Flight Training - May 2020 - 26

PREFLIGHT CHECKRIDE

BY BOB SCHMELZER

FILLING THE SQUARES
THROUGH THE EYES OF THE DPE

during nearly every training session, the exception being
most challenging tasks you've ever undertaken. But the thrill
during the very early phases of training.
of success and the satisfaction of accomplishment far outweigh
Pilotage navigation. With the advent of GPS navigation,
the hard work and effort you'll invest in the process. And if
too little time is spent actually practicing this vital skill. While
you're headed for a career in aviation, being well-compensated
it seems old fashioned to demand such an archaic form of
for something you love doing is great, too! Whatever your motinavigation to be learned, it all becomes clear when the GPS
vation for learning to fly, the common objective for all students
fails for real.
remains: learning how to fly the airplane confidently and safely.
Basic instrument maneuvers. Since the aeronautiThe primary job of a designated pilot examiner (DPE) is to
cal experience required for private pilots is specified at a
determine whether the applicants they test have achieved that
minimum of three hours, a filling-the-square mentality is
goal. Statistically, in most cases the applicants do, with just
frequently displayed when exactly 3.0 hours of training has
over 74 percent nationwide passing their initial private pilot
been provided. It is unrealistic to believe that the sole purpose
checkride. In fewer cases, the checkride does not end well,
for learning basic instrument skills for private pilots-survivwith 6,265 private pilot disapprovals in
ing an accidental IMC encounter-can
2018. The reasons for these failures are
be learned in precisely the same time
Mastery requires
many and varied, but most occur as a
for every student, just like every student
frequent and repeated cannot be expected to solo with exactly
result of improper or insufficient preparation with regard to the essential tasks
10 hours' instruction. While some can,
exposure to quality
involved with flying the airplane.
most need additional training.
practice. Some form of
As the airman certification standards
Crosswind takeoffs and landings.
(ACS) document dictates, there are
These often clearly receive insufficient
simulated emergency
several flight maneuvers that must be
practice, with little or no crosswind
should be presented
evaluated to complete a practical test,
control inputs and subsequent direceach with its own set of standards for
tional control difficulties, drifting,
during nearly every
successful completion. It's understandand side-load problems during the
training session.
able that the more challenging the task,
checkride.
the greater the risk of inadequate learnSoft- and short-field takeoffs and
ing. When difficulties do arise, DPEs
landings. Hard to believe, but under the
will debrief the CFI and applicant, elaborating on the issues
guise of safety and risk management, there are actually flight
that led to the failure. Seasoned DPEs will agree that patterns
schools out there that prohibit their students from practicdo emerge when recurring inadequacies are observed. Further
ing these demanding skills, only permitting their CFIs to
investigation usually reveals inadequate/insufficient training
"demonstrate" once, each of these until the very end of their
or lack of proper/effective practice as the offending culprit.
training-then, they seem to hope that the DPE will not notice
Several particularly demanding tasks come to mind.
their students' deficiencies. No student can learn to fly any
Stalls. Unfortunately, there are flight instructors who
maneuver by simply observing a CFI's demonstration. These
avoid doing them. Even the name-stalls-sounds ominous.
maneuvers demand more, not less, training and practice.
And students who are not excited about doing this maneuver
Forward slip to a landing. This is another under-practo begin with quickly pick up this vibe from their CFI. This
ticed task that often shows up during checkrides. As with all
leads to never really practicing them enough to get comfortof the above tasks, instead of shying away, we need to embrace
able doing them to the ACS specifications, which require
them, and practice them regularly and correctly-in accorrecovery after a full stall, and then recovering at the appropridance with the FAA Airplane Flying Handbook-to achieve the
ate climb airspeed.
consistent, safe performance that all DPEs hope to observe
Simulated emergency procedures. Because of the
during checkrides.
many variables that can exist for this task, true mastery is
required to consistently accomplish it satisfactorily. This
Bob Schmelzer is a Chicago-area designated pilot examiner, and a
requires frequent and repeated exposure to quality practice.
retired United Airlines captain and Boeing 777 line check airman. He
Some form of simulated emergency should be presented
has been an active gold seal flight instructor since 1972.
LEARNING TO FLY IS CHALLENGING-ARGUABLY, ONE OF THE

26  FLIGHT TRAINING MAY 2020
Flight Training - May 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Flight Training - May 2020
