Ones and Zeros

So, I didn’t pass, but I haven’t failed.  The direction gyro failed instead.  Remember that gryo?  The one that we replaced in June after in failed on my first IFR cross country?  Yeah, that one.  It was sticking and wouldn’t maintain its setting.

So, I have a discontinuation.  That is I wasn’t able to complete the checkride through some external reason.  I have 60 days to fix the problem and take the rest of the checkride.  Of course, I plan to finish this much sooner than that!  The oral exam part I’ve already completed and don’t need to do again.

But, for the moment, back in the equipment repair holding pattern again.

Yes, I have the pre-checkride jitters.  But I’m ready, I know I can do this flight well since I’ve done it before a number of times.  I know the material too.  I have my FAA form 8710 paperwork ready.

My checkride is high noon tomorrow.  The paperwork, oral, and flight will take 4 hours, give or take.

To get a pilot’s certificate, or in this case, to add a new rating to my existing pilot certificate, I have to do several things:

1. Satisfy a set of requirements running from age, to english language knowledge, to cumulative flying experience, and required training time and skills for the rating or certificate I’m working towards.
2. Take and pass a knowledge test with a score of 70% or better.
3. Satisfy my instructor that I’m competent and safe to fly.
4. Satisfy an examiner in an oral exam, then a flying test that I meet all standards for the rating

So far I’ve done items one and three.  Usually students take the knowledge test sooner that I did, but as of yesterday morning I passed it too.  Now, to schedule the checkride with the examiner.

I passed the test comfortably above the required score.  However, I didn’t have the overwhelming margin above that I had for my private test.  I’m not pleased with myself on that.  There are several reasons.

I did the CPC (Cessna Pilot Center) training on DVD.  Video training isn’t very good for me, others like it better, but reading books works better for me.  I should have compensated for that and read more earlier on.  Second, it’s been a busy time lately with some emotional demands, so not conducive to effective studying.

However I did pass and it’s time to learn from my mistakes, move on, and do better next time I’m faced with a new rating.

Instructor M and I are looking at the radar. There’s some patches of red and yellow - colors I don’t like on that radar - moving through the area. However, once they’re past there’s clear air behind them. And, these storms are air mass storms in basically clear air and not embedded in other clouds. That is, once we’re airborn we can see any storms coming a long ways away. Or, at least M can because I’ll have foggles on as usual.

We head out to do an ILS locally and then the GPS back home. A mini-checkride simulation flight. We head up to the ILS and I make sure to give myself enough time to do the procedure turn and establish my configuration on the ILS afterwards. This works nicely, we break off to circle to land. I do the smooth descending turn again and that works, but I turn a bit too soon. No matter, it’s solid.

We head back for the GPS and that just clicks too. This is all going smoothly. In these approaches I’m on altitude, I’ve nailed my descent rates, I’m on heading, definitely in the doughnut on the dial!

As we’re taxiing off the runway at home M says, “I’m going to have to find a new student, you’re ready to be signed off for your checkride!”

Ok, I’m not done yet, I still have to take the knowledge test, and to pass the checkride, but Woo-hoo!