Private Pilot - Completing The Checkride (powered)

Completing The Checkride (powered)

During "The Checkride", the FAA examiner will first review the applicant's test scores and logbook entries. S/he will then conduct an oral exam, that being a question-and-answer period, over numerous operational, safety and emergency practices. If the examiner then feels that the applicant is adequately prepared for the checkride, they will move to the aircraft. The examiner will watch the applicant conduct the pre-flight of the aircraft, often asking questions like "Why do you watch the control wheel in the cockpit when you move the flight surfaces?" or "What is the minimum safe levels for fluids in that chamber?"

Assuming that the applicant again successfully satisfied the examiner that they were adequately prepared to continue, they will enter the aircraft. The examiner will usually give the applicant a list or oral briefing on what they want the applicant to do during the flight. For example, "I want you to prepare for a VFR flight to Podunck County Airport at an altitude of 3,500 feet, and explain to me what steps you're taking along the way." The examiner will then begin to assess the applicant as they proceed. At some point, however, the examiner may suddenly throw in distractors such as loss of radio communications, loss of instruments, flight into non-visual weather condition, or other emergency situations that the applicant must then respond to, all the while continuing the safe operation of the flight. After the emergency maneuvers are completed, the examiner will then have the applicant make several different landing approaches as well as different take off modes.

Once the examiner is satisfied that the applicant has met all of the minimum requirements to be a pilot, they will direct the applicant to return to the home field, and then they will issue the applicant a Temporary Airman's Certificate. The applicant may then enjoy all the privileges of the private pilot airplane, single engine land certificate.

Note, that in the United States, an airman's certificate is good for life. However, there are certain recurring training requirements before a pilot may exercise their license on a continuing basis.(i.e. the biennial flight review). Also, pilots in the Private, Commercial and Airline categories must meet the FAA aeromedical requirements for that particular license. Recreational Pilots and persons flying under Part 103 are only required to have a current driver's license to demonstrate compliance with medical qualification to act as pilot-in-command.