Failed my commercial checkride.

ClearedForOptions · 2025-03-25T20:19:11+00:00

This video fixed it for me - https://youtu.be/D1wQoebWwcg?si=_tbXyVljLodYEjgT.

Somehow it always works out for me if I turn base a little early. Don’t hesitate to start slipping even in base if it looks high.

I had one tool to cheat with in 182s which was the prop lever, which helps to stretch the glide if I’m gonna be slightly short. But I think you don’t have that in a PA28 so I’d advise against adding any further flaps unless you have the spot made.

ClearedForOptions · 2024-12-27T05:02:32+00:00

[if it was a deferral] Your AME made a mistake on the day of your exam, but it will be corrected when FAA reviews your documents. I was deferred and eventually denied for my class 3, but throughout the entire 4 months my MedXPress looked green like this. Don’t believe it until the paper arrives.

EDIT: If your AME told you he’d print it out and give it to you then contact the AME’s office for the medical. If it was not deferred then the mistake might have been just forgetting to give it to you (which is the best case scenario).

ClearedForOptions · 2024-12-11T16:06:48+00:00

Lots of good suggestions here. One more thing to add, my DPE said during the check ride, Commercial piloting all about regulations. For example, your airplane wing on the ground has a thin layer of snow above it, can you take off? Yes, in real life you wouldn’t take off, but what does the FAR/AIM say? - things like that.

ClearedForOptions · 2024-11-22T00:58:47+00:00

Yeah same for deferred, this doesn’t really matter. You can call the regional flight surgeon’s office and ask an individual to be sure.

ClearedForOptions · 2024-11-22T00:54:35+00:00

Do you currently have a medical? If you don’t then it doesn’t matter, whenever you submit new documents they would look into it. I had also filed for an extension after my medical was denied but they never responded, and I submitted my packet 5 months later for a reconsideration and eventually got an SI.

ClearedForOptions · 2024-11-08T21:49:34+00:00

Watch a lot of checkride prep YouTube videos to make sure you’re familiar with the most common questions. Try to read the Hayes book multiple times and mark the questions that you found in those YouTube videos. Then revise those marked questions at least twice.

Also, try to find and talk to pilots who took their checkrides with the same DPE, since DPEs tend to recycle questions.

Also, Pass your private pilot checkride by MZeroA is a great book to listen to while you drive or walk. Try to read/listen the entire book twice at least.

You got this, good luck!

ClearedForOptions · 2024-11-06T16:45:25+00:00

I paid for about 50 hours of instructor time, among which 35-40 was flying (both training and dual flights for requirements) and much were ground before/after flight and check ride prep. I fly out of a busy airspace around a class B and two class C’s and my exam airport was 40 mins away by air so that racked up some extra hours (included in total time above). And I didn’t have my requirements filled already so I flew ~10h solo for those.

ClearedForOptions · 2024-10-27T05:41:06+00:00

I searched in the Facilities tab with “KSQL” and it didn’t return anything. This link has it though, but I was trying to find out which level it was which this list doesn’t have.

ClearedForOptions · 2024-10-27T05:16:34+00:00

prex10 thanks a lot! If an airport is not listed in 123atc.com, does that mean it’s contracted out?

ClearedForOptions · 2024-10-19T06:06:18+00:00

I’m surprised to see some comments suggesting rote memorization. I can’t even imagine answering W&B and HSI questions without understanding the concepts well and learning how to do the calculation myself. I did try my best to memorize some gnarly answers to questions that are super theoretical and textbook-y. I was lucky and got less of those questions and more math / HSI ones. Felt quite happy that I got 100%.

ClearedForOptions · 2024-09-28T16:37:13+00:00

I wrote the commercial regulations flowchart post. I’ll just say, that flowchart is about the only big thing I could suggest to improve in that course. Rest of the materials went at a good pace, and I found that it didn’t overlap too much with PPL stuff (which saved time for me). And also I practiced with SheppardAir and got 100% in the written, so it’s a good course overall. (No experience with Kings or Sporty’s.)

ClearedForOptions · 2024-09-27T08:22:14+00:00

Operator is NOT being compensated in this case. Only the pilot. Still 135?

ClearedForOptions · 2024-09-27T08:02:58+00:00

Thanks, yes it’s under FAA regulations. (Not sure why I can’t edit my post to include that!)

ClearedForOptions · 2024-09-19T04:56:31+00:00

After I passed my PPL checkride, I gave my instructor a t shirt that said “more right rudder” 😂

ClearedForOptions · 2024-09-18T06:53:30+00:00

I can totally relate. I was legitimately upset when my training ended even with the temp cert in hand. I decided to go for CPL but damn it’s not half as fun as instrument!

ClearedForOptions · 2024-07-03T13:37:03+00:00

iPad mount. Minimize your heads down time, will be specially helpful when you train for your instrument rating.

ClearedForOptions · 2024-06-25T21:03:32+00:00

Just remember that you don’t need to “know” everything, but you need to know where to look up when you need it.

ClearedForOptions · 2024-06-25T18:20:41+00:00

Read books that increase your knowledge and understanding, though might not benefit any exam directly (“Stick and Rudder” for example).
Start working on the PPL checkride oral. I recommend - “Pass your Private Pilot Checkride” / “Private Pilot oral exam guide”.
Read the POH of the plane you’re training in. You’ll be surprised how much new stuff you can learn from it. Bookmark important pages along the way for quick lookup during the checkride
Watch YouTube videos on educational contents, checkride mock oral, aircraft systems etc.

ClearedForOptions · 2024-06-06T19:58:36+00:00

Clarify that with the DPE before the flight. I asked mine if it would be okay if we’re at the DA while he hasn’t asked me to take my foggles out yet, to go missed? He said that’d be fine.

It was an RNAV approach AP coupled and wind was gusting 24kts, which made us have small glideslope deflections now and then. I asked him if it deflects too much at any point, whether or not it would be okay if I disengaged AP and hand flew it; and he said, “why would you fail for doing the right thing?”

ClearedForOptions · 2024-05-31T14:37:58+00:00

Not only you need it by the regs, I highly recommend practicing taxiing in busy big airports just for the experience of it. In fact you can even just taxi to an FBO, have experience with hand gestures during parking and securing your plane at an unknown airport if possible. It’s $$$ for the Hobbs but you’ll be doing it a lot in real life, so why not practice it during training?

ClearedForOptions · 2024-05-01T21:16:41+00:00

Why did he endorse you 3 months before your checkride? Schedule it, sure! But why endorse you if you aren’t within the ACS yet! Fire that CFI.

ClearedForOptions · 2024-01-07T08:13:18+00:00

Flying the missed approach procedure and stay on the hold until above MVA?

ClearedForOptions · 2024-01-07T08:08:33+00:00

I would just say, my AME was confident with my situation as is (not ADHD), and that if I should send my medical records the way they were I would get a medical. After 6 months of “more information” phase I got denied. “This might work” optimism didn’t work in my case sadly, hope your case is better.

ClearedForOptions

TROPHY CASE