Flight 76
04-21-97

C-172
TEB-TEB
1.8 dual (PIC); 0.4 sim. instrument

>>CHECK RIDE<<

"Private Pilot Flt test, UNSAT XC only"

I waited a while before logging this flight in my journal, so some details are missing. I was pretty relaxed about the check ride after so much review in such a short period, and C. and N. seemed to think I was ready.
But deep inside I was more nervous than I realized. I have everything ready when J., a Falcon type instructor I'd never met before, shows up to act as examiner for the oral test and flight test. I'm sure I'll nail the oral- after all, I'd turned in a near-perfect score on the written. I recall as we sit down on either side of a table in the classroom that more than one instructor at the school had offered only this advisce: "limit your answers to 'yes' or 'no' whenever possible.." It made enough sense, but I wasn't exactly sure why. I soon found out.
Eager to show off my knowledge, I started elaborating on answers, which of course revealed gaps in my knowledge. J. was on a tight schedule, but he had no choice but to dig deeper when I did this... it finally got to the point where he paused and picked up a pen from the desk. He held it in front of me and saud "Do you know what this is?"

"A pen?" I reply, puzzled.

He blinks. "Do you know what this is?"

"A pen," I say, more confidently this time.

This time he sighs. "One more time- do you know what this is?"

Suddenly it all becomes clear to me.

"Yes!" I tell him.

J. puts down the pen. "Good. Now let's get this done so we can go flying..."

Overall, I did well with the oral: learned a few things in the process. In a little over an hour, J. decides I am worthy to continue.

Then it is time for the practical test- a demonstration of my ability to fly, observe procedures, rules and regulations, navigate, communicate, and deal with emergencies.

Good ol' 6FR is available again today- excellent. I've grown quite comfortable in that plane lately.
The weather is pretty good, with forgiving winds. J. is a strange, gruff presence next to me, and not a small person, either. But I settle into my routine quickly, doing everything as I normally do.

Feeling even more confident now, I fly off on the heading he gives me, to the west. He has me do the usual stuff, and I almost screw up the ground-ref maneuvers by suddenly forgetting what 1500 AGL should look like. My confidence begins to erode a little, and by the time he gives me a diversion after we set out towards Allentown, as I have so carefully planned, my brain seems to have locked up. I am suddenly actually lost- in my own backyard! How can this be? As I finally get things figured out, J. says "Well, you've failed the nav portion. If you want, we can keep going, and do that part on another flight."
My heart sinks, but I know I may have trouble booking him again any time soon, so I resolve to press on.

"No, I'm okay- let's keep going."

He has me put on the Foggles, and I feel better again, with only the little dials to think about as I perform the usual tricks.  That part goes quite well.
Soon we're about out of time, so J. orders me back to TEB. I do a decent job of finding it, but that is not sufficient to redeem me for the failed navigation portion. Besides, we still have to do landings and emergency procedures, so there will have to be a second flight anyway.

Afterwards, I am still crestfallen- I just want to pass and get that certificate!

But I wisely agree to do some more review with C. over the next few weeks, then schedule another flight with J.