CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 13 Issue 3 - 20

CHECkRIdE CHECkLIST
Q
A
WHAT IS YOUR MOST SCARY CHECKRIDE OR INSTRUCTOR STORY?
I have seen so many great examples of good pilotage and I know we have
wonderful pilots out there who I and fellow DPEs have encountered in
our testing efforts. There are some others though, also. The worst are the ones
who don't care to improve their pilot skills beyond the bare minimum or show
hazardous attitudes during the test. I remember one applicant who refused
to fly us home after I had indicated I was going to issue a disapproval due to
a lack of performance to ACS standards on a maneuver. Yup, he just gave up.
He told me, " If I am not going to pass today, then you can fly us home. " He just
sat there the rest of the flight sulking with his arms crossed. At least I made a
really nice landing back at the airport with him watching before we headed in
and I issued the disapproval. This behavior is an obvious attitude problem-
the scariest thing we witness on a test as it reveals a long term concern for a
pilot. Any pilot can have a knowledge gap in their training for something that
wasn't covered, was missed, or needed a little skill development. Testing is
a part of training and the purpose is to validate the training and determine
if any further training is needed to meet standards. It is an opportunity to
learn more and improves us all. Applicants that don't care about improving
themselves, or their skills for the service they may eventually provide to the
public, are the scariest ones.
Q
A
HOW EXTENSIVE SHOULD THE PREFLIGHT PASSENGER
BRIEFING BE?
Preflight briefings often feel somewhat perfunctory. Forced and-
dare I say as a DPE-boring. It's because we hear them all the time
and applicants get tired of spitting them out over and over. But they are
important and can set the tone with the DPE regarding how the applicant
manages their flight deck. A starting point might be for an applicant to ask
the DPE, " Shall I consider you an informed and comfortable passenger,
or are you a first time flyer? " The applicant's passenger briefing then
would depend on the DPE's answer. A few tips, though. Never trust your
passenger (the DPE) to properly close their door. Check it. Baggage doors
also. Always make sure your DPE understands that you know how to
manage the flight deck. Show the DPE that you are in charge of the flight
(with the obvious nod to the fact that they are going to be asking you to
demonstrate a variety of skills and maneuvers). Be reasonable with the
briefing. No passenger, including a DPE, needs to know how many rivets
there are on the baggage door. The briefing should include basic safety
concerns, where exits are, and how doors work. It should go beyond, " Sit
down, hold on, and let's launch this bird. "
Nugget of Wisdom from ASI's CFIs
* The ACS requires the examiner to notify you upon failure of an ACS item. However, this does not mean that you can make obvious mistakes without correcting them since
the examiner hasn't said anything. If you make a mistake, correct it and inform the examiner why you are making a correction.
HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you have a question you'd like to ask a DPE? Email cfinewsletter@aopa.org to post your question.

CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 13 Issue 3

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 13 Issue 3