When the weather is bad and the examiner gives you the option of delaying
for better weather, don't say "Well, if I can't pass my checkride in IMC I'm
probably not qualified for the IFR rating."

First attempt at the checkride. Icing forecast at 6,000. Examiner said
"No problem. We probably won't go much above four." The FIRST
instruction I got from Portland Approach was to hold over Battleground...at
6,000. Lots of flying around in turbulence trying to maintain heading and
altitude, listening to PDX warn people about the weather.

Later, holding in IMC, was told it was 2003Z and to expect my next clearance
at 2030Z.
Wonderful. So I held in IMC for about 20 minutes while the examiner tracked
my course on his handheld GPS.

I'm not sure how I passed. He spent the first half hour of the oral telling
me about how failure works, and not to be embarrassed by it, etc. I'm not
in fact sure how I made it through the checkride without just saying "This
sucks. I'm going home." I made more mistakes and flew sloppier than any
training flight I've done in the last month. So I had already started
guessing which parts I passed and which I busted, and TWO HOURS after we
landed--he having asked questions like "So, how do YOU think you did?"--he
pulled out a booklet (me: 'here comes the dreaded pink slip'), asked for my
logbook and then wrote my temporary endorsement. I couldn't believe my eyes.

Wasn't a gold-medal performance, but he said I stayed cool in the IMC and
that must have been my saving grace. Went home and discovered my wife had
poured a shot of whiskey for me. Mission accomplished!

-gatt
Portland, OR

Well, Santa Claus came early this year. :-)

Congratulations.

not many examiners I know of would go up in real IFR for a checkride with
someone they did not know... good job..
BT

"gatt" > wrote in message
...
>
> When the weather is bad and the examiner gives you the option of delaying
> for better weather, don't say "Well, if I can't pass my checkride in IMC
> I'm
> probably not qualified for the IFR rating."
>
> First attempt at the checkride. Icing forecast at 6,000. Examiner said
> "No problem. We probably won't go much above four." The FIRST
> instruction I got from Portland Approach was to hold over
> Battleground...at
> 6,000. Lots of flying around in turbulence trying to maintain heading and
> altitude, listening to PDX warn people about the weather.
>
> Later, holding in IMC, was told it was 2003Z and to expect my next
> clearance
> at 2030Z.
> Wonderful. So I held in IMC for about 20 minutes while the examiner
> tracked
> my course on his handheld GPS.
>
> I'm not sure how I passed. He spent the first half hour of the oral
> telling
> me about how failure works, and not to be embarrassed by it, etc. I'm
> not
> in fact sure how I made it through the checkride without just saying "This
> sucks. I'm going home." I made more mistakes and flew sloppier than any
> training flight I've done in the last month. So I had already started
> guessing which parts I passed and which I busted, and TWO HOURS after we
> landed--he having asked questions like "So, how do YOU think you did?"--he
> pulled out a booklet (me: 'here comes the dreaded pink slip'), asked for
> my
> logbook and then wrote my temporary endorsement. I couldn't believe my
> eyes.
>
> Wasn't a gold-medal performance, but he said I stayed cool in the IMC and
> that must have been my saving grace. Went home and discovered my wife had
> poured a shot of whiskey for me. Mission accomplished!
>
> -gatt
> Portland, OR
>
>

gatt: Big congrats and a well done.You must have used
up all your allotment of patience and sweat for an entire
year. :-)

Best of luck

Bob Barker PPASEL N8749S

"gatt" > wrote in message
...
>
> When the weather is bad and the examiner gives you the option of delaying
> for better weather, don't say "Well, if I can't pass my checkride in IMC
> I'm
> probably not qualified for the IFR rating."
>
> First attempt at the checkride. Icing forecast at 6,000. Examiner said
> "No problem. We probably won't go much above four." The FIRST
> instruction I got from Portland Approach was to hold over
> Battleground...at
> 6,000. Lots of flying around in turbulence trying to maintain heading and
> altitude, listening to PDX warn people about the weather.
>
> Later, holding in IMC, was told it was 2003Z and to expect my next
> clearance
> at 2030Z.
> Wonderful. So I held in IMC for about 20 minutes while the examiner
> tracked
> my course on his handheld GPS.
>
> I'm not sure how I passed. He spent the first half hour of the oral
> telling
> me about how failure works, and not to be embarrassed by it, etc. I'm
> not
> in fact sure how I made it through the checkride without just saying "This
> sucks. I'm going home." I made more mistakes and flew sloppier than any
> training flight I've done in the last month. So I had already started
> guessing which parts I passed and which I busted, and TWO HOURS after we
> landed--he having asked questions like "So, how do YOU think you did?"--he
> pulled out a booklet (me: 'here comes the dreaded pink slip'), asked for
> my
> logbook and then wrote my temporary endorsement. I couldn't believe my
> eyes.
>
> Wasn't a gold-medal performance, but he said I stayed cool in the IMC and
> that must have been my saving grace. Went home and discovered my wife had
> poured a shot of whiskey for me. Mission accomplished!
>
> -gatt
> Portland, OR
>
>

"gatt" > wrote in message
...
>
> When the weather is bad and the examiner gives you the option of delaying
> for better weather, don't say "Well, if I can't pass my checkride in IMC
I'm
> probably not qualified for the IFR rating."

I thought the same. And congratulations!

> First attempt at the checkride. Icing forecast at 6,000. Examiner said
> "No problem. We probably won't go much above four." The FIRST
> instruction I got from Portland Approach was to hold over
Battleground...at
> 6,000. Lots of flying around in turbulence trying to maintain heading and
> altitude, listening to PDX warn people about the weather.

I had a similar experience approaching my hold. The examiner, bless him,
murmured "outside temp is 34" and I told ATC "Unable, icing". They
immediately gave me a lower altitude.

I think I had the same experience as you: being able to keep my cool with
layers, icing, and an unexpectedly OTS VOR, helped compensate for, umm,
pushing the envelope of the PTS.

Now go fly some more clouds!

-- David Brooks

In article >,
gatt > wrote:
>
>When the weather is bad and the examiner gives you the option of delaying
>for better weather, don't say "Well, if I can't pass my checkride in IMC I'm
>probably not qualified for the IFR rating."

I like that sentiment a lot better than some of the others I've seen
recently. If you can't fly in IMC right after 40 hours of training you
are going to be in trouble when you are barely managing to keep current!

>instruction I got from Portland Approach was to hold over Battleground...at
>6,000. [...]
>
>Later, holding in IMC, was told it was 2003Z and to expect my next clearance
>at 2030Z.


Hey, if you could hold for 20 minutes over BTG in actual without busting
PTS standards you deserve the rating just for that. Every hold I've flown
there involved large pitch changes on each leg to adjust to the gorge winds
blowing over the hill the VOR is on.

Interesting that your examiner went up in actual. The guy my CFII likes
now doesn't stay instrument current, so in actual he requires that the
CFII ride along for the practical test.

--
Ben Jackson
>
http://www.ben.com/

Congratulations! Glad to hear that worked out.


--
Jack Allison
PP-ASEL, IA Student

"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the Earth
with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there
you will always long to return"
- Leonardo Da Vinci

(Remove the obvious from address to reply via e-mail)

"gatt" wrote:
> Went home and discovered my wife had
> poured a shot of whiskey for me.

Some guys have all the luck.
--
Dan
C-172RG at BFM

"Ben Jackson" > wrote in message news:qKAad.242855$

> Interesting that your examiner went up in actual. The guy my CFII likes
> now doesn't stay instrument current, so in actual he requires that the
> CFII ride along for the practical test.

Wow! That was the exact situation: He rode in back and my CFII took the
right seat. There were a couple of times when I heard her exhale after I
did something well, and more than a couple where I fully expected a quick
elbow to the ribs. :>

Maybe it's the same examiner. His name is Wiley. It's a hard ride home
when you sure you've failed and your CFII is sitting silently in the seat
next to you. The oral exam, by the way, covered almost nothing out of the
ASA Oral Prep guide which I've been studying for two friggin' weeks!

-c

Congratulations!

David Brooks wrote:
>>First attempt at the checkride. Icing forecast at 6,000. Examiner said
>>"No problem. We probably won't go much above four." The FIRST
>>instruction I got from Portland Approach was to hold over Battleground...at
>>6,000. Lots of flying around in turbulence trying to maintain heading and
>>altitude, listening to PDX warn people about the weather.

> I had a similar experience approaching my hold. The examiner, bless him,
> murmured "outside temp is 34" and I told ATC "Unable, icing". They
> immediately gave me a lower altitude.
> I think I had the same experience as you: being able to keep my cool with
> layers, icing, and an unexpectedly OTS VOR, helped compensate for, umm,
> pushing the envelope of the PTS.

There you go! Never let ATC put you somewhere you don't want to be.
Sometimes you have to assert yourself, but know the rules and protect
yourself at all times.

Congrads, Gatt PDX can be a real pain in the rear. I listen to them all the
time on the scanner its like they hate GA aircraft.



"gatt" > wrote in message
...
>
> When the weather is bad and the examiner gives you the option of delaying
> for better weather, don't say "Well, if I can't pass my checkride in IMC
I'm
> probably not qualified for the IFR rating."
>
> First attempt at the checkride. Icing forecast at 6,000. Examiner said
> "No problem. We probably won't go much above four." The FIRST
> instruction I got from Portland Approach was to hold over
Battleground...at
> 6,000. Lots of flying around in turbulence trying to maintain heading and
> altitude, listening to PDX warn people about the weather.
>
> Later, holding in IMC, was told it was 2003Z and to expect my next
clearance
> at 2030Z.
> Wonderful. So I held in IMC for about 20 minutes while the examiner
tracked
> my course on his handheld GPS.
>
> I'm not sure how I passed. He spent the first half hour of the oral
telling
> me about how failure works, and not to be embarrassed by it, etc. I'm
not
> in fact sure how I made it through the checkride without just saying "This
> sucks. I'm going home." I made more mistakes and flew sloppier than any
> training flight I've done in the last month. So I had already started
> guessing which parts I passed and which I busted, and TWO HOURS after we
> landed--he having asked questions like "So, how do YOU think you did?"--he
> pulled out a booklet (me: 'here comes the dreaded pink slip'), asked for
my
> logbook and then wrote my temporary endorsement. I couldn't believe my
eyes.
>
> Wasn't a gold-medal performance, but he said I stayed cool in the IMC and
> that must have been my saving grace. Went home and discovered my wife had
> poured a shot of whiskey for me. Mission accomplished!
>
> -gatt
> Portland, OR
>
>

My understanding is, if you do something and he doesn't tell you you
busted it, then you passed it. You have to be told when you bust
something, then the option is yours if you want to continue to check
other things off or not.

gatt wrote:
> So I had already started
guessing which parts I passed and which I busted
>
> -gatt
> Portland, OR
>
>

gatt wrote:

> When the weather is bad and the examiner gives you the option of delaying
> for better weather, don't say "Well, if I can't pass my checkride in IMC I'm
> probably not qualified for the IFR rating."
>
> First attempt at the checkride. Icing forecast at 6,000. Examiner said
> "No problem. We probably won't go much above four." The FIRST
> instruction I got from Portland Approach was to hold over Battleground...at
> 6,000. Lots of flying around in turbulence trying to maintain heading and
> altitude, listening to PDX warn people about the weather.

That's pretty cool. I've never heard of an examiner who would fly a
check ride in actual.


Matt

When I did the VOR hold during my checkride, the west side of the VOR
was in the sun, the east side was in IMC.

BTIZ wrote:
> not many examiners I know of would go up in real IFR for a checkride with
> someone they did not know... good job..

Good for you.
"gatt" > wrote in message
...
>
> When the weather is bad and the examiner gives you the option of delaying
> for better weather, don't say "Well, if I can't pass my checkride in IMC
> I'm
> probably not qualified for the IFR rating."
>
> First attempt at the checkride. Icing forecast at 6,000. Examiner said
> "No problem. We probably won't go much above four." The FIRST
> instruction I got from Portland Approach was to hold over
> Battleground...at
> 6,000. Lots of flying around in turbulence trying to maintain heading and
> altitude, listening to PDX warn people about the weather.
>
> Later, holding in IMC, was told it was 2003Z and to expect my next
> clearance
> at 2030Z.
> Wonderful. So I held in IMC for about 20 minutes while the examiner
> tracked
> my course on his handheld GPS.
>
> I'm not sure how I passed. He spent the first half hour of the oral
> telling
> me about how failure works, and not to be embarrassed by it, etc. I'm
> not
> in fact sure how I made it through the checkride without just saying "This
> sucks. I'm going home." I made more mistakes and flew sloppier than any
> training flight I've done in the last month. So I had already started
> guessing which parts I passed and which I busted, and TWO HOURS after we
> landed--he having asked questions like "So, how do YOU think you did?"--he
> pulled out a booklet (me: 'here comes the dreaded pink slip'), asked for
> my
> logbook and then wrote my temporary endorsement. I couldn't believe my
> eyes.
>
> Wasn't a gold-medal performance, but he said I stayed cool in the IMC and
> that must have been my saving grace. Went home and discovered my wife had
> poured a shot of whiskey for me. Mission accomplished!
>
> -gatt
> Portland, OR
>
>

On 10/11/04 12:59 PM, in article , "gatt"
> wrote:
>
> Wasn't a gold-medal performance, but he said I stayed cool in the IMC and
> that must have been my saving grace. Went home and discovered my wife had
> poured a shot of whiskey for me. Mission accomplished!
>
> -gatt
> Portland, OR
>
>
Congratulations! Now find some more clouds and fly safe!
--
Jeff 'The Wizard of Draws' Bucchino
Cartoons with a Touch of Magic�
http://www.wizardofdraws.com
http://www.cartoonclipart.com

Gatt,

Congrats!

> So I had already started
> guessing which parts I passed and which I busted,
>

Just to keep an old OWT from spreading: The examiner has to tell you
RIGHT AWAY if you have failed at any point during the test. As long as
he/she doesn't, all is dandy.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

Gatt,

> It's a hard ride home
> when you sure you've failed
>

Again, that wouldn't have been necessary.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

I did my instrument checkride with a real FAA guy I'd never met with broken
to overcast at 3,000-4,000 so we were in the clouds a lot.

"BTIZ" > wrote in message
news:Ybzad.24871$_a3.7861@fed1read05...
> not many examiners I know of would go up in real IFR for a checkride with
> someone they did not know... good job..
> BT

How did you do the airwork (steep turns, stalls, slow flight, etc)?

-Robert

"Robert M. Gary" > wrote in message
om...
> How did you do the airwork (steep turns, stalls, slow flight, etc)?

In my case: we did a touch-and-go after the last approach, departed SVFR,
and found some clearer air over the Puget Sound. To finish the checkride I
had to land SVFR for the first time ever.

-- David Brooks

Hey
You beat me to it.
Congratulations - you did good.

Fly safe

Tony


Tony Roberts
PP-ASEL
VFR OTT
Night
Cessna 172H C-GICE


In article >,
"gatt" > wrote:

> When the weather is bad and the examiner gives you the option of delaying
> for better weather, don't say "Well, if I can't pass my checkride in IMC I'm
> probably not qualified for the IFR rating."
>
> First attempt at the checkride. Icing forecast at 6,000. Examiner said
> "No problem. We probably won't go much above four." The FIRST
> instruction I got from Portland Approach was to hold over Battleground...at
> 6,000. Lots of flying around in turbulence trying to maintain heading and
> altitude, listening to PDX warn people about the weather.
>
> Later, holding in IMC, was told it was 2003Z and to expect my next clearance
> at 2030Z.
> Wonderful. So I held in IMC for about 20 minutes while the examiner tracked
> my course on his handheld GPS.
>
> I'm not sure how I passed. He spent the first half hour of the oral telling
> me about how failure works, and not to be embarrassed by it, etc. I'm not
> in fact sure how I made it through the checkride without just saying "This
> sucks. I'm going home." I made more mistakes and flew sloppier than any
> training flight I've done in the last month. So I had already started
> guessing which parts I passed and which I busted, and TWO HOURS after we
> landed--he having asked questions like "So, how do YOU think you did?"--he
> pulled out a booklet (me: 'here comes the dreaded pink slip'), asked for my
> logbook and then wrote my temporary endorsement. I couldn't believe my eyes.
>
> Wasn't a gold-medal performance, but he said I stayed cool in the IMC and
> that must have been my saving grace. Went home and discovered my wife had
> poured a shot of whiskey for me. Mission accomplished!
>
> -gatt
> Portland, OR




--

> > Went home and discovered my wife had
> > poured a shot of whiskey for me. Mission accomplished!
> >
> > -gatt
> > Portland, OR

Your wife doesn't have a sister does she?

Peter

"Bushy" > wrote in message

> Your wife doesn't have a sister does she?

I WISH!

(uh...I didn't say that.)

:>

-c

gatt wrote:
>
> "Bushy" > wrote in message
>
> > Your wife doesn't have a sister does she?
>
> I WISH!

Careful what you wish for. Mine has a sister. After 9 years, I still think I got the
better deal.

George Patterson
If a man gets into a fight 3,000 miles away from home, he *had* to have
been looking for it.

>Subject: Re: IFR checkride in IMC: PASSED!

Nice goin' GATT..congrats !!!
Greg PP-ASEL-IA