Do you feel your are still check ride proficient

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evapilotaz

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If you had to take a Private pilot check ride today would you pass? This is a question for private pilots only. How about passing the written again? Just curious of everyone's answer.
 
Having just done an instrument checkride, I was thinking about your very question recently. With very little prep time with an instructor, yes, I think most private pilots would pass that checkride. With no prep time, I'm sure I would bust on some PTS that I didn't remember or had changed.

I think I could pull off the written cold. Not so sure about the oral exam, without some self-study.
 
timwinters said:
It'd be fun to find out!
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What's stopping you?

Grab a plane and the PTS and evaluate yourself.

To answer the OP, skills go in and out with currency. I've been flying a lot lately, but I haven't done a measured short field landing in some time, so that one might be problematic.

Typically, realizing that means I go up and practice.

Hmm, reading all the responses, it seems all pilots are above average.....

The reality is infrequent fliers who don't practice between BFRs don't keep those skills.
 
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I hope I am better.
When I passed my checkride, I was deemed safe enough to go fly.
Since, I have learned from some mistakes, and there is far less luck and guesswork in my flying.

The written...
I could pass it but I'd wager I would score about 15 -20 points lower.
 
I think I could pass either my private or my instrument checkride again and probably do a better job of it than the first time.
 
Yes.. periodically I go though all the maneuvers, emergency procedures and performance take off and landings.
 
Wouldn't be able to pass the oral or the written. Flying part would be easier.

Dependence upon Foreflight, GPS, and non-FAA weather tools has changed how we fly.
 
evapilotaz said:
If you had to take a Private pilot check ride today would you pass? This is a question for private pilots only. How about passing the written again? Just curious of everyone's answer.
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At this instant - no, I haven't flown in 9 months so I'm rusty. The knowledge part would be fine, but I'd need 3-5 hours to get back to flying form. After that - yes, I would pass a checkride.

I normally keep proficient by practicing the drills. If I'm alone at an airport, I'll climb to 4500 ft over the field and pull the throttle back. I do shorts and softs. About the only thing I don't practice a lot of is simulated IFR and VORs...hmmm, need to get that worked in.
 
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Nope. Haven't flown since March 2010. Well, maybe I could pass the private checkride.

I'm confident I could pass the written for Private and Instrument tests (working military ATC and avionics systems kind of makes it easy to understand the material).
 
Oh easily. I admit I don't do many of the PTS maneuvers outside of a BFR, but if you understand how your airplane works they really aren't all that difficult.
 
PTS maneuvers and landings: Yes, should be able to do this without any trouble. Don't do them often, but if you know the airplane the maneuvers are quite easy.

Written: Would pass but probably with a slightly lower score since I wouldn't be as sharp on some of the more obscure questions that can pop up that are ultimately more academic in nature than practical in value

Oral: Think I would do well here. Might not be quite as sharp on some of the more 'academic' items, but would now have tons more real world experience to pull from. The better DPEs I know are far more interested in seeing how a pilot think about real world scenarios vs. an ability to recall random, mostly academic, points.
 
SixPapaCharlie said:
I hope I am better.
When I passed my checkride, I was deemed safe enough to go fly.
Since, I have learned from some mistakes, and there is far less luck and guesswork in my flying.
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As far as PPL goes - this. I feel similar for the Comm MEL. I'd need some practice for the Comm ASEL maneuvers (chandelles/lazy 8s...etc).

I think doing a lot of different aircraft checkouts and additional ratings and endorsements has helped.

IR - I feel confident that I could pass and even fly it better than I did for the checkride. I do think I would have a harder time on the Instrument oral if I had to take it again today. As I get back in the books prepping for CFI/I, I have found there are a lot of fine details that I haven't dealt with since I got my ticket.
 
Nope. Likely would do OK for the flight but the oral and written I'd probably flop.
 
I'd pass everything with flying colors with the exception of the IR oral. I'd definitely fail that one, or just skim by.
 
Cpt_Kirk said:
I'd pass everything with flying colors with the exception of the IR oral. I'd definitely fail that one, or just skim by.
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IR oral was by far the most difficult oral I've had to date. Of course it didn't help that the DPE was the kind of guy that left you feeling like an idiot even when you got the answer right.
 
Yes but I try to fly on a regular basis. Now getting familiar with busy SoCal airspace will take a little time but I'm looking forward to flying in San Diego, OC/LAX and Arizona.
 
Fearless Tower said:
IR oral was by far the most difficult oral I've had to date. Of course it didn't help that the DPE was the kind of guy that left you feeling like an idiot even when you got the answer right.
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I was extremely prepared for mine at the time, so it didn't feel difficult (2012). However, even with flying IFR day in and day out, I've forgotten the nitty gritty stuff that everyone can get caught on.

GPS and the magenta line doesn't help me retain anything, either.
 
Yep, the standard for PP is really pretty loose once you have a few hundred hours experience.
 
I would pass my ASEL and ASES but not so sure about my AMEL. It has been almost 4 years since I have flown a twin.
 
Here's an enlightening document that we were given at a CFI/FAASTeam meeting a few years ago.

You'll see that the skills that degrade the most between the time of getting one's private certificate and 24 months later are those that are not a part of "routine flying", but are able to hurt you if you fail to practice them frequently.
 

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I could pull off the flight test, easy pleasy....

Oral will be bit harder...

Written has always been my weak point as guv tests ask stupid questions to try and trick ya... IMHO...
 
I have to admit. I flew a lot more when I was taking lessons for my private. I don't fly as much now for various reasons. I feel I'm not as proficient when I was check ride ready. I can safely operate an airplane but I haven't practice PTS maneuvers for a while including stalls. I need to start doing this.
 
No, my flying in some ways is not as sharp as at the time of my PPL checkride, but I am starting to try to get my edge back since I have a CAP Form 5 Checkride coming soon. The guy doing the checkride is a stickler too.

I can hold altitude and heading much better than I could at that time, but I think my maneuvers would be sloppy at this point. Hope to change that this weekend.
 
The written would probably be a lower score now but I think the oral would be better. As for flying, I would almost certainly pass it, but would like an hour to practice soft field techniques as I simply don't land on anything but pavement in my normal flying.
 
I think most of us are such bad arses we could do most of the maneuvers inverted:lol: Personally inverted with the foggles on for turns around a point using only the force is a little tougher ... I don't usually have issues as Chick Norris rides right seat with me all the time.:D
 
danhagan said:
I think most of us are such bad arses we could do most of the maneuvers inverted:lol: Personally inverted with the foggles on for turns around a point using only the force is a little tougher ... I don't usually have issues as Chick Norris rides right seat with me all the time.:D
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I'm going to remember this post when I do your next flight review, Dan!!

;)
 
danhagan said:
...I don't usually have issues as Chick Norris rides right seat with me all the time.:D
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Reminds me of a time when a guy taxied in to the FBO. Single seat Pitts with a decal on the side that said "Jesus is my co-pilot".

I was out on the ramp, and pointed to the decal and asked the guy "Where does he sit?"

As I recall, he was not much amused at my attempt at humor. :(
 
MikeELP said:
If you're referring to the Chuck Norris part...I'd have to grow a beard! :D

I was more referring to him wanting to do the maneuvers inverted. Might be fun in Dan's Tiger!!
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Me too......

Can you say " Go Pro" :D:D:D
 
danhagan said:
I think most of us are such bad arses we could do most of the maneuvers inverted:lol: Personally inverted with the foggles on for turns around a point using only the force is a little tougher ... I don't usually have issues as Chick Norris rides right seat with me all the time.:D
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Oh, no! Did Chuck pull a Bruce Jenner?!
 
Flight test to pts standards no problem. Written test? That wasn't so relevant to actual flying the first time...it was more of a game to guess the "FAA" answer to too many arcane and marginally relevant or poorly worded questions. Or performing calculations no one does in real life, like wind triangles. I can still do them as an intellectual exercise, but has anyone actually thought this skill useful for real navigation? The IR test was worse in this regard than the PP test.
 
I would have no problem with doing any of my checkrides tomorrow and passing with the exception of the CFI initial with the fsdo (would want to study quite a bit) or the multiengine commercial (haven't flown a multi since the checkride).
 
Private ASEL: Yes.
Instrument: No.

Which is why I'll remain non-current on the IR until I can get put through the ringer by a good CFII.
 
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