I am due to take my PMEL checkride this Saturday and I was wondering if some of you could help me out as to your experiences. I know the flight part is pretty cut and dry. Steep turns, slow flight, Stalls, Engine outs, Vmc demo, drag demo and some landings but the part I want to be more in depth on is the oral portion.

I am trying to not just learn the PTS because I will be rolling into the CMEL within a couple months, so I will need the in depth knowledge anyway. I understand I need to know systems but could someone elaborate as to the depth of knowledge required?

Do i need to know that it has 2 lycoming horizontally opposed, aircooled, normally aspirated, direct drive engines..is that enough or do I need to know complete in depth knowledge of the engines and their layouts?

Also as for if I am asked about the propeller system I am prepared to answer "2 hartzell, 76" full feathering, 2 bladed propellers that are rpm regulated by an engine driven propeller governor. Springs and dome pressure aided by counterweights work to push the blades into high pitch, while engine oil under governor boosted power moves the blades to fine pitch."

Is this enough knowledge for the PMEL oral or will they be looking for alot more in depth. I want to be prepared, but as in any test I dont want to give them more information then they ask for because from experience if I give "extra" information and some of that extra is incorrect it could lead to more picking to find out what i "really" know?

Just thought some of you might be able to help since you have all been there.

Thanks alot,

Shawn

 

Why waste the time on a PMEL when in a few weeks you'll just be doing a CMEL ride?. Just do your CMEL, ride is about the same plus bit more oral (commercial stuff). Invest the exaim fee for your PMEL on flight hours. Save your $$$ and skip the PMEL.

 

FlaZoomie has some good points. I have never taken a PMEL just a CMEL, so this would be for a commercial checkride, but this is what I would know if I were you.

I would be able to draw the fuel system. Know the electrical system very well, you don't have to be able to draw it, but close. Know what the pressures are for the retractable landing gear systems, and how it works very well. Be able to draw the prop governer system and be able to explain it in detail. Be able to tell him everything that affects Vmc and why, and what it does to performance. Be able to tell him everything that makes the crit engine critical and why.

If you can do all the above, you will have no problems at all. Remember, when you go to interview with an airline, they will ask you lots of questions about the most complex airplane that you have in your logbook, and it will probably be this plane, so you want to know it in and out anyways.

 

Thanks for that info, exactly what I am looking for.

Flzoomie-
The reason I am doing PMEL is because the VA is paying for 60% of it so this way I can get it out of the way and the rest of my time in the multi will be PIC.

 

I would do the PMEL...just as you said --- Multi PIC. Then you can fly the twin for your XC req. for your CMEL and log PIC...

Good Luck Bud,
Lax

 

usmc-sgt,

SMART MOVE!!! I wish I had done that when I had the chance. Paying the DPE for the checkride would have saved me about $3000 when all said and done. I need to get my MEI but need to buy 10 or so hours of PIC before I bother flying in prep for the MEI checkride.