PPL Oral Pointers

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jcepiano

Pre-takeoff checklist
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jcepiano
Hello PPL ASEL folks!

I'm gearing up for my check ride and I wanted to get any pointers on the preparation for the oral. I'm not as nervous about my flying, but the oral definitely freaks me out. I got a written score in the 90s, so I don't think the DPE will be hounding me on that front. I know one should obviously cover everything from the written, know the POH limitations and electric/pitot static system diagrams but Im curious to know what you could suggest is really critical aside from those things.

Thanks in advance for your advice. Hopefully I'll be a fellow PPL ASEL in a few weeks time.
 
There are only about a dozen DPEs, you could possibly use. There are several FSDOs very close by, so you'll pick one, and probably only have 3 or 4 or maybe even less to choose from.

Ask a recent private pilot from the same DPE what the hot button topics are. Your instructor should know of a few.

It's not supposed to matter, but it does. Each DPE has their own style.

To get the "official" answer, read the PTS.

Some schools/clubs/instructors collect written descriptions of check rides. Mine sure did.
 
Everything the dpe asks should be from the pts. Study the pts. Have all your books if you don't know something own up and look it up. And relax.
 
Don't fruck up :D

Answer the question you are asked as brief as possible.

If you don't know say so, don't dig a grave for yourself.
 
+1 that all the topics to be covered are in the PTS. Really read up the front section that explains things, and talks about the "Special Emphasis" areas.

There are some good review videos on YouTube. Checking those out might help.

And many of the PoA gang are fans of you doing a mock checkride with an instructor who is familiar with the style and preferences of your examiner. It helps you to discover any holes or weak spots, and eliminate being nervous since you've done the practice version once or twice.
 
EppyGA said:
Don't fruck up :D

Answer the question you are asked as brief as possible.

If you don't know say so, don't dig a grave for yourself.
Click to expand...

Cannot be emphasized enough.

But in addition to admitting you don't know the answer, do know where you can find the answer.

Be familiar with the FARs, AIM, AC's and other material that cover the required items on the exam.

If you know the answer quickly, great. But the examiner will be happy if you say you don't know, but can demonstrate you can find the correct answer quickly. Just don't do it for EVERY question. :lol:

And be ware of the dredded "Are you sure about that...?" question, where the DPE could be spreading the leaves over the pit of pointed sticks to see if you are either confident of the correct answer, or you try to elaborate beyond your ability to dig out of the hole you created.
 
Know your taxi symbols, especially hold short lines, runway incursion avoidance, etc. They're big on that.
 
As a rule of thumb, if you could look up a question IRL safely, you can probably get away with it during a check ride. Unless you clearly don't know what you need to.

Don't try it with spin recovery or the "what would you do if your engine was on fire" questions.
 
Most important thing: RELAX.

You did great on the written. Your instructor wouldn't sign you off if he didn't think you could pass. Just relax.

+1 on saying idk, but the answer is right here in the FAR.
 
Biggest thing that helped me was by knowing how it went by others that used the same DPE. I would suggest asking your CFI or former students what was mainly covered on the oral. Know your pts and questions he could ask from there. Dont freak out i pictured the oral to be very nerve racking but it wasnt as bad as expected. One last thing, have your CFI sit down with you if you havent already and do a mock oral. Good luck!
 
Know the material. There is a difference between knowing and rote memorization. Your instructor should have been prepping you a little bit every lession.

If you don't know the answer, don't BS. Tell the DPE you don't know.

Know where you can find the information. I don't remember the visibility required in uncontrolled airspace above 10,000 ft. It is in the AIM or FAR 91.

Oral Exams are like the written exam. You won't get a 100%, but getting a low score fails the exam.
 
The best way to prep is for your instructor to give you a practice oral based on the way your examiner will do it. Those "Oral Test Guides" aren't really worth much any more. While there's a lot of good material in those "Oral Prep" books, the FAA guidance on practical tests no longer calls for those simple Q&A methods, but rather goes for "situationally based testing."

For example, instead of asking you what the VFR weather mins are in Class E airspace, the examiner may ask you whether or not today's weather is good enough to make your planned XC flight under VFR, and how you came to that determination. This will test, in a more realistic manner, not only your rote knowledge of 91.155, but also your ability to apply that knowledge to a practical situation, not to mention your ability to read and interpret all the available weather data, as well as determining from the sectional what airspace you'll be in so you know which paragraph of 91.155 applies along each part of your route. Those old-style Q&A books can't prepare you for that -- only a good instructor familiar with the concept of situationally based testing can.

So, for an IR test, the examiner may look at your flight plan, and ask you why the Alternate block is blank -- and have you justify that answer based on the regs and the weather. Or, if there is an airport there, ask you why you needed to put it there, and how you know it qualifies as a legal alternate today, which requires reference to weather, regs, NOTAMs, and the Terminal Procedures book. This is very different from the old days where an examiner would simply ask you "What's the required weather at your destination to not file an alternate? Can you use this approach as an alternate? What are the standard alternate minimums? Are the alternate minimums at this airport nonstandard?" and makes you think and analyze, not just parrot.

Now, there are still a few old-school examiners who pull out the Oral Test Prep book and start asking questions from it, but they are getting much fewer and farther between. Your instructor should be familiar with the testing styles of the local examiners, so s/he should be able to help you prepare, and give you a practice oral that reasonably accurately reflects that style.
 
The scariest part is not knowing what to expect. It is easy for all of us that have been through it to say "relax"!

One thing that really helped me was the King oral prep video course. They have a video that goes through an entire oral and checkride with an actual DPE with tips and discussion about the process and expectations.

Not necessary of you don't wanna spend the money, but a good tool to get a grasp on what the process and questions will be like.
 
Just passed my PPL a month ago in Nashville. Know the PTS material. Lots of questions around areas the FAA has designated as safety points such as CFIT, runway incursions, ADM, procedures at controlled fields. Any answer to a question I had forgotten, I simply said "I don't know" and the DPE walked me through it. I also had a couple of scenarios which the DPE laid out and asked what I would do. Above all, relax. I also really sweated the oral despite an 84 on my written but in the end, it was fine. I very much enjoyed the DPE interaction and learned a couple of new things from him. Good luck!

Moe
 
Just be honest, be frank, be an adult.
My DPE asked me to name the FAA's seven (5?)P's -WTF? - I graciously explained that I had read that stuff but after 30+ years as a physician doing diagnostics and problem solving, I did not need the FAA teaching me the thought process to problem solving. He was OK with that.
DPEs are human too.

Best of luck, you'll do fine. :yes:
 
You will be asked an ever more difficult series of questions on subject fields. You should be able to answer the first two or three from knowledge. When you get to the one you don't know the answer should be "I'm not sure, I would have to look in/at 'xxx' to find that." DO NOT try to BS the DPE. How you handle what you don't know is part of what you are rated on as well.

One favorite area is the chart legend, study it well. There will still be something that they point to that will make you go "Huh, never seen that..." :dunno::lol:
 
Don't add anything to your answer that doesn't need to be said. Keep it concise, otherwise you'll end up babbling.
 
These videos will really help - at least they did for me. As other mentioned, keep from running your mouth. Just answer the questions and move on. Also, don't expect a walk-in-the-park oral based on your written score. I missed 3 questions and ended up with almost a 3 hour PPL oral and I was on fire (even taught my DPE a few things which even he admitted was something new for him :D).

I made it to my checkride without a simulated oral or full-on mock checkride. My CFI knew that I didn't need it. Sure, on the last few flights we went through the maneuvers and all that - but he knew me well enough (we'd flown together for 8 months during my training...) to know that I was ready. Basically, there's no 'roadmap' for getting every pilot ready for the checkride - your CFI should know and if s/he is sending you without mock oral/checkride...or at least giving you a reason why you aren't doing them - then you need finish up with another CFI. In fact, I'd guess it's not all that uncommon to fly your last few hours with another CFI just to get a different perspective. My last 2 hours were with a newly minted CFI who had done 3 checkrides with the same DPE I was about to go to. So, she gave me some great pointers on what he was looking for on the flying as well as his demeanor during the oral and questions he likes to ask, etc... Getting that info is invaluable and if your CFI isn't helping you get that then all the more reason to think of finding someone else to finish up with.

I think no matter how ready you are - you feel like your not ready. It's natural. If you scored well on your test and you understand the material from a practical sense (as Ron pointed out in his post) then you'll be fine.

I had a hard ass examiner but I was determined to make it a learning experience and have fun. Strangely, the oral and the flying portions were actually a lot of fun for me - and quite a blur actually when it was all said and done...but is was only because I knew I was really prepared.

Also, keep in mind that it's not about being perfect - in either the oral or the flying. It's about making good decisions and being safe. If your flying and answers reflect that then you'll leave with your temporary certificate. Word of caution - and this is emphasized in the videos - if you don't know...don't try to BS. Either say you don't know or hopefully you know where to find the answer in the FAR/AIM. :nono:

You know in your heart of hearts if you are ready. Hopefully these videos will give you a little insight from the DPE perspective. Good luck!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVE-gIeZUpk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Xz0kfBvEp4
 
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On my IFR test, the examiner asked what I would do if I did not make it in to my destination, went to the alternate and missed the ILS a couple times, and only had 10 minutes of fuel left.

The answer she was looking for was to bust minimums and fly the ILS until I hit something (hopefully the runway). Better to crash into an airport environment than into the side of a building she said...

I was REALLY reluctant to give that answer, but eventually she guided me in that direction.

It was an interesting question.
 
As Cap N Ron mentioned, checkrides are now designed in scenario based situations. Meaning his questions will be asked like you're doing a real flight. Examiners may ask what a reg is but also ask you if you're comfortable with that minimum. He's trying to test your safe judgement. For example, vis and cloud clearance requirement for class G airspace is 1 mile and clear of clouds but would it be smart as a brand new pilot to depart from an unfamiliar airport in these conditions? Probably not.

Also, as mentioned, if your CFI has sent students to a known examiner, he will know his pet peeves. The one I sent mine to loved to ask about whether you should use flaps or not in icing conditions in our 172s and why not (answer was no due to excess ice build up under the tail). You can also talk to other students that have done checkrides with the particular examiner. Some may be working on their instrument now at the same school. I asked mine to email me a quick write up of their checkrides and especially what caught them off guard. It helps the instructors too.
 
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Best advice I ever got before my oral part of the check ride was, the DPE knows way more about flying and airplanes than you. The reason this helped is because it is so true. You can't fake them. Just answer the question the best you can. He or she will still know way more than you so just walk in and be confident.
 
Don't be afraid to break out the FAR/AIM to look up an answer if you're not sure. I got asked "What is mu?", I was honest with him and said the sound a cow makes. :D Ended up digging through the AIM to find it, and after that I'll never forget it either.
 
jcepiano said:
Hello PPL ASEL folks!

I'm gearing up for my check ride and I wanted to get any pointers on the preparation for the oral. I'm not as nervous about my flying, but the oral definitely freaks me out. I got a written score in the 90s, so I don't think the DPE will be hounding me on that front. I know one should obviously cover everything from the written, know the POH limitations and electric/pitot static system diagrams but Im curious to know what you could suggest is really critical aside from those things.

Thanks in advance for your advice. Hopefully I'll be a fellow PPL ASEL in a few weeks time.
Click to expand...

Read the sticky post by Ron Levy, "Captain Levy's Check Ride Advice", (or something to that affect.)
 
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EppyGA said:
Answer the question you are asked as brief as possible.
Click to expand...

This. My examiner made a comment at the end about how I was particularly effective at doing that. He was hoping I would say more so he could pick around the edges of my knowledge. As a result, he had to work a little to drag me outside of my comfort zone. I have spent too much time prepping witnesses for depositions not to be able to remember to answer the question directly, and only the question asked.

"Did you see what color the traffic light was?"

"Yeah, it was red." DOH!!!! That's not what I asked!
 
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