Rebuilt

"I'm worried about is the fact that a busted checkride never goes away no matter what"

I never had an interview where that kind of question was bought up, nor have I ever seen an application asking to list busted check rides.

There are a ton of pilots flying in all areas of aviation that have busted rides. Learn from your mistake, get better, and press on with your aviation career.

A320fan

thanks a lot for your support and kind words. this morning, I redid the check and passed it! as all of you probably know, its a pretty good feeling. the best part was the fact that the conditions became IFR literally two minutes after I landed, just to add to how great everything went.

anyway, thanks again for your kind words.
Colin

ZnCrO4

Hey congrats!!!!

Don't worry too much about the past and learn from your mistakes. Good luck on the IR, have fun and fly safe.

UCLAbruins

Its normal and logical for young guys who are just starting to freek out when they fail a check-ride... I failed my CFII and I though I would end up with an African airline for the rest of my life....

Then you interview and you realise that one or two failed rides back when you started don't mean anything.... If you fail 3 or 4 then its a big deal, it shows a pattern...

cospilot

Way back when I did my Private Pilot I failed my checkride because I couldn't orientate to the VOR. It seems oh so simple now but back then it was a difficult procedure.

No matter, I went back a week later, hopped in the airplane, fired it up, got to about 1500 feet, and the DPE said, "OK, take me to <VOR>." I dailed, identified, centered the CDI, and turned toward the heading. The DPE then said, "Great, my controls," and we headed back to the airport. He didn't do such a great landing but I wasn't about to say anything. He wrote out my certificate and he was gone. I think I was in the air maybe 10 minutes. It took me longer to drive to the airport, pre-flight the airplane, write the second check, and drive home than it did to fix my mistake.

That was back in 1988. Now I'm a captain at SkyWest and before that I worked at ExpressJet. I have over 5000 hours with most of it turbine now. No one has ever asked me whether or not I had failed a checkride.

But, if they had, I would have told them the truth and told them what I learned about the experience. THAT is what they are really looking for! Honesting and the ability to take responsibility for your actions!

As a CFI, I had several students fail (for whatever reason, it happens), but they are all flying jet charter or working for the airlines now.

So, failing a checkride, yeah, it stings, but you are a better pilot now and it isn't the end! Study and fly again and get that certificate, and then move on to the next certificate.

Send me an email when get your certificate! Good luck!

Jeff

fjetter

Always remember the cliche:

"There are two types of pilots out there: 1. Those that have failed checkrides and 2. those that are going to fail checkrides"

I know this is going to sound like a Yogi Berra-ism but I've found that people learn more from failure than they do success.

rotorhead1026

Well done, Colin!


Oh, man, you got me started. I'll do just three ...

"Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded."

"When you come to the fork in the road, take it."

And when you're taking a checkride, always remember ...

"It's never over 'till it's over."

UCLAbruins

good work and congrats... I can't even remmeber when I passed my first ride, I do remember my first solo....

"Spartan41, fly heading ###, you'll be behind a Challenger and a king air".......
"Spartan41 roger, what's a Challenger?"...
"something going faster than you are"

RmTrice

I seriously thought I was going to fail mine. Right after takeoff, i was so focused on holding my heading and climbing to the proper altitude I completely missed not one, not two, but three aircraft in the vicinity of my aircraft. The examiner took the fact that i was over 100 miles away from my home airport traversing airspace i never even knew existed into account and let me continue my checkride. I performed each maneuver well and passed with flying colors.

It's comforting to hear that failing one checkride isnt going to end my professional career... especially knowing that i have at least six more ahead of me before I even get typed or get my first airline interview lol. Thanks guys

EYELS

You are way too far ahead of yourself. If you're stressed out about not mastering a crosswind landing during your private checkride, consider how nerve-racked you'll be as you progress through more advanced ratings toward an airline interview.

Let me put it another way. You should be having fun. Spend a couple of sessions with your flight school's best instructor and then give 'em hell.