Bad at checkrides...advice?
#21
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2008
Posts: 273
You are correct in that your appearance shouldn't dictate pass/fail and your attitude. Where it does come into play is the first impression with the examininer especially if you have not met them before. This in addition to being appropiately prepared: logbooks ready to go, FTN #s, and x-c laid out says to the examiner quite a bit about you.
The examiner knows just from talking to the student for 15 minutes how the ride is going to go. If your examiner is sitting on the john reading GQ then I'd probably find another one.
#22
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2009
Posts: 317
Thanks shdw. I do all the stuff you said to do in your post, but will look into the book suggestion. In addition, I do have a tendency to provide additional information, which I know I have been told I think too complex and explain things too complex, which has buried me on my oral busts.
Esa17: First impressions are always good. Granted if you walk in in a suit with papers all over versus torn apart jeans and a manila folder with all of your briefing information organized, dress doesn't matter. However, dressing up, comfortably mind you, is one way to look organized even from a distance.
I did say this, " At least khaki pants and a collared shirt." I don't think khaki's and a collared shirt is too much to ask or too uncomfortable. However, I went suit, tie, and jacket to the FAA ride from my flight instructor certification as well as for my commercial multi/single.
Dressing up shouldn't change who you are. For some though, it does have a positive impact on their attitude. In my case I feel as though what I am doing is of more importance and I don't find it uncomfortable or a hassle to put on some nice cloths.
Just IMO of course.
#23
A suit would be overkill here in the South. Most people would sweat through a white shirt in no time and then they're no better off than wearing a ratty shirt. Examiners know you are nervous without seeing your pitstains. That said, I always wore a shirt and tie to my rides. Now I have to wear a tie when I'm flying so I look at it as preparation.
I always wanted to see my student wearing slacks, decent shoes and at least a polo on their checkrides. If being a professional pilot is your goal, dress for the job. Doesn't mean you need a monkey suit, just use some common sense.
I always wanted to see my student wearing slacks, decent shoes and at least a polo on their checkrides. If being a professional pilot is your goal, dress for the job. Doesn't mean you need a monkey suit, just use some common sense.
#24
Again, that all seems like a for-naught answer. The examiners don't care what you look like, really. How many of them show up in a tie? In fact, every examiner I've ever had showed up in jeans. My experience is that most people who champion the wearing of button downs and ties went to a flight academy and took very little time getting to know the person they were taking the ride with or who they were sending their students to.
The examiner knows just from talking to the student for 15 minutes how the ride is going to go. If your examiner is sitting on the john reading GQ then I'd probably find another one.
The examiner knows just from talking to the student for 15 minutes how the ride is going to go. If your examiner is sitting on the john reading GQ then I'd probably find another one.
#28
Line Holder
Joined APC: Mar 2010
Posts: 26
Yay!
I got here too late to add a couple of items of advice. I'm not as far along as you (I only have instrument, commercial AMEL, ASEL, and glider) but I learned that...
- The examiner can always find a reason to fail us because nobody flies perfectly. Our job is to not give him one. Aceing the oral, having all your docs ready, filling out the form properly are a good way to start. In a nutshell, help the guy feel comfortable that making you a commercial/instructor/whatever is not going to come back to haunt him.
- I've found that examiners always cut me a little slack if I briefly exceed a PTS standard, on the theory that "it's ok to be wrong, but it's not ok to stay wrong."
- I have found it useful to buy a few seconds of "thinking time" before attempting some maneuvers. There are a couple of ways to do that that worked for me. One is to say "Tell you what...I'd like to do another clearing turn first before the Vmc demo." I can do that clearing turn while my mind goes through how I'm going to perform the Vmc demo. What's he going to do, say "no?"
- Another way, if you just need a little thinking time, is to say "Let me get a little sip of water," and reach for your bottle. Again, it's a good way to prepare yourself.
Regards,
BB
#29
Congrats, and I seriously do mean good luck to you and everyone else I reply to and hopefully give "sound" advice.
I think there's quite a bit of folks like me that hope we make a positive influence on others and help create a safer and more professional environment in our world of aviation.
I think there's quite a bit of folks like me that hope we make a positive influence on others and help create a safer and more professional environment in our world of aviation.
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