silly CPL or IR exam mistakes
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Hoylake
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Complaining that you have only had 15 hours flight time is not an excuse and don't even try to talk to me about high workload....
You do know the basics for what you need and a few shortcuts, but if someone went messing with the settings beforehand and its not covered in a checklist, then with the pressures of the day you can see how it would be missed.
Its not practical to sit in the A/C and 'play' with it on the ground, flattens the batteries to quickly, fotunately the school I went to had a G1000 sim set up on a PC to play with.
Wait until you try to depart a noise sensitive airport, using conventional naviation, dealing with flaps and speeds and ATC for the Pilot Flying, without infringing any of the regs, its bloody hard work.
Join Date: Oct 2008
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If its not in the checklists and you havent checked it off your own back then dont use it. If you've planned everything correctly then its nice to have a litlle look at the wind arrow to confirm, but even if was telling me something totally different from what I planned, I would just bear it in mind when I made my correction. But as said before, you should get used to flying with Aux 1 displayed. Its got all the info you need
Join Date: Apr 2007
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I thought these glass cockpits were supposed to make things easier!?
Where I went, (Seneca II) most partials seemed to be caused by busting MDAs by a few feet. Easily done, get it next time. Good luck!
Where I went, (Seneca II) most partials seemed to be caused by busting MDAs by a few feet. Easily done, get it next time. Good luck!
Chaps and Chapesses.
I wouldn't get stressed about mistakes during your CPL / IR tests. (The first time around only).
There are no super pilots, and sadly some of those people who believe that you can only get a job with a first time pass in everything are deluding themselves. Its about personality.
Use it as a learning experience.
I totally screwed up my CPL and I was really miffed about it. Not because I wasted money, but because I had uncovered several areas of my airmanship was not upto standard. There were holes in my knowledge. A simple request from ATC although out of the ordinary totally threw me out of kilter.
After the test, I decided to look at my options and take some advice from some very experienced pilots. (Mil and test pilots).
I hit the books again, rebuilt my handling skills (something that I was always very proficient at) I then completed my Instructor rating - it boosted my confidence and increased my knowledge.
Then came the IR - no problems - excellent compliments from the examiner.
Finally the CPL about 12 months after I first took it. An absolute breeze, couldn't understand what all the problems were.
I think we all get to hung up on trying to complete everything in the least hours (partly cost and partly pride). Experience and organisation in the cockpit are what count.
I walked straight into a job after finishing, not because I had +90% in all my exams, or first time passes or that I did a fully intergrated course. I had none of these. I have personality and experience, thats what people want when they are going to sit next to you for 8 hrs a day.
It is an incredibly rewarding job - please don't stress about it.
And yes I still make mistakes - that is why it is two crew in most operations.
Enjoy it and the rest will follow.
I wouldn't get stressed about mistakes during your CPL / IR tests. (The first time around only).
There are no super pilots, and sadly some of those people who believe that you can only get a job with a first time pass in everything are deluding themselves. Its about personality.
Use it as a learning experience.
I totally screwed up my CPL and I was really miffed about it. Not because I wasted money, but because I had uncovered several areas of my airmanship was not upto standard. There were holes in my knowledge. A simple request from ATC although out of the ordinary totally threw me out of kilter.
After the test, I decided to look at my options and take some advice from some very experienced pilots. (Mil and test pilots).
I hit the books again, rebuilt my handling skills (something that I was always very proficient at) I then completed my Instructor rating - it boosted my confidence and increased my knowledge.
Then came the IR - no problems - excellent compliments from the examiner.
Finally the CPL about 12 months after I first took it. An absolute breeze, couldn't understand what all the problems were.
I think we all get to hung up on trying to complete everything in the least hours (partly cost and partly pride). Experience and organisation in the cockpit are what count.
I walked straight into a job after finishing, not because I had +90% in all my exams, or first time passes or that I did a fully intergrated course. I had none of these. I have personality and experience, thats what people want when they are going to sit next to you for 8 hrs a day.
It is an incredibly rewarding job - please don't stress about it.
And yes I still make mistakes - that is why it is two crew in most operations.
Enjoy it and the rest will follow.
Why on earth do I need modesty!
Only joking, I am only trying to point out that passes are one thing. However there is a great deal more required to becoming a pilot than basing it all on a couple of flight tests.
Yes a personality is very important. Although for a couple of companies the less you have the better. They can walk all over you.
Good luck all.
Only joking, I am only trying to point out that passes are one thing. However there is a great deal more required to becoming a pilot than basing it all on a couple of flight tests.
Yes a personality is very important. Although for a couple of companies the less you have the better. They can walk all over you.
Good luck all.
Join Date: Jun 2006
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FWIW, I [somehow, god only knows how!] passed CPL and IR first time. I don't think it makes me anything other than qualified - which everyone else who has passed the skills tests is as well.
I hold my fATPL with a faint degree of pride at being able to achieve it, but in wider terms, I'm very very aware that it means nothing other than I'm no longer a complete beginner. I have an awful lot to learn and intend on doing just that....Now if I could just find that [flying] job....
I hold my fATPL with a faint degree of pride at being able to achieve it, but in wider terms, I'm very very aware that it means nothing other than I'm no longer a complete beginner. I have an awful lot to learn and intend on doing just that....Now if I could just find that [flying] job....
I can't remember what the request was, I think it was something very basic.
I seem to remember that the aircraft went tech at start up. So I climbed into a different Arrow, with some differences to the Nav suite.
I was under Radar Advisory when I was asked by Coventry what radial I was on from a VOR and the DME distance.
However I didn't have that VOR tuned in, (as I seem to remember that it was the Nav stage and we couldn't use nav aids as it was purely VFR. (However I am happy to stand corrected)).
By the time I had found the frequency, tuned in, idented it, found the radial and DME, I had covered some ground.
I looked out and realised I wasn't where I expected to be. I had drifted off course. I managed to work out where I was and make a correction to the final point. A small race track I think. I did it on time and to the right location but it caused a bit of a stress and un-nerved me for the rest of the flight.
I thought that the examiner was a bit unfair. But hey I was the captain it was my responsibility.
It was with hindsight probabaly the best thing that happened to me.
Don't get mad, get better.
I seem to remember that the aircraft went tech at start up. So I climbed into a different Arrow, with some differences to the Nav suite.
I was under Radar Advisory when I was asked by Coventry what radial I was on from a VOR and the DME distance.
However I didn't have that VOR tuned in, (as I seem to remember that it was the Nav stage and we couldn't use nav aids as it was purely VFR. (However I am happy to stand corrected)).
By the time I had found the frequency, tuned in, idented it, found the radial and DME, I had covered some ground.
I looked out and realised I wasn't where I expected to be. I had drifted off course. I managed to work out where I was and make a correction to the final point. A small race track I think. I did it on time and to the right location but it caused a bit of a stress and un-nerved me for the rest of the flight.
I thought that the examiner was a bit unfair. But hey I was the captain it was my responsibility.
It was with hindsight probabaly the best thing that happened to me.
Don't get mad, get better.
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Southhampton, uk
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i flew the test perfectly. Then on NDB approach, exam almost finished, ATC instructed "break left" and I turned right. Amost flew into other traffic in circuit and examiner had to take control. Examiner almost had a heart attack. No need to tell you about the test result. As they say, don't scare the examiner. 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: doncaster
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CPL Tragedy that turned out OK!!!!! And it is all true!!!
Day of the the test arrived for the CPL, i felt ready. Kids were up all night before so got naff all sleep. Trudged the 45 miles to Humberside to take the test, had had a look at the weather briefly before i left but nevre printed it off as it was 6am and printer was up the swanny. Arrived at flight school 8am to find out that the entire Airport was under a powercut, so no direct internet met as i was used to we phoned appropriate sources and got some.
Tension was now building.
Examiner arrived and we went through everything. As one of our other students was redoing an engine failure partial pass after me the head of training went off with him first in the other plane we have (beech dutchess) and went to get him ready for his retake.
As only me and examiner were left at the school head of Tr asked me to drop the latch on the door when we left.
All went well till i dropped the latch on the door and realised i left the tech log in the school and could not get back in.
Anyway we dashed to the airfield luckly the HOT was still getting the other plane out of hangar. The H.o.t and examiner had a chat and agrred the TECH log was not an issue. Thank god i did not have to go back to the school 2 miles away.
Got in the plane on the apron and watched as the other plane and hot took off for an hours trip to training area. Then as we started the brief in the plane the examiner said show me your planned route i gave you.
HOLY F**K where is my map searching everywhere!!!!! NO way its in the school!!!!
Explain that one????? I said as we have no map we cannot go!!! Good answer he replied you can use mine!!!
What a star, so off we went with me and no drift lines etc. lolol cant even remember the enroute winds??? as they were on my map luckily they are on the plog.
Off we go enroute, to first point and all was on time and then he gave me a divert. Bol**x my plotter is in the map.
So here i am trying to plot course and measure with no plotter to get to sherburn. I estimate 30 miles and a track of 230 degs.
As we get going i see i am aboiut 5- 10 miles to right and try to adjust , all is going pete tongue in the brain as you imagine.
Then i notice sherburn has an NDB tune it up get a qdm and back on track.
Eventually i ident sherburn and vis is getting crapper. and we go to doncaster for circuits. Lucky cos i live on end of runway 20 we route in and cannot get visual till about 2 miles.lol but i know i am straight towards it as the A614 runs straight to it. Never thought to tune ADF in (idiot) any way rest of it went ok.
other minor issues and i thought i had bombed it totally.
His words were a scrappy affair but a pass!!! Apparently i used initiative and didnt let the probs phase me hence the pass
Could not belive it. I went out and got trollied. lolol
Next week i have my IR test and have had the Low Altitude enroutechart tattooed on my forearm.
This is no BS story!!! all true
So the Examniers arent monsters
Tension was now building.
Examiner arrived and we went through everything. As one of our other students was redoing an engine failure partial pass after me the head of training went off with him first in the other plane we have (beech dutchess) and went to get him ready for his retake.
As only me and examiner were left at the school head of Tr asked me to drop the latch on the door when we left.
All went well till i dropped the latch on the door and realised i left the tech log in the school and could not get back in.
Anyway we dashed to the airfield luckly the HOT was still getting the other plane out of hangar. The H.o.t and examiner had a chat and agrred the TECH log was not an issue. Thank god i did not have to go back to the school 2 miles away.
Got in the plane on the apron and watched as the other plane and hot took off for an hours trip to training area. Then as we started the brief in the plane the examiner said show me your planned route i gave you.
HOLY F**K where is my map searching everywhere!!!!! NO way its in the school!!!!
Explain that one????? I said as we have no map we cannot go!!! Good answer he replied you can use mine!!!
What a star, so off we went with me and no drift lines etc. lolol cant even remember the enroute winds??? as they were on my map luckily they are on the plog.
Off we go enroute, to first point and all was on time and then he gave me a divert. Bol**x my plotter is in the map.
So here i am trying to plot course and measure with no plotter to get to sherburn. I estimate 30 miles and a track of 230 degs.
As we get going i see i am aboiut 5- 10 miles to right and try to adjust , all is going pete tongue in the brain as you imagine.
Then i notice sherburn has an NDB tune it up get a qdm and back on track.
Eventually i ident sherburn and vis is getting crapper. and we go to doncaster for circuits. Lucky cos i live on end of runway 20 we route in and cannot get visual till about 2 miles.lol but i know i am straight towards it as the A614 runs straight to it. Never thought to tune ADF in (idiot) any way rest of it went ok.
other minor issues and i thought i had bombed it totally.
His words were a scrappy affair but a pass!!! Apparently i used initiative and didnt let the probs phase me hence the pass
Could not belive it. I went out and got trollied. lolol
Next week i have my IR test and have had the Low Altitude enroutechart tattooed on my forearm.
This is no BS story!!! all true
So the Examniers arent monsters
Join Date: Nov 2007
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Approx 1500ft agl examiner says "Mmm its not climbing very well today is it". Not one to take a hint easily, I said, "Err, no".
1600ft agl examiner says "This aircraft isn't usually this bad at climbing..."
1601ft agl I retract the landing gear, turn to the examiner and give him a feeble smile.
1600ft agl examiner says "This aircraft isn't usually this bad at climbing..."
1601ft agl I retract the landing gear, turn to the examiner and give him a feeble smile.
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: a flight level far far away ...
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"Then i notice sherburn has an NDB tune it up get a qdm and back on track."
On my CPL course, I was told that you were not allowed to use nav aids on the diversion leg of the flight ...
On my CPL course, I was told that you were not allowed to use nav aids on the diversion leg of the flight ...
