Posted: 5/28/2008 8:45:02 PM EDT
|
Just got back from my commercial check ride, and am now a commercial pilot! Woot! Special VFR to start (guy before me apparently hadn't done that before, and he didn't know what to do, so he failed before taking off), squawked the first aircraft I was going to fly in, had to squawk the aircraft I did fly in due to an avionics issue that occurred in flight. Did most things really well, and I am happy with that performance, but a couple of maneuvers in the pattern weren't very good. All in all, it was pretty good though. Now I just have 3 more check rides to go in the next 2-3 months. 
|
Thanks! I will have my CFI check ride in roughly one month or so, and shortly after that my instrument and CFII will hopefully be done shortly after that. I am in Oregon. |
Wow you're really moving along! That's really cool... I enjoyed all my training, but I really liked doing the Commercial and the CFI stuff because of all the hands on flying and visual maneuvers. As interesting (and practical) the instrument stuff is, it can't compare to the stick and rudder flying of the commercial/cfi prep... God I miss flying GA... anyone got a plane in Eastern PA?  |
Come on down to VA...I'm always looking for somebody to throw in some gas $$$. |
Thanks! I think it is very much more relaxed than when getting my Private certificate, but part of that might just be that I knew what was coming, and had already flown with this examiner when I got my private certificate.
This examiner is pretty unique. Very tough, but he is fair. He has a reputation for getting on people for everything, and he will test your decisions, and you better have a reason for everything you do. If you do, and it involves common sense, logic, and safety, and you are positive and sure of your answer, it's all good. But any weakness invites lot's of scrutiny, and any lack of common sense of flight safety, and man, it's about to suck. Most everyone at my school, and the other schools who's students I have talked to, are afraid of him to a certain extent, but he is really a nice guy, and he is full of knowledge, and is willing to share it, if someone is willing to go after it. But he sure isn't going to just hand a person their pilot certificate, he is going to make you work for it, and he will provide plenty of opportunities to fail. Case in point, the off airport spot was right outside of our Delta airspace, and if not careful upon leaving, a pilot could very easily bust that airspace, especially since upon taking off, he points in that direction, and tells you to take him back to airport for pattern work. I don't know if anyone has failed by busting the airspace, but it wouldn't surprise me.
Yeah, it's happening pretty quick. May 24th of 2007 was the first time I was ever even in a helicopter, and I started training in August. So it will be less than a year to get all of my ratings, if everything continues the way it is going. |