When I know that a teenager is about to get his or her driver's license, I always say, "I better stay off the sidewalks!" I am just wondering if the same adage applies to me. My goal was to get my private pilot's license by the end of February, but with some bad weather and canceled lessons, I really didn't think that was going to happen. I was consigned to the fact that it probably would be a little bit longer, just like my first solo, so I set in my mind a new goal for the second week of March.
But there was something in me that just said, "You can do it!" So, when I went up flying with my instructor last Tuesday 2/24, I asked him about his thoughts for completing it by Saturday. I think that I shocked him a little bit, but we sat down, went through what I had left to complete and decided that it would work. I just had to fly every day that week. I planned to go up solo on Wednesday, but the winds picked up beyond my solo capabilities. I was able to get a hold of my instructor at the very last minute and we were able to shift things around to do some work together. It was also a good chance to practice cross-wind take-offs and landings.
Thursday I went out by myself and went through the maneuvers and I also went up again with my instructor for some final practices on short and soft field take off and landings. He signed me off for all the requirements for the checkride and we went through what I needed to be prepared for. The next morning I met with the head CFI to get his opinion of where I was at in the training. He quizzed me on the oral exam part of the test and we also went up and reviewed the maneuvers. He felt comfortable with my performance, so we moved ahead with the plans.
Saturday morning at 6am (after a restless nights sleep) I met Mike Gerlicher, the FAA examiner. He was extremely friendly and calmed my nerves to an extent. We reviewed my flight plan, reviewed my training and he asked me about 1 hr of questions in regards to weather, airspace, general aviation questions, and some other important facts about flying. There were a few questions that I didn't remember exactly, but was able to look them up and give him the answer. The practical test was also straight forward. He did catch me off guard by declaring that our in flight emergency was a fire and I didn't respond exactly correct. It was a good training flight also to get his perspective on things I need to know and do better.
After we were done with the practical test, he told me that he would meet me back at the office and that his decision was easy. As I refueled the plane and secured it, I was left to wonder what that exactly meant. My uneasy mind was quickly rested when I saw him filling out my temporary pilot's license back in the office. I am now a pilot!
LET'S GOING FLYING SOMETIME!