kimberlyanne546
Final Approach
I need to write up my checkride story.
However, I want to share something with other pilots - something from my CFI which was sent to me via email.
You see, I emailed my CFI to ask what the DPE said about my checkride during the debrief they had. I was expecting constructive criticism, feedback, what to work on, etc.
Instead, I got this wonderful email which I think pretty much sums up the opinions of a lot of people here on POA (so nothing new but worth repeating regardless):
"Kimberly,
There is really nothing you need to "work on" because of the way your flight test went. What you need to work on is gaining experience in a safe manner. Going places, talking to ATC, filing flight plans, landing at other airports, continuing to conduct short and soft field takeoffs and landings, keeping up with weather briefs, continuing to maintain your knowledge level at your current level--at a minimum-, and oh yes, you are allowed to have a little fun too.
Be smart, and figure your performance, and follow the rules. There will be enough temptation to do otherwise. (that's another conversation).
As you have probably figured out most accidents are pilot error. That's actually great news for pilots who follow the rules, because they are far less likely to have an accident.
As for your scared and flaky passengers--it's not surprising given what most of the non-flying public knows about how many general aviation accidents there are. Just in the last month or so, the Mooney in Watsonville--killing all his family, and this last week a couple of Bonanzas went down for some reason. Perhaps the DPE told you that his brother was killed in an airplane accident?
Everybody knows someone who was killed in a small plane. Don't take it personally that people hesitate to fly with you. I was 18 when I got my Private, and thought that friends and family would be beating down my door to fly with me. After a while, I just stopped asking, and let it come up in conversation, and let others ask me to take them flying. In the mean time, just enjoy flying on your own, and gain more experience.
I did talk to the DPE about you, and he said you did a good job. But then we knew that would be the case otherwise I would not have signed you off for your flight test!!"
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See? Even my CFI gives great advice.
However, I want to share something with other pilots - something from my CFI which was sent to me via email.
You see, I emailed my CFI to ask what the DPE said about my checkride during the debrief they had. I was expecting constructive criticism, feedback, what to work on, etc.
Instead, I got this wonderful email which I think pretty much sums up the opinions of a lot of people here on POA (so nothing new but worth repeating regardless):
"Kimberly,
There is really nothing you need to "work on" because of the way your flight test went. What you need to work on is gaining experience in a safe manner. Going places, talking to ATC, filing flight plans, landing at other airports, continuing to conduct short and soft field takeoffs and landings, keeping up with weather briefs, continuing to maintain your knowledge level at your current level--at a minimum-, and oh yes, you are allowed to have a little fun too.
Be smart, and figure your performance, and follow the rules. There will be enough temptation to do otherwise. (that's another conversation).
As you have probably figured out most accidents are pilot error. That's actually great news for pilots who follow the rules, because they are far less likely to have an accident.
As for your scared and flaky passengers--it's not surprising given what most of the non-flying public knows about how many general aviation accidents there are. Just in the last month or so, the Mooney in Watsonville--killing all his family, and this last week a couple of Bonanzas went down for some reason. Perhaps the DPE told you that his brother was killed in an airplane accident?
Everybody knows someone who was killed in a small plane. Don't take it personally that people hesitate to fly with you. I was 18 when I got my Private, and thought that friends and family would be beating down my door to fly with me. After a while, I just stopped asking, and let it come up in conversation, and let others ask me to take them flying. In the mean time, just enjoy flying on your own, and gain more experience.
I did talk to the DPE about you, and he said you did a good job. But then we knew that would be the case otherwise I would not have signed you off for your flight test!!"
---------
See? Even my CFI gives great advice.