Paul-Hamilton.com

Practical Test and Victory Flights

I just got signed off for my Sport Pilot certificate and obtained my log book endorsements. I raced to Lockwood Aviation, presented my certificate, and asked to rent a weight shift control aircraft. Tisha simply asked, “Which one do you want?”

This month we are going to cover my FAA practical test. I just finished my Designated Pilot Examiner course and can now issue Sport Pilot Certificates. The check ride or “Practical Test”, as the FAA calls it, is two parts. The "oral" which is first, and the "flight test" which is second. We will look at the flight test and related weather.

I must say that the FAA Sport Pilot group 610 lead by Marty Weaver, did an excellent job of teaching us the "FAA way" and testing us on the Sport Pilot procedures.

After the oral test in the early morning, it was time to head to the field to take the check ride. By this time thermals were popping, the wind was blowing, I was not really that enthused to fly and perform the required maneuvers with the air so bumpy. I was told that we were going to put me in the back seat, in a new trike (luckily I had flown an Air Creation GTE before), and have to perform the maneuvers. I was asked what do you think? I said looks bumpy, new trike, in back etc. Again Mark asked, Is this weather within your limitations and is it safe to fly?

Here is the first tip, listen carefully and understand the question. Ask “say again” if you need to.

Back to Mark's questions about flying “Is this weather within your limitations and is it safe to fly, and do you want to continue the test?” It was within my limitations and it was safe to fly so I answered, “YES”. Even though the conditions were not optimum, we were told that the Instructor/examiner group at the seminar should be able to be proficient in different aircraft and challenging conditions. Any sport pilot applicant is always free to discontinue the test and continue it later if weather is not appropriate.

We were now into the meat of the test, the “Practical Test Standards” (PTS). Get this publication. ASA has a nice book costing only $5. This is what you need to know and practice. Make sure you get the one for your category. The Weight Shift Control Air craft and the Powered Parachute is in one book, while the Airplane and the others is in the book.

As we were taxing out I did voice my concern about the bumpy air and how it might be hard to maintain the tolerances in the PTS. Mark responded, do not worry, I will take this into account, you always have to use your judgment as an examiner and account for the weather conditions. Now I felt better about the bumpy air ahead.

We were taking the Test at the Sebring Airport. You must know the hold short line, taxi way signs, general airport markings. If you are being tested in a grass or farmers field, airport markings would have been covered in the Oral part of the exam already.

Mark had his “Plan of Action”, where all the maneuvers he had chosen to do during the test marked on a piece of paper. Once we lifted off and I flew straight down the runway I was at ease, in my own element. Since I was teaching all the maneuvers, I felt at ease performing them. Even though I was responsible for watching and avoiding air traffic, I asked Mark to help and inform me if he saw anything. We did the test maneuvers and it felt good. We came back, shut off the engine, and mark said that I passed. YA-HOO! He wrote up my temporary Sport Pilot certificate and endorsed my log book. I was a Sport Pilot.

Now it was time to see if it made a difference. I casually packed up my stuff, left the room, and raced to Lockwood Aviation who rents Light Sport Aircraft to Sport Pilots with the log book signoff for trikes, fixed wing and powered parachutes.

I presented my temporary Sport Pilot certificate, and asked to rent a weight shift control aircraft. Tisha asked to see my logbook endorsement which I showed her, and than simply asked, “Which one do you want?”

I responded “the new Air Creation 582 with that fast wing”. Tisha said “You know where it is, have fun”.

For my first flight in an N-numbered aircraft, I went back to the area where I took the practical and had a chance to run the high performance Air Creation wing through its paces. Very nice flying wing. Now I know why everyone likes it. A couple of touch and goes and it was time to come back to reality. More classes tomorrow and homework was still ahead.

The FAA DPE course went on with Sun N' Fun next. Phil Lockwood said he wanted to get his N-numbered aircraft to Sun & Fun, but did'nt have anyone to get it there since it was N-numbered and his crew was booked to drive the vehicles to the Sun N' Fun event so I volunteered for the job. It would be better to fly than to drive. Phil agreed and said “Fly it there.”

After a few days of decompression at my cousins house, I finally showed up about noon on Monday. Cumulus popping, but nothing looking to bad.

It was about 60 miles from Sebring to Lakeland. I plotted out my cross country course, Phil Lockwood explained the route, and I programmed the GPS for the South Lakeland Airport. The wind was blowing directly from Sebring to Lakeland on the ground. The cloud movement verified this wind direction.

I took off, headed out to Lakeland. It was pretty bumpy and at least an hours flight so I climbed up above the cloud base which was about 5000 feet. Once I got above the cloud layer, it was smooth but cold. Even though there were plenty of landing areas below, you always think about engine failures on cross country flights. The engine was a Lockwood special, and ran smooth and steady. I love it when the engine sounds so good.

At 5000 feet, this was the first time I was cold in Florida, but it beat the bumps. With a tail wind and the bar tucked under my arms, that single surface wing was hitting a 60 MPH ground speed.

An uneventful flight to Sun N' Fun South Lakeland airport was spiced up with some wind and thermals coming into land, but some extra airspeed and a little throttle helped blast through the sporty air for a nice touchdown.

Pictures

	Paul Hamilton's first Sport Pilot flight in a rented light sport aircraft "Just for the fun of it". View is looking back at the Sebring, FL Airport where the practical test maneuvers were performed.
	Larry Clymer, of the FAA, giving Mike Hudetz his practical DPE test.
	Flying in the bumpy air. Below cumulus clouds were forming.
	Above the clouds the air was smooth.
	Notice the smile on Paul’s face after passing the DPE seminar and flying cross country in a Light Sport Weight shift control aircraft. View is looking back at Sebring, FL Airport.
	Sectional with course drawn on kneeboard one. Portable instruments (altimeter and vertical indicator plus GPS for navigation) on kneeboard two. (Left to Right)
	South Lakeland airport destination below. You can see Lakeland and the Sun N' Fun runways in the distance.