Getting over Check Ride Nervousness
 

Tomorrow I will be done with my last Commercial multi lesson and I am thrilled to be done, but soon after that last lesson the nervousness begins to start growing. I'm not new to checkrides, I passed my Pvt and Inst. on the first try and yet I can't get over the nervousness. I feel as though I have progessed into a pretty good pilot and gained quite a bit of knowledge, skill, and experience but, I just keeping worrying maybe I will do something wrong or answer a question wrong just because I'm nervous. I know everyone out there has gone through a checkride and I'm hoping someone out there has a way they handle the pressure and nervousness of a checkride. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

Here's what I do:

Two nights before the exam, do all the performance figures you can. Do your W&B, do your x-c planning, and do some polish up studying. "Chair fly" all of the maneuvers. Organize your stuff and put in your flightbag.

The night before the exam double check your bag to make sure everything you need is there. Put it back in the bag and have a beer (as long as you're of age and it's at least 8 hours before the exam). Go to bed.

Get up early the morning of the checkride, eat a good breakfast. Head to the airport and finish up all of your performance data, get the logbooks and look through them to have an idea where all important inspections are. And take the exam.

I find that I'm not going to learn any new stuff the night before, and cramming just makes me even more nervous.

GOOD LUCK

Sick
 

Just tell yourself that check rides will become a constant part of your life if you intend to become a professional pilot. Show up and do your best and if the examiner doesnt agree with your performance then you will do it again. No big deal.

You could also take the advice of the previous guy, but if you are going to be a professional someday then you had better not study at all and drink a dozen beers the night before, then wake up late and show up to the exam in the beer stained clothes that you were in the night before.

A true major airline pilot doesnt study for anything unless they are compensated with hours of pay for the effort. Any UAL pilot will tell you that it is the companies responsibility to insure that the pilots are trained and are able to remember what they are supposed to know. "If the union wanted us to study then they would have paid us for it." UAL pilot

Remember the airlines love incompetence. The entire system is designed to accommodate the lowest common denominator. The development of a smug I don't care attitude is key to a happy career of avoidance and denial. The people who care too much and put in effort usually burn out by watching all the misfits and screw ups skweek through another captain check ride. Don't let that happen to you. When in Rome become a Roman.


Best of Luck,

SKyHigh

Once again your cynical attitude shines through. It is understandable given your disappointing career track. It may explain your inability to fool the folks in HR at interview time. However, I can tell you that the guys I work with are some of the most professional and proud pilots I have ever known. The vast majority come prepared at check ride time. I wish I had their level of commitment. I fall closer to your idea of the typical airline pilot. But I am the exception. (I'm still my favorite captain though)

Their pride is probably the primary reason many are so PO'd by the pay cuts. The level of professionalism and level of pay are no longer commensurate. It is frustrating to many of the smarter people out there.

As for nervousness associated with check rides, the answer is simple. Just try to know more than the check airman. There are only a few times one answer is the only answer. (limitations and memory items for example) Any given problem has more than one solution. Just make sure your solution can be defended. In the end most solutions are a matter of opinion. Yours may be just as correct at the examiners. Bottom line...Just know your stuff.

I like Skyhigh,
As for the rides......try to change shirts at least for the day.....then go back to what Skyhigh reccommended.