Hi All,
I got my PPL test next week and I feel overall prepared and confident. I don't have a particular question, but was wondering if there are any hints, tips or examiner traps I should keep in mind on the test-day.

Thanks for your time.

Yeah. Relax.

The examiner will likely ask you 3 types of questions.

1. Those you should know from memory (which are stated in the flight test guide).

2. Those you wouldn't be expected to know from memory, but would be expected to be able to find the answer on your own (using a CFS or legend from a map, for example).

3. Those you wouldn't know at all, in which case you should admit you don't know and learn the lesson from the examiner rather than try to BS your way through an answer. Many times, these questions are used to open a topic of further separate discussuon in which the examiner can cue your thought process to find the correct answer.

In terms of #2, be prepared to make use of ALL available resources to you as a pilot. Know the general outline of the CFS, especially the general part in section A. Know the different sections of your POH and where to find specific info. Have a basic understanding of the legends on your VNC and VTA charts. Have the aircraft documents available and look through them for answers. Basically, when asked a question, be prepared to show how you found the answer. The examiner in some cases won't care if you can quote the answer from memory. They want to see you demonstrate your ability to find the proper reference from your available resources. For example, if they ask what is the basic empty weight for your aircraft, don't just speak from memory, but be prepared to identify the legal empty weight that is written in the current weight & balance document. Or, if asked what a symbol on a map represents, don't just say it, but point out in the legend how you could confirm it was the correct answer. Your PPL will be a license to operate a variety of aircraft in a variety of areas across the world, not just the aircraft you trained on in your local area.

Take your time and use what you have available to help with the ground portion. The flight test is the final lesson, so be prepared to learn a few things you didn't know to begin with. Be open to constructive criticism and don't get bogged down with worrying about small things you missed or could have done better, expecially during the de-brief after you have passed.

Good points so far. I will add my 2 cents worth of course:

Most importantly - The examiner's generally want you to pass, they are not there to trick you, so don't think that.

First off is the ground portion of the exam. This is the easy part there should be no reason to not do really well here. As Ralliart said before know your memory items cold.

As for the prep of the nav exercise, weather etc. I always tell my students to know what the final product needs to be and where there data is coming from. For example the take off and landing distances. I know to complete this I need Pressure Altitude, Temperature, Wind, Weight and Surface condition. So if you sit down your like OK landing distances and then stop and go oh crap I need weather, oh crap what is my weight and hop around trying to gather your information you are going to waste valuable time and risk forgetting something. Have a script prepared and practiced before hand. Have plenty of copies of weight and balance, nav log, cross wind charts etc. This is the process I try to teach:

With the PPL you will usually have your route the night before so do the following:

Well before flight test:

Go through your POH front to back and get the post it note flags and place them in reference to all things important in the POH. Where to find Va, Vne, Vfe, Vy, Vx, Different emergency procedures, Performance tables, Systems, Servicing. The reason for this is so that you can quickly pull out the required information.
Know your memory items inside out, upside down.
Spend some time with the plane so you know what every antenna, intake etc is for.
Copy the various documents and make note of the important information that you need to know on the back.
Spend a lot of time with your chart so that your comfortable with it
Grab the book Ace Your Flight Test - it is really quite good.
Make sure that all your publications are current
Night before

Plot your route on your map
Get your distances, headings etc.
Complete as much of the nav log as you can
Choose your altitudes - if you require a high altitude in the mountains plan an alternate through the VFR route if the weather does not permit the high altitude route
Study the route for gotchas, high mountain passes, restricted airspace, possible alternate airports, obstructions along your route of flight.

When you get to the flight test:
Prep the plane - Fuel Load, Clean windows, Do a good pre-flight inspection NO LOOSE ITEMS! - This is important
Get the weather printed off
Go through your weather package and highlight any thing that is relevant including NOTAMs
Organize it to give a big picture to little picture briefing of what is going on.
Wizz your wheel and complete your nav log
Complete your weight and balance
Complete your take off calculations

When the examiner is ready for you:

Relax
When asked a question take your time and think about it
When you provide an answer be precise avoid umms ahhhs etc.The better you are at that the easier it will be, and the less chance the examiner will find an area of weak knowledge and continue to question.
If you do not know an answer do not guess. If you know where to find say so! Example: What is the nose tire pressure of this aircraft? Well that can be found in Section 7 of the POH under servicing. Chances are you would not even have to look it up!


Once you get to the airplane:

Fly precise, accept no deviation. If requested to fly at 2300' and you 2320' FIX it!
Fly each exercise by its self. If you pooch the steep turn forget about it and go on to the stall. Hey you never know you could get back n the ground and find out that you got a 2 which is still a pass!

Relax and have fun, your instructor would not have sent you unless you where ready.

The biggest thing, which was already stated, is to just relax, your instructor wouldn't have recommended you if you weren't ready.

dont let your guard down....i had my examiner say hey! i think i just saw my buddy's cottage by pitt lake, lets take a look. and put it in a spiral. Its no big deal at all, I dont know of anyone who has been fooled...but even when he has control, mentally fly the airplane.

and ALWAYS know where you are..if you know EXCATLY where you are, the diversion is that much simpler than waiting 30 secs to find your place on a map and draw the line etc. plus...keep an eye out for that field or road or preferred forced approach spot.

i agree, just relax....your instructor would not have put you up for the ride if you were not ready....relax was the best advice i ever recieved...good luck!

the best pointer i can give you is TAKE YOUR F**************ING time. Way to many people fail cause they get ahead of them selves and don't think through things properly.

"relax..."

"just relax"

"relax and have fun..."

"yeah, relax..."

so how exactly are u supposed to "relax"?

assuming that youve done your level best to get ready (and taken all of the excellent advice above), try assuming the worst; try assuming that you've already failed; assume that you'll need to do a re-ride......by doing this, you might find that the "worst" isn't so bad, which in turn might take some of the pressure off, which might then help you to "relax"...just a thought (from someone who DIDN'T pass the first time out but rocked on the re-ride!)

alpha1 wrote:so how exactly are u supposed to "relax"?

Light some candles, take a bath and listen to Enya

Thanks for all the advice gents!
200hr Wonder; that's a great summary, and I will make sure to forward it to anyone who asks me the same question.

Regarding having all my "materials current"; my CFS has expired, should I get a new one for the test?

I'll make sure to not stress out about it too much, during the mock-test with my instructor I treated it as any other flight knowing that I know all the stuff. So I'll stay pretty relaxed during the real thing.

I'll post here once I'm done.

I read in the AOPA Flight Training Magazine not to take the candy.

Yes you do need current publications as the CARs state that you need all relevant information that is current and up to date for the route of an intended flight. This being the case you need to have current stuff because you never know what has changed. In my PPL the examiner actually checked my dates on my pubs.

took my flight test 6 weeks ago, best of luck - as stated above, the instructor wouldn't put u up if he thought you weren't ready.. the 'take your time' tip was one I was given last thing, it really does help. I had a great examiner, he made it seem like a trip with a friend rather than an exam..

You wouldn't believe how many people show up
to their flight test, and they've never seen this:

http://www.tc.gc.ca/civilaviation/gener ... 3/menu.htm

The Flight Test Guide is a contract between you
and the examiner. He has to ask you to do everything
in it, to the tolerances specified. He is not allowed to
make up new tasks, or have different tolerances.

Don't show up for a flight test until you can do
everything in the guide, to the tolerances specified.

This is not rocket science.

Other suggestion: get a copy of the official POH
for your test aircraft. Not a groundschool copy,
the real POH, with the real W&B numbers, etc.

Read the POH. Highlight the important sections,
put yellow sticky indexers in it for the emergency
procedures.

The examiner will be very happy if you can do
everything in the flight test guide to the tolerances
specified, and you are familiar with the operating
limitations and procedures of your aircraft.

Pop quiz: your electrical system fails. How do
you know this? Will the engine still keep running?
Will all the flight instruments still keep working?

What are the symptoms of Carbon Monoxide
poisoning? Why should you give a sh1t?

BE SAFE.

They won't expect you to have the shortest short-field landing, but you will be OK if it is done safely.

Hedley wrote:You wouldn't believe how many people show up
to their flight test, and they've never seen this:

http://www.tc.gc.ca/civilaviation/gener ... 3/menu.htm

Pop quiz: your electrical system fails. How do
you know this? Will the engine still keep running?
Will all the flight instruments still keep working?

What are the symptoms of Carbon Monoxide
poisoning? Why should you give a sh1t?

Duh of course I forgot to add that thanks Hedley!

Which electrical system? Left Essential, Right Essential or Non Essential? 115VAC 26VAC 24VDC?

As for Carbon Monoxide I can tell you why you should give a shit... On a lot spam cans the heat is drawn off a muff that surrounds exhaust this can crack and it can spell BAD NEWS. Or even an exhaust crack not there but anywhere in the exhaust system can lead to exahust gases entering the cabin. Alternately if your plane has a ganaitrol(sp?) heater that malfunctions this could lead to it. The symptoms I will leave to the reader to find... hint http://www.carbon-monoxide-poisoning.com

just relax

the examiner wants you to pass as well, unless you screw up real bad, you'll be fine

keep in mind, don't be a smart ass, play it safe, if you don't know something say so, if you don't understand something say so, it will save you in many many situations.

show your examiner you know how to fly, show your examiner you are safe and responsible and you know the procedures

Always stay on the side of safety. If for example, you forget if you need to do a HASEL check for a steep turn, do it anyway.

Act like a flight instructor on the flight test (maintain altitude, heading and airspeed as assigned). Pretend the examiner is your student, and to keep the examiner updated throughout the flight test, keep telling him/her what your doing (dont talk too much though). Remember not to rush through the exercises, always think about what you going to do first and then do it.

The key is to impress the examiner early on during the flight test, especially during the ground portion. The better you do on the ground, the easier it gets when you go in the air. Ive only read the 1st post of this thread, not sure how old it is.. so if you still have to do your flight test, good luck. If your done, then congratulations.

Make sure you dont practice forced landings and diversions since they are usually icing on the cake for examiners. IF the examiner says anythings say.,,i am left seat here buddy, if cessna wanted 2 crew they would of wrote in the POH!!!!!