Alex,



With three CFI's during my training, and most likely due to the lack
of instruction continuity, the VOR radial interception procedure had
neither been demonstrated nor practiced in flight, ever, let alone
requested by ATC.

I must agree with you...I have never had ATC tell me to intercepte a radial
and then fly to the VOR. What airport do you normally fly out of? I fly out
of San Antonio (SAT - Class C airspace). Whenever I approach SAT from the
NE, I will be assured of being told to proceed to the SAT VOR for vectoring.


Going back to the checkride, I can remember sweating bullets while
frantically recalling VOR basics, and just going from there (i.e.
winging it). Turn the OBS to the 180 deg. reciprocal of the radial
requested by the DE, and follow the needle until it centered. I did
get yelled at for chasing the CDI needle and supposedly making some
"big turns" to capture the correct radial. The ironic thing is that
this was the first task the DE asked of me during the flight portion.
What a way to start a checkride by flunking within 5 minutes of
takeoff. In fact, I was tempted to tell the DE: "Sir, I don't believe
that's a PTS item!"


I didn't have a VOR problem during my checkride, but I am STILL fighting the
VOR. The last time I flew I was flying inbound on the outbound (reverse
heading) and I got so lost, I'm still not sure I know where I am and that
was 2000 miles from here :-). My problem is not knowing how, my problem is
getting my mind to believe what my insturments are tell me and truly realize
what that "TO/FROM" flag is really telling me. I am planning a cross-country
trip that will be extensively VOR flying using both inbound and outbound
radials. I hope I get it right this time :-).

And, for what it is worth, you only beat me on failing by a few minutes :-).
I went down the tubes when I was asked by the DE what my ground speed was
:-(. Needless to say, it went down hill from there.


Moral of the lesson: Don't trust your CFI to teach you everything you
need to know. You are responsible for your training. And read the
PTS.

AMEN! and AMEN!

Sorry for any misunderstanding. Happy flying, and stay safe.

Harry