It has been about 2 weeks since my check-ride. A very, very good experience overall, with a ton of learning and finally, relief... lots of relief!
As you might imagine, it was also one of the most stressful weeks of my life. Almost every day was spent at the airport during the lead up.
This is "my story". Everyone's story is a little different, yet I remain convinced that we all share certain aspects and can all benefit from the experiences, warnings and reassurances of each other.
The pre-check-ride process through actual check-ride, can be broken down into several stages.
1. Studying the books.
2. Completing private pilot student logbook requirements.
3. A mock check ride and dual flying to prepare for the check-ride.
4. Dealing with anxiety.
5. Actual check-ride - which is entitled to its very own post and will follow.
Studying the books:
I consider myself to be a good student. Not top of the class by any stretch of the imagination, but one who devotes time to actually learning the work and uses the resources given, to the best of my ability. I don’t leave stuff to the last minute and I take it very seriously.
Working my way through the Jeppeson books I had purchased at the beginning of my training, I used the "big book" and accompanying written test study guide to study for the FAA written, about 6 months earlier and the practical study guide and flight maneuvers books to study for the check-ride.
There was one more little book... Practical Test Standards. A comprehensive list of what you should know, the minimum standards to which you will be held during the check-ride and a list of things you will need to take with you.
Tidbit of advice: I wish I had "found" the PTS book a little earlier. It is an extremely good organizational tool and was absolutely key in determining my weaknesses. If I was doing this all again I would have used this little book earlier in my "getting ready" process.
Completing logbook requirements:
It sounds a lot easier than it is. How many times have I looked in my logbook and thought "just have to do this one more thing, then I’m done"? Too many! The truth is that when faced with pages of notes and figures, it is easy to misread or simply miss things. You may have read my post about missing 18 minutes of cross country time. It happens. It’s not ideal and it’s not the end of the world.
Tidbit of advice: 3 Things... Have your instructor double check you. Tag the requirements in the book so they are easily found and identified by you, your instructor and the examiner. And lastly, begin the double check of requirements well ahead of time. You do NOT want to be faced with "must do's" the week before or the day before the check-ride, trust me!
Mock check-ride and dual flying prep:
I was terrified of my mock check ride. Of course my instructor wouldn’t have given me his blessing (or in my case, a push) to go ahead with the licensing exam, if he didn’t think I was ready. But at the end of the day, that has very little to do with performance anxiety... my nemesis.
The mock check-ride was booked with the senior flight instructor at Air West. His reputation was one of a darn good pilot... and a tough teacher!
The event was a mixed one for me. I learned new things and new ways to do the same things. I did plenty wrong and lost some confidence, but I also got encouragement for the things I did right. I got a good peek into what a check-ride was likely to feel like.
Following the mock-check-ride, my instructor, armed with a list of weaknesses, spent time with me, flying and peppering me with likely questions my examiner would chose. We did more simulated emergencies, more simulated instrument work and practiced all sorts of other things on the list.
Tidbit of advice: Have a mock check-ride performed by a different instructor than you are used to. Have your instructor and the new guy, evaluate strengths and weaknesses together discuss a plan for the next step in preparation, with you.
Anxiety:
For me, there were tears, fears and an exponential increase in anxiety. It was the beginning of a week of sleep loss + appetite loss = weight loss. My focus was entirely on preparing for my first check-ride now. To say I couldn't work, found myself run out of clean clothes and with a sudden realization I hadn't done laundry or any other house chore, that I needed help in taking care of my dog and in taking care of me, is an understatement!!!
Honestly, the examiner is expecting you to be nervous. Some people are more prone to performance anxiety than others. I have had performance anxiety for as long as I can remember... tests, singing, acting, public speaking all get me.
Anxiety is a serious problem when it reduces performance, if that performance is a requirement for the "next step" or heaven forbid, for safety.
The mistakes I made during the mock and real checkride were at the beginning of the flights and I did get better as time went on and I became more comfortable with the examiner. It should be noted that the examiner worked really hard to put me at ease and actually did the best job anyone could. By the end of the flight, she had taken control and demonstrated some very cool things and I had had fun with her.
But if I could have removed or reduced the anxiety to a lower level initially, I would have. My symptoms included a reduced ability to concentrate, breathing difficulty, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. (Not something you probably wanted to hear!) Different people suffer with different symptoms and I am lucky not to have be paralysed by it or to have cracked inappropriate jokes! Yes, I have heard of other pilots with anxiety issues.
The truth is, on any other day, with these physical and mental limitations, I would make the judgment call to NOT FLY - and I was sure to let the examiner know this. However, that is just not an option with a checkride and the only way I could see to get rid of my anxiety, was to get it over with.
Tidbit of advice: Make sure you can devote significant time and energy to the process... and plan for it to be an expensive and exhausting week. You will need someone in your corner, cheering you on and lifting you up. If, like me, you suffer from anxiety, don't do what I did and suffer with it. Plan for it ahead of time, find therapies, exercises or balance events to try and reduce it. As counter-intuitive as it seems, studying harder is NOT a cure, because performance anxiety is not the same as anxiety brought on by being unprepared.
Don't ever forget, this supposed to be fun and will definitely be worth all the effort and stress.
