Rotor Tip #4 "Don't Tell The World About Your Check Ride"
Apr 11, 2023Rotor Tips brought to you by the HOGS No Go Decision Button! When you feel the pressure to fly, but know the right choice is to stay on the ground! Hit the HOGS No Go and "Live To Fly Another Day"
Our next rotor tip is talking about nerves. Everybody's nervous when they come to check rides. As examiners, we understand that. Undoubtedly, the biggest obstacle is to overcome those nerves on check ride day. Here are just a couple of ideas that have really been successful for me. Arrive early and get everything organized on the table in front of you. If this is an unfamiliar place, take time to walk around and know your surroundings and then go back to the meeting room, sit down, and relax. This is not the time for last minute studying. This is the time that you need to do whatever helps you relax.
Now, some people have earbuds with soft music playing before the examiner arrives. Okay, so the examiner is there. Maybe make some small talk with him before the test begins. You can talk about your families; you can talk about aviation. Everybody likes to talk about aviation, so maybe do that. This is also big that I have found that works is don't tell the world of the day of your check ride. In fact, maybe keep it a secret. That way if things don't work out exactly like you had hoped it would, you don't have to go back and tell anybody about it.
Keep it a secret. Also, part of the briefing is to let the applicant know that perfection is not the standard. It's what we will tell the applicant. What does that mean? It means that you aren't expected to know every answer that is asked of you. I had an applicant, I think it was this past month that said to me, "Oh man, I can't... I'm drawing a total blank. Can I call a friend?" Well, I can't exactly let you call a friend, but what I can do is have you take time and look at your notes, or go to your book and look it up." And that's okay. We expect that. There are times that it's perfectly fine to go to your notes or go to the book.
What I would encourage you to do is don't try to bluff the examiner because he's going to figure that out pretty quick. Be honest. Just let him know that, oh, you forgot that one. You've talked about it, but you just can't think of it. I'm pretty confident, as long as you're not doing it every couple of minutes, that he'll let you do that.
I have found that those applicants that have gotten off to a good solid start are those applicants that have showed up on time that are organized and competent in their knowledge of their aircraft. Those ones that have prepped hard the day before the check ride, that has always worked out well by following those rules, I believe also will help calm those nerves.
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The "No Go Decision" button is just one example of the commitment that he has to safety and quality training. He understands the importance of providing his students with the best possible training and tools to ensure their success as helicopter pilots.
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Overall, Kenny Keller is a leader in the helicopter flight training industry, and his dedication to safety and quality training is evident in everything that he does. The success of HOGS and its members is a testament to his expertise and commitment to providing the best possible training to his students.
