Meanee
Line Up and Wait
So, here I am, glaring at my brand new document: Notice of disapproval. According to DPE, I aced everything except turn around the point. But I feel kind of empty due to the way checkride was done. I feel that it was not really a "checkride experience"
I arrived about 1 hour earlier than scheduled, to play with GNS430 simulator and review aircraft records. Met my DPE. Helped him to get into IACRA (airport had some internet issues). And after all paperwork was done, he gave me a briefing. He told me that we will chat a little bit about aircraft, cross country, limitations, etc. After reviewing my written score (I got 92), he was fairly impressed. Not sure what candidates he sees usually. Also, I was given a full blow by blow checkride process. He told me that there will be no surprises, told me when exactly he will pull the engine, etc. Told me my first takeoff will be Short Field w. Obstacle.
So, he started oral. Asked me for airplane maintenance records, and REVIEWED THEM HIMSELF. Did not ask me a thing. I showed him my XC plan, which I've done on a computer, with color coding and all with a blank stare. When I pulled out 1st sectional, I showed him with a pencil where we are going. He told me right away that my planned altitude of 6500 feet is a bit excessive for this ride. He said planning was good and altitude was good, but we would not get a chance to get that high and I should expect 3000. But for the purpose of the plan, he said it was good thinking. Told me that he expects me to find and show 1st or 2nd checkpoint and then we will stop with XC. And mentioned that more I talk and point things out during XC, the faster it will be done.
Next, night questions. Gave me a scenario that my ammeter breaker popped and I am not far from local class C airport, at night. And he was surprised with my decision not to reset the breaker. I told him that I'd rather lose power than start fire. And if anything, I have a portable radio. Then came light gun signals, which I was not 100% sure, but answered correctly. He mentioned that we will do short field takeoff and asked what speed we will use to go over obstacle. Airport markings flash cards came next. Good thing I brushed up on ILS and APCH. And that's it. Oral over. 30 minutes. He told me to go preflight alone, and he will watch from terminal building. Oh, and he told me that there's no need to activate my flight plan...
Preflight took me a bit longer due to engine sump showing some particles. After that, loaded up in a plane. First thing he tells me "Consider me briefed" without me mentioning anything.
I made a nice liftoff, and departed on crosswind leg. Had to deviate a bit from my plan to avoid cutting through a small corner of airspace, but I planned first leg to follow a major highway. Returned to it 2 minutes later. First checkpoint was about 20nm away. 2 minutes after the flight, he points me to a small town, and asks me to identify it. I look at the map, notice how the road bends, find the same thing on the map and tell him the town name. That's it, he told me that I am done with my XC portion. So much for the Detroit sectional I had to overnight.
He took the controls, told me to grab the hood. Assigned me altitude and heading. Flew like this for a minute. Told me that I accidentally got into a cloud, and asked me to make a 180 turn. Done that. He took controls again, did a nose-low attitude and told me to recover. After that, hood portion is over. No climbs, descends, under-hood-to-VOR. No nose-high recovery.
Next, slow flight. Did a straight and level, and turn to the right and left. That's it. No altitude work. NO STALL RECOVERIES!
Then, steep turn which I had to redo. Was too busy with altitude to realize I turned past my rollout. I was allowed a redo. Done it perfectly fine.
Then, as he told me during briefing, he pulled the throttle, lowered flaps. And told me WHERE to land. It was not very good, but passable according to him. Wind carried me too far from the field he pointed out (grass field airport), but there were plenty of straight roads and regular fields. So, I could've easily made it to the ground.
Next, comes the VOR "work". He already tuned the VOR on NAV2, and told me to take him to it. This is while Garmin was on moving map and VOR was there in plain sight. I reached for the audio panel to enable ident, but he told me that there was no need to do it. Fine, took him to the VOR.
As for GRE's, he told me he'd let me pick. Either turn around the point or the S turn. I selected a church as a point and attempted to make a turn. But 25G30 wind was a little bit too much for me. "Do you want to continue?". I figured that sure. Let me continue, and less chance for me to screw something up on a retake.
I was told to go do a full stop landing at local Class C (KABE). He already had approach dialed in. I contacted approach, got a squawk code, and was asked if I have ATIS, which I didn't. Was told to come back when I get ATIS. Got it, all ok, cleared into C, reported field in sight, got cleared to land, landed. Even though runway was 31, and wind was 340, it was still 25G30. There was a lot of crabbing on final, but landed fine. Rolled out, told tower that I wanted to go to local FBO. Back in briefing, DPE told me that he expects me to go there, chat with clearance, ground, tower, etc. When I taxied clear of runway, he looks at me and tells me "Didn't I ask you to depart right away?" and I had to remind him about the briefing. He told me that he's confident in my radio work and no need to do any of the requested tasks. I radioed the tower, got clearance to depart to home field.
He wanted to do some short/soft field landings, but I told him that I have to retake anyway, and I do not feel that short/soft field landings should be demonstrated with winds like these. He agreed. I flew over the field, joined downwind, and found myself about 600 feet above the runway on final. Called for a go-around, came back, landed.
At debriefing he said that all tasks, save for turn around the point were excellent. Poweroff landing was acceptable, but he wants to see it again. No stalls were shown. My notice of disapproval only requests to show following:
Takeoffs, Landings, Go arounds. He told me that I completed Go Around requirement already.
Ground reference Maneuvers
Emergency Operations
So, Short/Soft field landings (he already seen normal, and short field takeoff), GRM, and one engine out is all I need to show him. Yet still, I feel I got a "free ride" on a lot of things. No stalls were demonstrated. Could've done more slow flight. VOR was already tuned for me. No flight following, no activating/terminating flight plans.
I arrived about 1 hour earlier than scheduled, to play with GNS430 simulator and review aircraft records. Met my DPE. Helped him to get into IACRA (airport had some internet issues). And after all paperwork was done, he gave me a briefing. He told me that we will chat a little bit about aircraft, cross country, limitations, etc. After reviewing my written score (I got 92), he was fairly impressed. Not sure what candidates he sees usually. Also, I was given a full blow by blow checkride process. He told me that there will be no surprises, told me when exactly he will pull the engine, etc. Told me my first takeoff will be Short Field w. Obstacle.
So, he started oral. Asked me for airplane maintenance records, and REVIEWED THEM HIMSELF. Did not ask me a thing. I showed him my XC plan, which I've done on a computer, with color coding and all with a blank stare. When I pulled out 1st sectional, I showed him with a pencil where we are going. He told me right away that my planned altitude of 6500 feet is a bit excessive for this ride. He said planning was good and altitude was good, but we would not get a chance to get that high and I should expect 3000. But for the purpose of the plan, he said it was good thinking. Told me that he expects me to find and show 1st or 2nd checkpoint and then we will stop with XC. And mentioned that more I talk and point things out during XC, the faster it will be done.
Next, night questions. Gave me a scenario that my ammeter breaker popped and I am not far from local class C airport, at night. And he was surprised with my decision not to reset the breaker. I told him that I'd rather lose power than start fire. And if anything, I have a portable radio. Then came light gun signals, which I was not 100% sure, but answered correctly. He mentioned that we will do short field takeoff and asked what speed we will use to go over obstacle. Airport markings flash cards came next. Good thing I brushed up on ILS and APCH. And that's it. Oral over. 30 minutes. He told me to go preflight alone, and he will watch from terminal building. Oh, and he told me that there's no need to activate my flight plan...
Preflight took me a bit longer due to engine sump showing some particles. After that, loaded up in a plane. First thing he tells me "Consider me briefed" without me mentioning anything.
I made a nice liftoff, and departed on crosswind leg. Had to deviate a bit from my plan to avoid cutting through a small corner of airspace, but I planned first leg to follow a major highway. Returned to it 2 minutes later. First checkpoint was about 20nm away. 2 minutes after the flight, he points me to a small town, and asks me to identify it. I look at the map, notice how the road bends, find the same thing on the map and tell him the town name. That's it, he told me that I am done with my XC portion. So much for the Detroit sectional I had to overnight.
He took the controls, told me to grab the hood. Assigned me altitude and heading. Flew like this for a minute. Told me that I accidentally got into a cloud, and asked me to make a 180 turn. Done that. He took controls again, did a nose-low attitude and told me to recover. After that, hood portion is over. No climbs, descends, under-hood-to-VOR. No nose-high recovery.
Next, slow flight. Did a straight and level, and turn to the right and left. That's it. No altitude work. NO STALL RECOVERIES!
Then, steep turn which I had to redo. Was too busy with altitude to realize I turned past my rollout. I was allowed a redo. Done it perfectly fine.
Then, as he told me during briefing, he pulled the throttle, lowered flaps. And told me WHERE to land. It was not very good, but passable according to him. Wind carried me too far from the field he pointed out (grass field airport), but there were plenty of straight roads and regular fields. So, I could've easily made it to the ground.
Next, comes the VOR "work". He already tuned the VOR on NAV2, and told me to take him to it. This is while Garmin was on moving map and VOR was there in plain sight. I reached for the audio panel to enable ident, but he told me that there was no need to do it. Fine, took him to the VOR.
As for GRE's, he told me he'd let me pick. Either turn around the point or the S turn. I selected a church as a point and attempted to make a turn. But 25G30 wind was a little bit too much for me. "Do you want to continue?". I figured that sure. Let me continue, and less chance for me to screw something up on a retake.
I was told to go do a full stop landing at local Class C (KABE). He already had approach dialed in. I contacted approach, got a squawk code, and was asked if I have ATIS, which I didn't. Was told to come back when I get ATIS. Got it, all ok, cleared into C, reported field in sight, got cleared to land, landed. Even though runway was 31, and wind was 340, it was still 25G30. There was a lot of crabbing on final, but landed fine. Rolled out, told tower that I wanted to go to local FBO. Back in briefing, DPE told me that he expects me to go there, chat with clearance, ground, tower, etc. When I taxied clear of runway, he looks at me and tells me "Didn't I ask you to depart right away?" and I had to remind him about the briefing. He told me that he's confident in my radio work and no need to do any of the requested tasks. I radioed the tower, got clearance to depart to home field.
He wanted to do some short/soft field landings, but I told him that I have to retake anyway, and I do not feel that short/soft field landings should be demonstrated with winds like these. He agreed. I flew over the field, joined downwind, and found myself about 600 feet above the runway on final. Called for a go-around, came back, landed.
At debriefing he said that all tasks, save for turn around the point were excellent. Poweroff landing was acceptable, but he wants to see it again. No stalls were shown. My notice of disapproval only requests to show following:
Takeoffs, Landings, Go arounds. He told me that I completed Go Around requirement already.
Ground reference Maneuvers
Emergency Operations
So, Short/Soft field landings (he already seen normal, and short field takeoff), GRM, and one engine out is all I need to show him. Yet still, I feel I got a "free ride" on a lot of things. No stalls were demonstrated. Could've done more slow flight. VOR was already tuned for me. No flight following, no activating/terminating flight plans.
I did one loop around a hold and proceeded to unusual attitudes. 
