article thumbnail

Is It Hard To Be A Pilot? – The Surprising Truth

Pilot Institute

Checkride: Pass an FAA written knowledge exam and practical flight test (checkride). Checkride: Pass the FAA Instrument Practical Test (Checkride). 3 hours of checkride prep with an instructor (within 2 months of the test). 3 hours of checkride prep (within 60 days of test). 10 hours in Complex or TAA.

Pilot 98
article thumbnail

Learning is a change of behavior

CFI Academy

For instance, a pilot learning to navigate crosswinds not only adjusts their control inputs (a visible behavior) but also builds a mental model of aerodynamics and wind effects (an internal shift).

Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Trending Sources

article thumbnail

Managing the wind

Air Facts

I did a checkride in 30 knot winds in the flatlands of Kansas, almost straight down the runway. It felt like pushing it for that airplane, but checkrides are so hard to schedule I went. Several times I’ve landed smoothly in a strong crosswind, then had trouble keeping the airplane on the runway. More likely it’s random.

Knot 98
article thumbnail

Teaching International Student Pilots

Air Facts

At the departure end of the runway, he turned crosswind and continued to the outside downwind, approximately two miles west of the inside downwind. This was excellent training and good practice for the students final checkride, which was flown as an out-and-back sortie to an airfield they may have never before seen.

Pilot 98
article thumbnail

Airline Pilots Are the Most Scrutinized Profession

Air Facts

These maneuvers include an engine failure on takeoff, loss of lift on the wing during departure, en route, and approach, crosswind landings, wind shear scenarios, engine inoperative landings, low visibility landings, crash landings and evacuation. Checkrides are serious business, and failures can results in termination.

Pilot 94
article thumbnail

Steps To Becoming A Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) A Step-by-Step Guide

Northstar VFR

So, knock out that Commercial checkride, and hopefully in a relatively fast timeline, start on the CFI prep. I know many students who did a simple 10 hours or so in the right seat and went into their checkride. Remember, once you take your checkride and pass, you can legally start instructing right away. Pretty straightforward.

article thumbnail

Why learning to fly can be good for your mental health

Air Facts

A related point is that flight training isn’t something you can fake; there are real checkrides and real consequences for not meeting standards. Good luck cheating on the crosswind landing portion of your Private checkride, much less a type rating checkride.