CFI ride

[sbe]

Here are the details of my successful CFI checkride from yesterday (Saturday April 30)

Had an 8am start. My flight school, which just recently went Part 141, was having a huge open house/safety seminar/celebration. So everyone and their brother was of course there to witness either my success or failure. I was scheduled with the DE that has done all my checkrides to date, having been referred by the KC FSDO.

Before we started, all the CFIs I knew came in to wish me well as I got my stuff set up. My DE got there just before 8, and we started with the usual am I eligible/is paperwork complete/is the plane legal to fly stuff.

Then we got into the 'meat' of the oral, a TON of which was FOI and instructor responsibilities. Turns out he has a masters in psych. He told several stories along the way. Then, I showed him how to do a w&b on the aircraft for this particular flight. Then we talked about aircraft limitations and performance, basically I went through the POH and explained how to use the various charts. After that was airworthiness (VFR day/night reqs, etc) and then I taught my prepared lesson on the steep spiral. Was all set up with a nice diagram on paper plus the wipe board.

We took a break, basically done (we did cover other stuff as well, but those were the main topic areas). We reconvened and talked stall/spin characteristics, spin recovery. Talked shop about aerobatics (he is a corporate charter pilot, but owns a Pitts and is an avid aerobatic pilot), planned me doing some aerobatic lessons with him this summer.

Went to the plane and preflighted. Oral was just shy of 2 hours. I explained why I was doing everything I was doing, he just observed but didn't ask anything. We started up, my mouth still going (not hard for me!) and I was requested to show him how to taxi assuming he was a new student. Rudder use, power use, aileron inputs taking the winds into consideration.

We departed with a short field takeoff, which received a 'well done!' and promoted much relaxation on my part. Then on to the practice area, me teaching straight-and-level flight on the way. First maneuver was steep turns. I've been having problems with these for some reason...not usual for me. They weren't the smoothest, but they were well within PTS.

I explained my issues (relatively minor), and we went into slow flight. PERFECT. Then a power-off stall. Again went well. My mouth was still moving nonstop, explaining everything as I did it. We then did a power-on, then he took over the plane and showed me the falling leaf exercise (which I've done before with my CFI) and explained why it was great to show student pilots. We proceeded then into chandelles, me doing the best two I've ever done and getting a 'very well executed!" comment from him. Then lazy 8s, not my best but again within PTS. Then he had me demonstrate an elevator trim stall.

After that we found a spot to do my steep spiral. I continued to elaborate on the stuff I'd taught on the ground. We recovered, did turns around a point (again me teaching the whole time) and then 8s on pylons - perfect! We climbed out to head to KGPH (Clay County Regional Airport) to do my landing work. After reaching 2500' he failed my engine. Ok, went through that, was high for my field so put it in a nice forward slip to show I could make it, got set up nicely and got out of there.

Got to Clay County, did a soft field landing. Winds were straight across the runway at or just over 10 knots, and it was starting to get bumpy aloft with funky swirling winds off both ends of the field (not uncommon there). Had a decent soft field, taxiied back for a soft field takeoff. Went well, back around for a short field. Set up REALLY nice and stable, but caught some sink off the end of the field so added just a tad bit of power. Worked out well, hit my spot maybe 10 feet past. Not the greatest of landings but it was a short field.

Then a normal departure (with winds still increasing) that was a chance for me to show my stuff on crosswind takeoffs. It worked well...he said "Sarah, that was absolutely textbook." came around for my nemesis...the power off 180. Talked my whole way through, got it pinned right on best glide, a tiny bit high...add all 40 degrees of flaps, aiming for those 1000' foot markers....still a bit high, a bit of a forward slip...NAILED it! He slapped my back, and as we cleared the runway he shook my hand and said "congratulations, Sarah, you're a flight instructor!"

He flew the plane then most of the way back to KMKC so I could relax, and I did a normal (albeit crosswind) landing into the field where EVERYONE was out on the ramp enjoying barbeque. Thank GOODNESS I had good news! The flight school owner walked over as soon as we parked to see how it went....whew!

Afterwards it was out for dinner, drinks, and much celebration with my boyfriend (himself a CSEL, he flies an A36 for the law firm he works for), my sister, her boyfriend (a PP-ASEL) and my mom.

WHOOOHOOO!!!

Advice? Know the FARs. Dress professionally. I wore khakis, dress shoes, and a nicer top. It got commented on when we were doing the "flight instructor responsibilities" section of the oral. Really try to do your own lesson plans. It adds to your understanding, and that as well got commented on. He LOVED that.

Don't be nervous. He was out to teach me as much as he was to see if I was competent enough to be a CFI.

In the air, don't stop talking. I explained how to set up each maneuver, what I was aiming for PTS standard-wise, and what I could have done to improve each maneuver. I explained ways to make manuevers easier. I stressed the importance of using outside references. I stressed safety BIG TIME. He dug that. Always scanning for traffic, always checking final before turning base to final in the pattern, etc etc. Confirming airspeed verbally before dropping gear or flaps.

Just have fun with it! It was my hardest ride yet, and the flight was 1.9 on the hobbs, but I didn't realize it.

Sarah

[Swen]

[ QUOTE ]
"congratulations, Sarah, you're a flight instructor!"

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for the great debrief! It was a great read. And again, congrats!

[Coney]

Awesome job! What a great accomplishment! I know you must be relieved to have that behind you. Congratulations, Sarah!

[Minnesota_Flyer]

Congratulations!!!

[Dazzler]

Sarah,

When you taught the steep spiral, did you do it to the left (examiner's point of view) or to the right (your point of view)? I would imagine it would be tough to do it to the left from the right seat.

Also, what is the falling leaf exercise and why is it great to show to student pilots?

Congratulations again!

[sbe]

Dazzler:

We did the turns to the left on the steep spiral. It can be tough to see what you are spiraling around from the right seat, but you will get the hang of it. I asked my examiner to help me confirm being abeam the point before starting the maneuver. He was more than happy to oblige.

As far as the falling leaf, it's a stall exercise wherein you stall the aircraft, keep the yoke full aft and let the plane just stall on down as you gently move the plane left and right with rudder. Hence the 'falling leaf'. It is good to show students in that it helps deter any fear of performing stalls. (the plane just remains in a stalled state for an extended period of time and nothing bad happens provided you remain coordinated! )

Sarah

[Texguy]

What's FOI?

[Swen]

Fundamentals of Instruction I believe.

[sbe]

absolutely correct.

Fundamentals of Instruction...all about the learning process, basic human behavior, methods of instruction, instructor responsibilities, etc.

Sarah

[CaptChris]

[ QUOTE ]
absolutely correct.

Fundamentals of Instruction...all about the learning process, basic human behavior, methods of instruction, instructor responsibilities, etc.

Sarah

[/ QUOTE ]

It is the book that everytime I got a paragraph into it.... I fell asleep. Needless to say I never made it past chapter one and still got my CFI! On the other hand, I did watch the KING CFI course which helped a lot, the only difference... is no matter where I went in my tiny apartment... I would always hide the remote so I couldn't turn it off.... and I could hear it from any room in my apt.

Oh well.... studying for that check ride was torture!

[Mavmb]

I never got much out of the FOI stuff. Just a bunch of psychobabble. If you are a CFI who cares about his/her students you won't have problems encouraging and teaching your students. If you are a time builder on the other hand, well then you're going to be breaking the so called FOI stuff right and left.

[greezergriff7]

Congrats!

Im sure glad mine is over and in the past... tough day!