Page 22 - Dear aviator...

exciting and frightening moment for the student (some would say for the instructor
too, seeing as they are still responsible for them during that flight).

The instructor who checked me out and then sent me on my first solo was one I
had never previously flown with. He had no idea who I was or where I came from;
he wasn’t excited for me or for the accomplishment. All he did was offer some - at
least it seemed to me - half-hearted congratulations at the end. As I was driving
home, I felt underwhelmed by what I was led to believe was going to be an amazing
and life-defining moment. I should note that this did not have any bearing on the
actual flight or on my performance or on my subsequent training (nor should it);
but from a very basic human point of view I would have liked to have had one
instructor who, after having trained me, would have been proud to see me succeed.
Both my PPL and to a much greater degree my CPL flight tests were very different
experiences as the lead up to those exams were with a single instructor and so both
those milestones were greeted with many slaps on the shoulders and heartfelt
embraces which felt good. I felt that those accomplishments were appreciated and
I’m pretty confident that the instructors were happy for me and proud of my
success - as it was partially their own as well.
Still, the first solo is meant to be even more special and I felt somewhat robbed of
that opportunity.

Flight tests

Well… you knew this was coming. The flight test. The last hurdle before your
licence (whichever it may be) is awarded to you. Forget the theory exams, the
practice tests and the quizzes… it all pales in front of the flight test. You’ve just
spent months in the build up to this day.
As a prospective student pilot you should know that this is what will give you
sleepless nights, take away your appetite, make you grumpy and impossible with
friends and family and in general take over your life until THE DAY comes.
Oh, you’ll try to be cool about it, but you WILL break into a cold sweat on the day
and the toilet will be your best friend (at least for ten minutes on the morning of the
test - relaying the experience of a friend).
As with the rest of this booklet, it is not my purpose to run through the specifics of
the flight test… that’s your school’s job. But I’d like to tell you about the feelings
and sensations that I experienced.
Over the length of the aviation course I had three separate flight tests with three
different flight examiners. My first flight test was for the Recreational Pilot’s
Certificate and the examiner was one of my flight school’s own senior instructors.
This made it somehow easier as I was a bit more acquainted with him. On the other
hand, for both the Private and later Commercial Pilot’s Licence tests I had external
flight examiners representing the federal aviation authority whom I had never met
and knew nothing about.
I can guarantee that as you approach your flight test and you voice any concerns to
your instructors you will get the standard reply. It's just another flight. You wouldn't

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