Student pilot why so nervous on check rides
Avoid imitations
Join Date: Nov 2000
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If you're nervous - just imagine how your examiner must feel..... 
Seriously, I've been flying 30 yrs and still never produce my best on a check ride, for exactly the same reason as everyone else who has said so....
Seriously, I've been flying 30 yrs and still never produce my best on a check ride, for exactly the same reason as everyone else who has said so....
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Mjc269,
You are definately not alone, I was the same when I first started flying, on my ppl (fixed wing) flight test in 1983 I was nervous and told my examiner. The conversation went like this...
Me. "I'm a bit nervous today about this test"
Examiner. "Are you planning flying as a career"
Me. "Yes I want to get my commercial"
Examiner, "Well you might as well stop being nervous about flight tests, if you are going to be a pilot you will be doing them every year for the rest of your life"
That comment always stuck with me and made me realise that nobody was forcing me to do a flight test. It was MY CHOICE to be there in the plane with the examiner. I wanted to be a pilot and nobody was going to stop me!
Then I read another article about flight tests, the author said he saw each one as a personal challenge and an opportunity to improve his flying. He would either blitz the test, or learn something from it. Even a failure would result in a long term benefit (Ie. a lesson learned)
Now an ATPL fixed wing Grade 1 Instructor, 19 Instrument renewals, CPL H with 7000 total hours, I can honestly say that I renewals or any form of check ride is just routine...
So my question to you...
Do you want to be a commercial pilot?....
You are definately not alone, I was the same when I first started flying, on my ppl (fixed wing) flight test in 1983 I was nervous and told my examiner. The conversation went like this...
Me. "I'm a bit nervous today about this test"
Examiner. "Are you planning flying as a career"
Me. "Yes I want to get my commercial"
Examiner, "Well you might as well stop being nervous about flight tests, if you are going to be a pilot you will be doing them every year for the rest of your life"
That comment always stuck with me and made me realise that nobody was forcing me to do a flight test. It was MY CHOICE to be there in the plane with the examiner. I wanted to be a pilot and nobody was going to stop me!
Then I read another article about flight tests, the author said he saw each one as a personal challenge and an opportunity to improve his flying. He would either blitz the test, or learn something from it. Even a failure would result in a long term benefit (Ie. a lesson learned)
Now an ATPL fixed wing Grade 1 Instructor, 19 Instrument renewals, CPL H with 7000 total hours, I can honestly say that I renewals or any form of check ride is just routine...
So my question to you...
Do you want to be a commercial pilot?....
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mjc269 - good interesting thread.
Check rides are never easy. As a PPL examiner and TRE I try to offer checks to pilots as an opportunity to practice maneuvers that they would not normally do. This is not to catch them out or put them under undue pressure but to try and build confidence. The only way to improve skills whether it is an ILS approach or engine off landing is to practice. Unfortunately unless you are in the training environment is very difficult to practice for real because of the expense.
Being a hangar pilot is a really good idea as is the use of PC based flight sims. Personally I find check rides difficult even though I fly with some very tolerant and understanding training captains. I do take the opportunity to iron out any problems and always maintain a positive view.
The great thing with flying helicopters is it’s a skill that can be continually improved on. I have learnt just as much from low hour pilots as well as the more experienced.
Check rides are never easy. As a PPL examiner and TRE I try to offer checks to pilots as an opportunity to practice maneuvers that they would not normally do. This is not to catch them out or put them under undue pressure but to try and build confidence. The only way to improve skills whether it is an ILS approach or engine off landing is to practice. Unfortunately unless you are in the training environment is very difficult to practice for real because of the expense.
Being a hangar pilot is a really good idea as is the use of PC based flight sims. Personally I find check rides difficult even though I fly with some very tolerant and understanding training captains. I do take the opportunity to iron out any problems and always maintain a positive view.
The great thing with flying helicopters is it’s a skill that can be continually improved on. I have learnt just as much from low hour pilots as well as the more experienced.
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Have had great problems with 'testitus' myself.
One night, howling crosswind, viz nil, bumpy as
and I had the ils nailed to the centre of the HSI.
Next day, 8/8ths sunshine, no wind, bird tweeting, examiner in the left and I couldn't find the same ILS into the same airfield for toffee!!!!
Sod's law really. You try so hard to prove and impress that the situational awareness goes out the window. I have also seen exactly this in students.
Best solution, become a train driver, no seriously.... relax, chill and enjoy.
W2P
One night, howling crosswind, viz nil, bumpy as
and I had the ils nailed to the centre of the HSI.Next day, 8/8ths sunshine, no wind, bird tweeting, examiner in the left and I couldn't find the same ILS into the same airfield for toffee!!!!
Sod's law really. You try so hard to prove and impress that the situational awareness goes out the window. I have also seen exactly this in students.
Best solution, become a train driver, no seriously.... relax, chill and enjoy.
W2P
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No Choo Choo
Most Train drivers that I have met have some serious issues that thankfully denies a train to much other than go forward and back.
It is a stressful job honestly...and real boring.
LOL
HF
It is a stressful job honestly...and real boring.
LOL
HF
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NickLappos got it right, preparing too much can make your performance even worse.
A few weeks ago i had the opposite happen to me, had a normal standby duty when they called me at 5:00am and told me to go on a 12 hour duty to get my 6 months check done (fixed winger simulator, deadheading to and from, briefing time, 4 hours in the simulator). Of course i wasn't prepared since my check was only due the next month. I panicked a bit but then just got my stuff and went to deadhead to the simulator, met my captain for the day on the plane who was even more panicking since he was prepared to fly on the right seat (RTC) and had to fly now on the left one. Went into the simulator, the TRE gave me the choice to fly the check as check or just as assisting crewmember but i decided to have a go to get it done. Although i wasnt prepared, didnt study had no time to get my mind into the "check" status it was the best check i've ever flown so far.
Not studying at all is bad as well, but the ramped up studying before a check is due, trying to get the details with what TRE and what other crewmember you fly etc can make you enter the check in an already way too nervous atmosphere. Just flying the damn thing and trying to get it as right as on the line is the best you can try to do.
A few weeks ago i had the opposite happen to me, had a normal standby duty when they called me at 5:00am and told me to go on a 12 hour duty to get my 6 months check done (fixed winger simulator, deadheading to and from, briefing time, 4 hours in the simulator). Of course i wasn't prepared since my check was only due the next month. I panicked a bit but then just got my stuff and went to deadhead to the simulator, met my captain for the day on the plane who was even more panicking since he was prepared to fly on the right seat (RTC) and had to fly now on the left one. Went into the simulator, the TRE gave me the choice to fly the check as check or just as assisting crewmember but i decided to have a go to get it done. Although i wasnt prepared, didnt study had no time to get my mind into the "check" status it was the best check i've ever flown so far.
Not studying at all is bad as well, but the ramped up studying before a check is due, trying to get the details with what TRE and what other crewmember you fly etc can make you enter the check in an already way too nervous atmosphere. Just flying the damn thing and trying to get it as right as on the line is the best you can try to do.
Denti,
exactly what I was saying earlier; the check is just to confirm you can do what is expected of you every time you fly the line.
exactly what I was saying earlier; the check is just to confirm you can do what is expected of you every time you fly the line.
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Just before my initial IRT I asked for guidance from an older and much wiser pilot. His words of advice? - "Make sure your shoes are polished. Then when it's all going to rats**t you can look at your feet and console yourself with the fact that at least your shoes look better than his"!
It worked for me.
It worked for me.
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mjc269,
Well i think your getting the msg now chap, we all suffer!
One thing that i have found on the checkride, nevermind which one and with whom.... nerves play their part and you sometimes doubt yourself and it all goes horribly wrong.
However, encounter an emergency when your out working, whether it be a light or an engine out, then your professionlism carries you through.... your focussed and all that you have learnt and experienced comes into play.
And why do you feel different when it happens for real?, because you dont have someone looking over your shoulder watching your every move!.... but your check pilots and training captains are a wealth of experience for you to learn from, take every opportunity, remember that they have been there to, and are there to help.
happy flying
Well i think your getting the msg now chap, we all suffer!
One thing that i have found on the checkride, nevermind which one and with whom.... nerves play their part and you sometimes doubt yourself and it all goes horribly wrong.
However, encounter an emergency when your out working, whether it be a light or an engine out, then your professionlism carries you through.... your focussed and all that you have learnt and experienced comes into play.
And why do you feel different when it happens for real?, because you dont have someone looking over your shoulder watching your every move!.... but your check pilots and training captains are a wealth of experience for you to learn from, take every opportunity, remember that they have been there to, and are there to help.
happy flying
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Letsby, same here I'll meet you on that island with a pina colada if I don't get chopped first! 
Rick
PS. Just passed LPC/OPC no probs...it's all about proper training
Rick
PS. Just passed LPC/OPC no probs...it's all about proper training
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cja
dont worry man i have been in the industry for over 20 years and still sh,t meself every medical and every ppc/ipc whick is every 6 months these days,,handg in there dude..back to the vb green cans
dont worry man i have been in the industry for over 20 years and still sh,t meself every medical and every ppc/ipc whick is every 6 months these days,,handg in there dude..back to the vb green cans
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Quite agree Cylic... I was amazed at how much I didn't know after my 'Conversion' which became apparent over the next few OPCs with the Chief 'Trapper' No Pina Coladas where I'm going I'm afraid, can't quite afford the Carribean...
No Pina Coladas where I'm going I'm afraid, can't quite afford the Carribean...
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Huskie, I agree....
With little typical notice for our check rides, I pretty much enjoyed them because I got to do the stuff I couldn't do without the IP saying to, or to explain what he wanted me to do. made a better day-to-day pilot out of me generally.
What would really grinched me was flying again in the co-pilot seat (left for us in Hueys) after umpteen hundreds of hours in the right as AC -- whole different feel to the situation -- with the Old Man as AC.
What would really grinched me was flying again in the co-pilot seat (left for us in Hueys) after umpteen hundreds of hours in the right as AC -- whole different feel to the situation -- with the Old Man as AC.
