WindyCity's Private Pilot Checkride

WindyCityPilot · June 22nd, 2005, 18:34

PPL Checkride
6/22/2005
Piper Warrior

The day started out on a bad note. As I'm driving to the airport the DE calls me and says she has to cancel because her cat is sick and she has to take it to the vet! I'm already half way to the airport and I've already taken a day off of work to do it. After I tell her that I've taken a day off she says she will cancel her afternoon checkride and do her best to get to the airport. She finally gets to the airport around 11:30AM and we jump right into the oral.

Starts off by going over paperwork and making sure all is in order. We then go over the maintenance logs and she asks a few questions about when certain things need to be inspected. She then asked a few questions on AD's. We then went over what I can do as PPL that I could not do as a student and then we moved into reviewing my cross country planning. While reviewing the cross country she asked questions on airspace and about the sectional charts. She asked how I would change my plan if it was going to be at night and then asked a few questions on how I would handle loosing my radios if I was going into a Class D airport. After that we then reviewed the weather for the trip. We then went over some system failures and how I would detect and troubleshoot them. Pitot blockage, oil light on announciator panel, and electrical problem. Asked me some questions on airport runway signage and about ground operations. Reviewed runway incursions as well as spin awareness. That's pretty much what I can remember. She then explained how the flying portion would go and asked if I had any questions.

She sent me out to pre flight while she packed up her stuff. I had the plane all preflighted and ready to go by the time she got out. We got in and I gave her the preflight briefing....how to work the seat belts, how to work the door, the order in which passengers would exit during an emergency, not to touch any controls, watching for traffic......etc. Started the plane up and taxied out. Did the runup and then taxied to the end of the runway. Just before taking the runway I explained the emergency procedures if we lost the engine during the takeoff roll or just after takeoff and what I would do during these 3 times: Still on the ground (brake as necessary and exit runway), just after takeoff with enough runway to land (land and brake as necessary then exit runway), and after takeoff but no runway left (best glide and aim for a landing spot 30 degrees to either side). She commented that she liked I briefed her before we took the active runway on what I would in the event of an emergency on takeoff.....she said it showed her I was thinking one step ahead and if the engine actually did fail I already had the plan of action ready to go. Did a short field takeoff then departed to my first checkpoint on my crosscountry. Hit that checkpoint within 30 seconds of my ETA then headed on my my next checkpoint. Make the 2nd checkpoint right on time also. She then diverted me to a small private field. Gave her a heading and ETE. Once had a visual on the diversion airport we did steep turns to the left and right, then slow flight and a power off stall. Then we did slow flight clean and a power on stall. After recovery she pull the throttle and I ran all the emergency checklists....made the field no problem and did a go around. Climbed up to pattern altitude and did turns around a point...then she put the hood on me and had me do some turns and a constant speed climb to 3,000 feet. Once at 3000 feet she gave me 2 unusual attitudes. Hood came off after those and then it was back to 06C for landings. Did a soft field first and then a short field. Both of those went well and after landing the 2nd time she said to park it and she would meet me inside to write up the ticket!!!

That's about it. Went very well. During the debrief with my instructor she did not give him any areas I needed to work on. I busted my butt preparing for this checkride and it showed. Anyone who is preparing for the checkride I will say that if you have all of your paperwork and information organized it will make things go alot smoother for you. I created a preflight sheet that has all the weather, winds, runway, takeoff and landing distances, Pressure and Density altitude, and weight and balance info on the sheet and it give the DE all the info right there. She basically reviewed this sheet for me and said that I was very prepared and it showed her that I knew my stuff. She even asked for a copy of my preflight sheet so she could make copies and pass it out to help students who come in and are not organized!

Was a great feeling to finally get it done! Now it's on to getting checked out in other some other planes!!

Sorry about the long post but I thought it was good info for people who are preparing for their ride!

Windchill · June 22nd, 2005, 19:23

Awesome job! I like the emergency debrief prior to the runway ... that clearly illustrates thinking ahead. While I may not attest to your flying skills ... it certainly sounds like your ADM (Aeronautical Decision Making) and Situational Awareness is sharp.

So ... who's you're first pax going to be and what's the next step for you?

JEP · June 22nd, 2005, 19:26

Congrat's WindyCity...SOunds like you were well prepared. Would you be able to post a copy of your pre-flight sheet? It is always interesting to see how others are doing things. What's next? Are you going for your IR ticket?

Congrats again.

WindyCityPilot · June 22nd, 2005, 19:38

Windchill...JEP....

I'm just going to enjoy my PPL for the time being. Eventually I'll probably start working on my instrument ticket but I just want to enjoy flying to new places instead of in circles like I have been during my training!

My first passenger will definately be my wife. She has a long list of places she wants to fly to!

Windchill · June 22nd, 2005, 20:01

[ QUOTE ]
I'm just going to enjoy my PPL for the time being.

[/ QUOTE ]

Excellent idea, I did/am doing the same thing. Enjoy what you just earned before possibly getting burned out by the training environment.

[ QUOTE ]
My first passenger will definately be my wife. She has a long list of places she wants to fly to!

[/ QUOTE ]

That was my first passenger too ... no, not your wife, but mine ... although she was my fiance at the time. My checkride was at another airport about 30nm west ... so she met me back at our home airport when I arrived, then we flew east to Baltimore, waited for the sun to go down, then flew back at night to enjoy the lights.

WindyCityPilot · June 22nd, 2005, 20:28

I can't wait to take her up....probably going to have to wait a few days as the temps here in the midwest are supposed to be around 95 the next few days!

Flying out by Baltimore is a lot of fun. My buddy flies out of Tipton (KFME) and also Martin State (KMTN). Some beautiful scenery out there with the Chesapeake Bay!!

Windchill · June 22nd, 2005, 20:50

Yea, Martin State is the airport I've flown into on a number of occasions. I took my wife to Bay Bridge Airport for some seafood for her birthday ... talk about an awesome flight ... splitting DC/Balt to Annapolis, the crossing the bay to land at an airport where your base leg is over the Bay Bridge and final is over the water close to touchdown.

May your certificate bring you fond memories like mine has! If you're back in the area let me know ... although I'm over in WV, KMRB area.

WindyCityPilot · June 22nd, 2005, 21:25

Definately...I'll drop you a line if I'm over that way again. I was just out in February. My buddy used to live in Annapolis and fly out Bay Bridge. Nice little airport right on the water! We also flew out to the Luray Caverns....that was pretty awesome. The people at that airport are awesome....they'll drive you all over the town. They drove us to the caverns for the tour...then came back and picked us up to drive us into town for lunch. Then drove back to town and drove us back to the airport! Can't beat that service!

Last year we flew out to Atlantic City for the day and landed at Bader Field. The pattern takes you right over the strip...pretty awesome views. Atlantic City sucks but the airport is in a neat location.

Are there any other neat trips in the DC/Baltimore/WV area?

Windchill · June 22nd, 2005, 21:53

I'm actually trying to get a few poker buddies together for a trip to Bader Field. Atlantic City isn't bad so long as you stay within the casino area, one block west and it's a dive.

[ QUOTE ]
Are there any other neat trips in the DC/Baltimore/WV area?

[/ QUOTE ]

There are, but I'm on the verge of falling asleep and can't think clearly so I'll have to get back to you on that one

June 22nd, 2005, 18:34	#1
WindyCityPilot Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 762	WindyCity\'s Private Pilot Checkride PPL Checkride 6/22/2005 Piper Warrior The day started out on a bad note. As I'm driving to the airport the DE calls me and says she has to cancel because her cat is sick and she has to take it to the vet! I'm already half way to the airport and I've already taken a day off of work to do it. After I tell her that I've taken a day off she says she will cancel her afternoon checkride and do her best to get to the airport. She finally gets to the airport around 11:30AM and we jump right into the oral. Starts off by going over paperwork and making sure all is in order. We then go over the maintenance logs and she asks a few questions about when certain things need to be inspected. She then asked a few questions on AD's. We then went over what I can do as PPL that I could not do as a student and then we moved into reviewing my cross country planning. While reviewing the cross country she asked questions on airspace and about the sectional charts. She asked how I would change my plan if it was going to be at night and then asked a few questions on how I would handle loosing my radios if I was going into a Class D airport. After that we then reviewed the weather for the trip. We then went over some system failures and how I would detect and troubleshoot them. Pitot blockage, oil light on announciator panel, and electrical problem. Asked me some questions on airport runway signage and about ground operations. Reviewed runway incursions as well as spin awareness. That's pretty much what I can remember. She then explained how the flying portion would go and asked if I had any questions. She sent me out to pre flight while she packed up her stuff. I had the plane all preflighted and ready to go by the time she got out. We got in and I gave her the preflight briefing....how to work the seat belts, how to work the door, the order in which passengers would exit during an emergency, not to touch any controls, watching for traffic......etc. Started the plane up and taxied out. Did the runup and then taxied to the end of the runway. Just before taking the runway I explained the emergency procedures if we lost the engine during the takeoff roll or just after takeoff and what I would do during these 3 times: Still on the ground (brake as necessary and exit runway), just after takeoff with enough runway to land (land and brake as necessary then exit runway), and after takeoff but no runway left (best glide and aim for a landing spot 30 degrees to either side). She commented that she liked I briefed her before we took the active runway on what I would in the event of an emergency on takeoff.....she said it showed her I was thinking one step ahead and if the engine actually did fail I already had the plan of action ready to go. Did a short field takeoff then departed to my first checkpoint on my crosscountry. Hit that checkpoint within 30 seconds of my ETA then headed on my my next checkpoint. Make the 2nd checkpoint right on time also. She then diverted me to a small private field. Gave her a heading and ETE. Once had a visual on the diversion airport we did steep turns to the left and right, then slow flight and a power off stall. Then we did slow flight clean and a power on stall. After recovery she pull the throttle and I ran all the emergency checklists....made the field no problem and did a go around. Climbed up to pattern altitude and did turns around a point...then she put the hood on me and had me do some turns and a constant speed climb to 3,000 feet. Once at 3000 feet she gave me 2 unusual attitudes. Hood came off after those and then it was back to 06C for landings. Did a soft field first and then a short field. Both of those went well and after landing the 2nd time she said to park it and she would meet me inside to write up the ticket!!! That's about it. Went very well. During the debrief with my instructor she did not give him any areas I needed to work on. I busted my butt preparing for this checkride and it showed. Anyone who is preparing for the checkride I will say that if you have all of your paperwork and information organized it will make things go alot smoother for you. I created a preflight sheet that has all the weather, winds, runway, takeoff and landing distances, Pressure and Density altitude, and weight and balance info on the sheet and it give the DE all the info right there. She basically reviewed this sheet for me and said that I was very prepared and it showed her that I knew my stuff. She even asked for a copy of my preflight sheet so she could make copies and pass it out to help students who come in and are not organized! Was a great feeling to finally get it done! Now it's on to getting checked out in other some other planes!! Sorry about the long post but I thought it was good info for people who are preparing for their ride!

June 22nd, 2005, 19:23	#2
Windchill Old Skool Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Mid-Atlantic, KMRB Posts: 1,925	Re: WindyCity\'s Private Pilot Checkride Awesome job! I like the emergency debrief prior to the runway ... that clearly illustrates thinking ahead. While I may not attest to your flying skills ... it certainly sounds like your ADM (Aeronautical Decision Making) and Situational Awareness is sharp. So ... who's you're first pax going to be and what's the next step for you?

June 22nd, 2005, 19:26	#3
JEP Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Eden Prairie, MN (KFCM) (KMSP) Posts: 10,865 Blog Entries: 1	Re: WindyCity\'s Private Pilot Checkride Congrat's WindyCity...SOunds like you were well prepared. Would you be able to post a copy of your pre-flight sheet? It is always interesting to see how others are doing things. What's next? Are you going for your IR ticket? Congrats again.

June 22nd, 2005, 19:38	#4
WindyCityPilot Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 762	Re: WindyCity\'s Private Pilot Checkride Windchill...JEP.... I'm just going to enjoy my PPL for the time being. Eventually I'll probably start working on my instrument ticket but I just want to enjoy flying to new places instead of in circles like I have been during my training! My first passenger will definately be my wife. She has a long list of places she wants to fly to!

June 22nd, 2005, 20:01	#5
Windchill Old Skool Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Mid-Atlantic, KMRB Posts: 1,925	Re: WindyCity\'s Private Pilot Checkride [ QUOTE ] I'm just going to enjoy my PPL for the time being. [/ QUOTE ] Excellent idea, I did/am doing the same thing. Enjoy what you just earned before possibly getting burned out by the training environment. [ QUOTE ] My first passenger will definately be my wife. She has a long list of places she wants to fly to! [/ QUOTE ] That was my first passenger too ... no, not your wife, but mine ... although she was my fiance at the time. My checkride was at another airport about 30nm west ... so she met me back at our home airport when I arrived, then we flew east to Baltimore, waited for the sun to go down, then flew back at night to enjoy the lights.

June 22nd, 2005, 20:28	#6
WindyCityPilot Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 762	Re: WindyCity\'s Private Pilot Checkride I can't wait to take her up....probably going to have to wait a few days as the temps here in the midwest are supposed to be around 95 the next few days! Flying out by Baltimore is a lot of fun. My buddy flies out of Tipton (KFME) and also Martin State (KMTN). Some beautiful scenery out there with the Chesapeake Bay!!

June 22nd, 2005, 20:50	#7
Windchill Old Skool Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Mid-Atlantic, KMRB Posts: 1,925	Re: WindyCity\'s Private Pilot Checkride Yea, Martin State is the airport I've flown into on a number of occasions. I took my wife to Bay Bridge Airport for some seafood for her birthday ... talk about an awesome flight ... splitting DC/Balt to Annapolis, the crossing the bay to land at an airport where your base leg is over the Bay Bridge and final is over the water close to touchdown. May your certificate bring you fond memories like mine has! If you're back in the area let me know ... although I'm over in WV, KMRB area.

June 22nd, 2005, 21:25	#8
WindyCityPilot Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 762	Re: WindyCity\'s Private Pilot Checkride Definately...I'll drop you a line if I'm over that way again. I was just out in February. My buddy used to live in Annapolis and fly out Bay Bridge. Nice little airport right on the water! We also flew out to the Luray Caverns....that was pretty awesome. The people at that airport are awesome....they'll drive you all over the town. They drove us to the caverns for the tour...then came back and picked us up to drive us into town for lunch. Then drove back to town and drove us back to the airport! Can't beat that service! Last year we flew out to Atlantic City for the day and landed at Bader Field. The pattern takes you right over the strip...pretty awesome views. Atlantic City sucks but the airport is in a neat location. Are there any other neat trips in the DC/Baltimore/WV area?

June 22nd, 2005, 21:53	#9
Windchill Old Skool Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Mid-Atlantic, KMRB Posts: 1,925	Re: WindyCity\'s Private Pilot Checkride I'm actually trying to get a few poker buddies together for a trip to Bader Field. Atlantic City isn't bad so long as you stay within the casino area, one block west and it's a dive. [ QUOTE ] Are there any other neat trips in the DC/Baltimore/WV area? [/ QUOTE ] There are, but I'm on the verge of falling asleep and can't think clearly so I'll have to get back to you on that one

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