rev4life03

Hello again guys, I just want to say thanks again for all the advice. Weather for my checkride (Tomorrow) is sunny skies and winds 5-7 MPH. I think it is going to be the best day to earn a PPL. Ill tell you guys what happens tomorrow. Hopefully I will be telling you as a private pilot!

mmaviator

Good luck. Just make sure the examiner has his/her seat belt on. Heard some examiners have failed students for such small things.

Planespotta

Impress your examiner in the first 5 minutes, and your checkride will be SO much easier. Treat your examiner courteously, but don't ever kiss his/her @$$ or laugh at their bad jokes . A sure-fire way to fail the checkride is to put the airplane in a situation that scares the examiner and makes them take over. As mentioned above, your examiner wants you to pass, and your CFI wouldn't have signed you off for the checkride if they didn't feel you would pass (failures look bad on their record, too). If you don't feel ready, it's your duty to tell your CFI so you can do extra training.

My DPE hit charts and emergency procs pretty hard on the checkride. Know everything in your "Cleared for Takeoff" or Jeppesen Private Pilot book, but spend extra time committing the emergency checklists and speeds to memory. Know all the antennas and be prepared to answer a question about just about any part of the airplane's exterior/interior. Remember that you are the PIC, so brief your DPE like they're a passenger on pre-takeoff stuff (how to buckle/unbuckle seatbelts, evacuate the airplane, how controls will be exchanged [positive exchange of controls is a special emphasis item, and failing to brief this may result in a failure depending on your DPE's sex life], etc.).

As for the maneuvers, fly them like you've always flown them. A checkride isn't the time to experiment or do anything new. Before the flight, ask your examiner if they will allow you to restart a maneuver if you're not satisfied with how it's going. Talk your examiner through each maneuver and explain what you're doing, and how you're correcting if you see yourself going out of tolerances.

Don't think of a checkride so much as a test, but as a chance to fly with and learn from an experienced airman. Let us know how it goes!

mcis987

Good luck!

snippercr

One of the things I tell my student's is not to think of it so much as a "checkride" as an "I agree" ride. I have them read the endorsement for the check/stage ride and it says something to the effect "I (the CFI) find them competent to pass the test." I tell my students you are training to get that endorsement, which says that I, who know your abilities the most, find you (the student) competent to be a pilot. The examiner is just flying with you to see if they agree with me.

Sure it's a bit idealistic but it helps put things in perspective. Does it lower the student's stress? Maybe a few days before the exam but they still go in sweating bullets. I try to down play all checkrides and orals (except CFI initial) that they are just trying to see how much you know and if you can fly the airplane safely. It doesn't mean they shouldn't prepare but it helps with nerves a bit I think.

rev4life03

Well guys I just came back and I passed. All of the advice was really helpful and the examiner did want me to pass. Whenever I thought I was Bullsh**ting an answer I just owned up and said I don't know. The oral wasn't too long since I got a 92 on my written and the flight portion was pretty expected. I nailed my emergency landing the first time which boosted my confidence for the rest of the ride. Thanks again guys and I will soon be off to start instrument!

USMCFLYR

rev4life3 -

Congrats and welcome to the club!
You should post a more inclusive account of your experience for others soon to be in your shoes.

USMCFLYR

AlmostThere

congrats dude!

ive been checking this thread all day to see if u passed lol

Razorback09

Congratulations! Mine is coming up soon and I'm sweating bullets about it! I'm going to have to remember to do clearing turns as I'm bad about skipping them.