is the correct thing to do.
"the one-in-60" he said. If you can see the bloody town, just fly there!"
That has been my philosophy ever since: just fly there.
Walrus
You won't be judged harshly if you don't trim the aeroplane exactly right; you will be judged harshly if you don't make any attempt to trim it at all. Getting lost won't be a sin either; failing to recognise that you are lost will be.
And don't be afraid to use commonsense. I was tracking toward a town and realised that I was left of track, so I took out my whizz wheel and started a one-in-60 to get me back on track. The bloke in the right seat asked me where I thought I was, and couldn't I see the town looming large to the right of the nose.
Yes, I replied, I was just doing a one-in-60 to get us back on track, which is the correct thing to do.
"
the one-in-60" he said. If you can see the bloody town, just fly there!"That has been my philosophy ever since: just fly there.
Walrus
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Walrus, "Just flying there" is the exact reason that i know all to well about re-sitting the test!. I also got told to go around twice at a busy ctaf because i was distracted by some lunatic doing crosswind circuits with in-comprehensible calls and i forgot my pre-landing checks.