INSTRUMENT

     Plan an IFR flight plan with a distance of at least 200 miles straight line  distance. A return flight plan is not necessary. You should be able to plan this flight without a fuel stop. Plan a departure time 2 hours from the start of your test. Electronic flight logs are authorized. If you use an electronic flight bag, ensure all databases are current. If you use an EFB as a primary reference and your charts are out of date, this can result in an unsatisfactory test. Have a plan if your electronic device fails (ie paper charts/approach plates or secondary electronic device such as a phone) especially in the summer months. An IPAD overheating is not a valid reason to discontinue an examination. 

      Generate at least one preflight weather briefing to discuss.  Acquire a legal briefing from AviationWeather.gov, https://www.1800wxbrief.com , or other sites like Foreflight. Please have an electronic or printed briefing packet prepared for efficient test discussion. If you print your information, do not print an entire weather briefing. Print the information that you personally utilize and are prepared to discuss. Ensure  you  are  reviewing  weather  that  applies  to  the  scenario  you  are  planning  for with the  departure  time  instructed  above.   Showing me  a  chart  that  does  not  apply  to  our  planned  flight  times demonstrates  a lack  of  understanding.  Be  prepared  to  tell  me  if  you  would  have  a  go  or  no-go  decision  based  off  the  weather  you  reviewed for  the  planned  flight. Although not required, I highly recommend you call a weather briefer prior to your test. I'm finding more and more students have never talked to a briefer. You are paying a lot of money for this test and if it was me, I would want to make sure my i's were dotted and my t's were crossed. A briefer might point something out to you that you missed. 

      Precalculate all performance data required for the flight.  Base all calculations on the actual real-time weather at the time of testing. Use my weight of 200 lbs in your weight and balance calculations. I will also have a 10lb bag. Be very familiar with the aircraft maintenance logs and prepared to determine airworthiness.   Bring a list of each inspection completion date/time and next due date/time. Pictures are okay, however if available I prefer the actual maintenance documents. It will help you to tab the inspections. I've often watched nervous students take 20 minutes finding the most recent annual. It should take only a few minutes to determine airworthiness since this is something you should be checking every flight.  

     Reference your written test report and type or hand write the corresponding subject codes for your missed questions from the ACS on one piece of paper.  Do not only write the codes down(your test does that), you are demonstrating to me you know what the codes mean. You  can  utilize  this  website  to  decipher  the  codes  at ACSCODES.COM  or  use  your  ACS. This is a copy for my records and needs to be a document I can keep. Please condense to a single piece of paper(DO NOT simply highlight the codes in the ACS). Include your FTN number on the document. You can find the FTN number on your written test or in IACRA.  I am required to ask you every missed question from the written test. Your instructor is required to review the missed subjects with you and endorse your log book validating this has been done. This additional instruction is required to be logged as well. It is in your best interest to not show up for the test being unfamiliar with the questions you missed on the written.. You can obtain a copy of the appropriate ACS by clicking here.  

     Make sure you have your pilot certificate, government ID, current medical, and log book with associated endorsements. If applicable bring completed 141 course graduation certificate. Please review my Fee and Cancellation policy found here before scheduling a test. You can save some time during the test and review the pilot bill of rights found here. When we meet, you will be signing that you have read it. Have your IACRA login information available for the test. You will have to login at least once to finalize your application. Make sure you review my fee and cancellation policy HERE.  In rare cases a test can not begin because the applicant is not qualified. It is your responsibility to ensure you are qualified for the test you are taking. This is TASK A in the ACS -CA.I.A.K1 Certification requirements, recent flight experience, and recordkeeping. Work with your CFI and review applicable regulations to ensure you are qualified. Unfortunately I will still have to charge you the full fee even if we can not begin the test. If the aircraft is available prior  to us starting the test please have the preflight conducted prior to our scheduled start time. This allows you to discover any potential problems with the aircraft early so there is time to get it fixed if we fly. Otherwise a delay may result in having to discontinue the test due to me having other checks scheduled.  

 Common Errors

• Applicant is unfamiliar with the ACS or has never looked at the ACS. Every question I ask you comes directly from the ACS.  REVIEW THE ACS! 
• This is an instrument examination. You need to be able to explain to me how the instruments in your aircraft work and the corresponding indications of failure. 
• Lack of proficiency with holding instructions. If I tell you to hold NE of the TFD VOR on the 030 radial. You should be able to tell me how you would enter that hold from your present position. If your Aircraft is equipped with GPS, you should know how to hold from a waypoint when given appropriate bearing to/from holding instructions. For example "Hold NE of waypoint on 045 bearing from" Most GPS units allow you to build this hold and/or have an OBS option. 
• KCGZ is a common training area for Instrument procedures in the PHX area, however your test can and most likely will include approaches from other airports. For example, if KGEU runway 19 is in use and your aircraft is equipped with WAAS it is very likely we will not conduct approaches at KCGZ. When I approve your Instrument rating, I am authorizing you to conduct instrument approaches throughout the United States. By the time you test with me you should have the confidence to conduct approaches you have not practiced previously. 
• There tends to be a below standard level of knowledge with GPS systems and approaches. Ensure you have reviewed the GPS manual for your aircrafts system to include mode annunciations and knowing when the system is not reliable to utilize for an approach. 
• I took the time to create this website for your benefit. Show me the  courtesy of following the instructions above. I often have applicants create flight plans that were not an option or fail to bring a printed or written copy of the corresponding ACS or PLT codes clearly outlined above. Let me reiterate, I do not want a full copy of the ACS, bring me a single sheet of paper with the proper subjects, not only the codes and your FTN number. 
• I highly recommend you show up at least two hours prior to your check ride.  It is very obvious to me when an applicant procrastinated or waited until the last minute. This is part of ADM and I do factor it into my decision regarding your certificate. I also typically complete 2-3 tests a day. If a test prior to yours results in a discontinuance or disapproval, we will most likely be starting earlier then the scheduled time. Plan ahead, it is in your best interest to be ready two hours early rather then rushing and making mistakes. 

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions regarding your test. I look forward to flying with you!