Aircraft checkouts

[sefro]

What do you flight instructors include when you do an aircraft checkout in an aircraft that someone has had a couple hundred hours in?
Seth

[bdhill1979]

Originally Posted by sefro

What do you flight instructors include when you do an aircraft checkout in an aircraft that someone has had a couple hundred hours in?
Seth

Everything that I include if the guy has no hours in type. Basic operation, systems, EMERGENCY PROCEDURES!!!!, Stalls, landings, flight planning, weather, etc.....

Basically I am putting my signature and number in his book saying that he is safe to fly that airplane. If he bonks it, guess who is getting a call from the Feds?

I don't care if he has a billion hours in type, he has to demonstrate to me that my signature in his book is not putting my ass on the line.

If they are proficient then the checkout is usually really quick.

[USMC-SGT]

I do a basic PVT pilot checkride. I focus on aircraft handling and emergency procedures and then do a full flap landing and a no flap landing and then a landing of their choice. I could care less if they fly to PTS standards as long as in my oppinion they are always in control of the aircraft and flying safely and well within the operating limits of the airplane. My school required a 3000' paved surface minimum so I did not care if they could do a short or a soft field landing. That was typically it, if something else came up I would do it but it was pretty basic and I typically knew how they would do on the taxi out based on their procedures and attention to detail.

[dc3flyer]

Originally Posted by USMC-SGT

I do a basic PVT pilot checkride. ....I typically knew how they would do on the taxi out based on their procedures and attention to detail.

I made sure they could fly the airplane safely, and as USMC said, I could usually tell how they would do by the first takeoff.

[MikeOH58]

I've only done 3 checkouts in my short time as a CFI, but I like to do the basic prive pilot checkride esque evaluation, and I also fine tune our flight(s) to the mission the pilot is flying. For example, If the pilot tells me he goes out to Block Island all the time during the summer, I want to make sure the guy can do short field landings with crosswinds...If your from New England, you know the wx can quickly go sour in the area, so if the guy is a VFR only pilot, I also want to evaluate his decision making, GO/NO GO skills, and make sure he can safely return an aircraft to VMC after inadvertently flying into IMC. Being right outside NYC's bravo, I also like to make sure they know how to operate within that airspace, and I put a lot of emphasis on TFR's, and other various "special use/other" airspace.

hope this helps.

[esa17]

Originally Posted by dc3flyer

I made sure they could fly the airplane safely, and as USMC said, I could usually tell how they would do by the first takeoff.

I use slow flight to gauge a pilots skill. If the blow the slow flight then they get some extra training. If then can nail it within 2 minutes of my asking for it then they're in for a pleasurable flight where we go over the basic maneuvers and emergency procedures.

[exleardriver]

it's nice if they have a current bfr with an instructor you respect. if so, then it may be a half-hour flight, almost a technicality. if they're an unknown, i dig into their ground knowledge of charts, regs like 91.103, ask the type of flying they do mostly, the afm. ask if they use checklists. if i see positives here, i can expect a flight of less than an hour, otherwise longer..and may not happen same day. i'm verrrry rarely impressed with a pilot's flying skills, but i can be impressed by solid aeronautical knowledge.