Skills Test in few weeks
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 50
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From: uk
Skills Test in few weeks
Hey All,
got my skills test in few weeks. Not sure I am ready but instructor thinks so. What sort of questions the examiner likely to ask? Been told really need to remeber most the POH?
Any tips?
Also doing it on the same day in 2 seperate flights is that wise?
got my skills test in few weeks. Not sure I am ready but instructor thinks so. What sort of questions the examiner likely to ask? Been told really need to remeber most the POH?
Any tips?
Also doing it on the same day in 2 seperate flights is that wise?
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,366
Likes: 0
From: UK
2 flights? Is this an LAPL you're going for?
If you're not ready, don't do it, or nerves will get the better of you and you'll fail.
Typical questions will be to question your pre-flight planning, starting with simple weight and balance questions. If you get the simple ones wrong they usually probe deeper to get to know your level of understanding.
If you're not ready, don't do it, or nerves will get the better of you and you'll fail.
Typical questions will be to question your pre-flight planning, starting with simple weight and balance questions. If you get the simple ones wrong they usually probe deeper to get to know your level of understanding.
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
From: Banbury
Passed mine last month. Actual licence arrived in just two weeks!
Questions i was asked about the C152 -
Max Cross wind.
Best rate of climb.
Range.
Fuel Capacity of normal tanks (as opposed to long range versions).
Talked about couple of scenarios plus talked through ALL of the excercises i was expected to do as part of the test during the pre-flight briefing.
My Examiner was a Captain that flies for Flybe. A v nice and laid back chap.
The test wasnt as intense as i was expecting.
Good luck and let us know how you get on
Questions i was asked about the C152 -
Max Cross wind.
Best rate of climb.
Range.
Fuel Capacity of normal tanks (as opposed to long range versions).
Talked about couple of scenarios plus talked through ALL of the excercises i was expected to do as part of the test during the pre-flight briefing.
My Examiner was a Captain that flies for Flybe. A v nice and laid back chap.
The test wasnt as intense as i was expecting.
Good luck and let us know how you get on
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Dublin
I did my PPL skills test on a C152 last year. It is best to know your POH inside out but if you are not sure of something just tell the examiner that you don't know but you can look it up in the POH. Once he/she knows that you can find the answer in the POH they are happy.
Do know your speeds, weights and take-off/landing distances.
My test was also over 2 flights as my examiner was a heavy guy so i had to come back and refuel before doing the circuits!
At the end of the day the examiner just wants to see that you are safe and not going to get yourself killed so just relax and try and enjoy the test. If you do anything wrong just keep on flying and forget about it.
Best of Luck.
Do know your speeds, weights and take-off/landing distances.
My test was also over 2 flights as my examiner was a heavy guy so i had to come back and refuel before doing the circuits!
At the end of the day the examiner just wants to see that you are safe and not going to get yourself killed so just relax and try and enjoy the test. If you do anything wrong just keep on flying and forget about it.
Best of Luck.
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 918
Likes: 2
From: Cambridge
One thing I was advised to do on mine, and did do (both on my PPL and IR tests), was to identify myself as a student on a skills test, eg: "G-XXXX, student pilot on skills test request radar information service" (yes, it was a few years ago! 
)
It was a very good idea as the ATCs I talked to were very helpful.
Best of luck!
)It was a very good idea as the ATCs I talked to were very helpful.
Best of luck!
Last edited by Jonzarno; 15th August 2013 at 20:45.
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 378
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From: In a hole somewhere
Good luck and report back theresult
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 477
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From: East Midlands
No real need for nerves - just do what you've already been doing... The skills test is just a final check by an independent third party (the examiner) that you're doing things safely and competently, such that you can continue to do it in future without the oversight of an instructor each time.
The thing I was told to bear in mind about the skills test was as follows:
The thing I was told to bear in mind about the skills test was as follows:
By the time you do your skills test you are already a safe and competent pilot. You have demonstrated that you can plan, fly and navigate, and if things go wrong you can sort it all out and get back on the ground. If that was not the case, they wouldn't let you take off solo in an aeroplane and fly around the circuit or do a solo cross cross country.
Sure you can muck it up - but there's no unexpected gotchas, just do what you've already been doing both with an instructor and on your own (solo).
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: Stockport
Passed my PPL skills test a couple of weeks ago.
During the planning stage was asked to demonstrate that W&B was within limits and asked if the runway where we would do the various approaches was long enough for our aircraft and the days weather conditions.
At the end of the flight there were various general aircraft questions such as type of flaps fitted, which of 2 specified instruments would be affected by loss of static pressure, etc.
On such technical issues as above I would suggest revising things you need to know in the air such as what is affected by loss of pitot/static pressure and vaccum, what the symptoms are and how to correct. You can't look such things up in the PoH when you're flying.
Anything you feel rusty on revise, if it's flying ask your instructor to take you through them. Try to get your response to emergencies/unusual attitudes as an automatic reaction, bit like changing gear in a car.
As others have said, the examiner is looking to make sure you can fly safely, make safe decisions, not infringe airspace and talk to ATC correctly, he is not looking for perfection. He will do all he can to make you feel relaxed and if you can do that you should be fine.
If your FI thinks you are ready then you are but you need to be confident as well so if you feel a few more hours training will help say so.
Good luck
During the planning stage was asked to demonstrate that W&B was within limits and asked if the runway where we would do the various approaches was long enough for our aircraft and the days weather conditions.
At the end of the flight there were various general aircraft questions such as type of flaps fitted, which of 2 specified instruments would be affected by loss of static pressure, etc.
On such technical issues as above I would suggest revising things you need to know in the air such as what is affected by loss of pitot/static pressure and vaccum, what the symptoms are and how to correct. You can't look such things up in the PoH when you're flying.
Anything you feel rusty on revise, if it's flying ask your instructor to take you through them. Try to get your response to emergencies/unusual attitudes as an automatic reaction, bit like changing gear in a car.
As others have said, the examiner is looking to make sure you can fly safely, make safe decisions, not infringe airspace and talk to ATC correctly, he is not looking for perfection. He will do all he can to make you feel relaxed and if you can do that you should be fine.
If your FI thinks you are ready then you are but you need to be confident as well so if you feel a few more hours training will help say so.
Good luck
