Skills test advice
Join Date: Feb 2010
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I was taught a couple of quick tips for the diversion leg;
Firstly, you dont have to start the diversion immediately. When I was asked to divert to X, I nominated to start the diversion route from the big town I could see a couple of minutes straight in front of me on my current heading. That gave me a couple of minutes to plan the diversion heading and draw it on the map before I turned onto the heading and started flying it;
And, as an alternative to the "standard thumb", I had drawn out a scale on the back of my PA38 checklist showing minutes of flying time at 90kts, and measured it against the line on my map.
I then nominated my heading and told my examiner how long I would need to stay on the heading for, doing a bit of ready reckoning for how much my groundspeed and track would be affected by the wind
good luck
Firstly, you dont have to start the diversion immediately. When I was asked to divert to X, I nominated to start the diversion route from the big town I could see a couple of minutes straight in front of me on my current heading. That gave me a couple of minutes to plan the diversion heading and draw it on the map before I turned onto the heading and started flying it;
And, as an alternative to the "standard thumb", I had drawn out a scale on the back of my PA38 checklist showing minutes of flying time at 90kts, and measured it against the line on my map.
I then nominated my heading and told my examiner how long I would need to stay on the heading for, doing a bit of ready reckoning for how much my groundspeed and track would be affected by the wind
good luck
Join Date: Feb 2007
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I then nominated my heading and told my examiner how long I would need to stay on the heading for, doing a bit of ready reckoning for how much my groundspeed and track would be affected by the wind
And if you are already overhead a well-known landmark, there is no shame in orbiting there for a few minutes until you've got it all worked out.
Do keep a good lookout though.
Join Date: Jul 2011
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Mine is on Monday, too.
Last one was canceled due to the weather. Very annoying but nothing you can do I guess.
I started learning in July 2011 and have loved every minute since.
Last one was canceled due to the weather. Very annoying but nothing you can do I guess.
I started learning in July 2011 and have loved every minute since.
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: stoke on trent england
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Morning all
Just to let everyone know last Sunday didnt go ahead low cloud and fog so had to cancel re booked for this Sunday but not hopeful ad the forcast looks unsettled doh not another week
Thanks tk everyone who commented with advice
Just to let everyone know last Sunday didnt go ahead low cloud and fog so had to cancel re booked for this Sunday but not hopeful ad the forcast looks unsettled doh not another week
Thanks tk everyone who commented with advice
Join Date: Jul 2010
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In terms of the handling side I booked a short hour with my instructor on the morning and did a sort of mock of the handling. Because I was nervous flew like a ham fisted baboon that had had had a couple of drinks, but we did each exercise three of four times. Then, when I had the test itself, because I had already been through the nerves I was almost Yeagerish (well competent...). I thought it was well worth the extra hour of flight time.
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frost
sounds like a good plan im not all that nervous but its a test and theres no getting away from that
its booked for tommorow but looks like ill have to cancel thanks to the high winds forcast tommorow
right across the runway!!typical so close yet so far away
sounds like a good plan im not all that nervous but its a test and theres no getting away from that
its booked for tommorow but looks like ill have to cancel thanks to the high winds forcast tommorow
right across the runway!!typical so close yet so far away
Join Date: Mar 2007
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"You can also feature-crawl if you want to (otherwise known as IFR: I follow roads, railways, rivers, ...) even if that means a longer route."
This is a good piece of advice - on my skills test I spent 5 minutes working out the route finally told the instructor what I was doing and he said "Yes all looks very good, now why dont you just follow that railway line it takes you straight there..."
Good luck anyway - the main thing is try to enjoy it - it's the best feeling when you pass.
Last piece of advice is dont worry if you mess something up half way through, just gather your thoughts and show good airmanship. Providing it wasnt dangerous there is very good chance that you will still get the pass. They are also looking to see how you handle things if something goes wrong..
This is a good piece of advice - on my skills test I spent 5 minutes working out the route finally told the instructor what I was doing and he said "Yes all looks very good, now why dont you just follow that railway line it takes you straight there..."
Good luck anyway - the main thing is try to enjoy it - it's the best feeling when you pass.
Last piece of advice is dont worry if you mess something up half way through, just gather your thoughts and show good airmanship. Providing it wasnt dangerous there is very good chance that you will still get the pass. They are also looking to see how you handle things if something goes wrong..
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I guess I'm ready as I'll ever be fingers crossed I'll post back on here if it goes ahead tommorow thanks again for everyone's help and advice !
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hi all
just to let everyone know the test went ahead today albeit breezy conditions!and ive passed it
so pleased today the examiner was super calm and re assuring cant believe its all done now after 3 years and tonnes of cancelled lessons!!
thank you again to everyone for putting my mind at rest
just to let everyone know the test went ahead today albeit breezy conditions!and ive passed it
so pleased today the examiner was super calm and re assuring cant believe its all done now after 3 years and tonnes of cancelled lessons!!
thank you again to everyone for putting my mind at rest
Join Date: May 2009
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Well done
Its a load off your shoulders now I bet, it was for me!
I passed about 3 months ago, get that form and your money sent mate!
Its nice to return home from work and see a nice brown licence fall out of an envelope
Nice one!!
Its a load off your shoulders now I bet, it was for me!
I passed about 3 months ago, get that form and your money sent mate!
Its nice to return home from work and see a nice brown licence fall out of an envelope
Nice one!!
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for anyone who is interested here is a brief write up of the days events ill try and keep it fairly short as its not my auto biography!
ok so today is the planned test
checked the weather and not 100% its suitable as the wind is gusting a phone call to my examiner to give my opinion.
he agrees its a blustery but the wind is almost on the runway only 10degrees crosswind so its a case of lets give it a go!
i was a bit nervous understandably but also relaxed because ive studied none stop over the last 2weeks just wanted to get it done and passed
after the planning brief its off we go short take off due to the 25kts of headwind!almost VTOL !
set course overhead Uttox all looking good next stone then Nantwich and finally Wreham.
i was expecting something to go wrong with the nav work but actually nothing did i arrived a little early over the planned towns but apart from that all looking good!
then we tracked the TNT VOR which was straightforward (practiced on flight sim so that helped) overhead Leek time for the diversion to Hixon Disused worked it all out and gave an ETA Hixon turned up bang on the nose by now i was feeling quite relaxed as everything i did worked out correctly so i must have been doing something write, either that or i was using the force!!
time for the handling manuovers by now my stomach was killing i had no breakfast and it was bumpy up the there
i didnt need to worry as they were all fine
i will say that conditions were not exactly great for the skills test but it was do able and the landing jesus we were getting blown about everywhere but i got it down ok
so there you have it 3 years 7 exams and £12,000 of hard earned money paid off,of which couldnt have been done without the help of my girlfriend supporting me
next thing will prob be a conversion to a PA28 so can take my family up with me then IR if finances permit after xmas
sorry for waffling on but has been a great day today !!
ok so today is the planned test
checked the weather and not 100% its suitable as the wind is gusting a phone call to my examiner to give my opinion.
he agrees its a blustery but the wind is almost on the runway only 10degrees crosswind so its a case of lets give it a go!
i was a bit nervous understandably but also relaxed because ive studied none stop over the last 2weeks just wanted to get it done and passed
after the planning brief its off we go short take off due to the 25kts of headwind!almost VTOL !
set course overhead Uttox all looking good next stone then Nantwich and finally Wreham.
i was expecting something to go wrong with the nav work but actually nothing did i arrived a little early over the planned towns but apart from that all looking good!
then we tracked the TNT VOR which was straightforward (practiced on flight sim so that helped) overhead Leek time for the diversion to Hixon Disused worked it all out and gave an ETA Hixon turned up bang on the nose by now i was feeling quite relaxed as everything i did worked out correctly so i must have been doing something write, either that or i was using the force!!
time for the handling manuovers by now my stomach was killing i had no breakfast and it was bumpy up the there
i didnt need to worry as they were all fine
i will say that conditions were not exactly great for the skills test but it was do able and the landing jesus we were getting blown about everywhere but i got it down ok
so there you have it 3 years 7 exams and £12,000 of hard earned money paid off,of which couldnt have been done without the help of my girlfriend supporting me
next thing will prob be a conversion to a PA28 so can take my family up with me then IR if finances permit after xmas
sorry for waffling on but has been a great day today !!