Instrument Checkride
Student: Britt Mattix
Examiner: John Foster (KPWG)
Aircraft: Piper Archer N979C
Date: 2/5/2012

John Foster is a very friendly and approachable person. He is also very thorough. My check ride was completed in two parts due to thunderstorms. We completed the oral exam first and he finished the flying portion about a week later when our schedules permitted. Foster was very accommodating throughout.

ORAL EXAM:

Foster began with the administrative tasks. He followed everything to the letter. Even going so as to call the FAA over a question regarding the type and number of some of the approaches I flew during my long cross-country. He filled out all the paperwork and collected the $350 fee.

I was asked to plan a cross-country from McGregor (KPWG) to Houston (KHOU). He asked about lost communication along the route where the MEA’s differ. There was also some basic point and shoot questions about various icons, labels, and symbols along the route. I had a flight planned on an iPad with Foreflight as well as a handwritten plan on a Jepp template with winds, distances, magnetic corrections, etc. and a paper low-enroute. I also had the STARs and DPs of each leg printed out and highlighted.

Next we talked about some of the weather briefing options: prognostic charts, and filing an alternate. He asked what would be a good thing to know if you lost comm in IMC (in addition to all the other required textbook answers). Answer: Which direction, if any, there is VMC…

He asked drew a six-pack panel on the white board and asked me to identify the instruments. What powered each one then did a few “primary/supporting” questions. He asked about spin recovery.

FLIGHT:

3 approaches

1) KACT RNAV 19

2) KACT ILS 19

3) KPWG VOR 17 circle-to-land (partial panel)

Departed KPWG contact Waco app. 126.125 request vectors to UTIPZ for the RNAV 19 KACT coupled to the autopilot (the approach mode on was not working so I left on NAV mode and used the vertical speed mode to get down (-700ft/min))

Missed RNAV 19 request vectors of the ILS 19 KACT, the controllers overshot us for the intercept so I called in anticipation and we were vectored back. Missed as published to hold at BOSEL 4000’. Teardrop entry. We made about 2 turns and then he took the controls and contacted Waco to announce our air work. Here we did unusual attitudes.

Satisfied he told me I could contact approach, we were cleared direct to the ACT VOR to begin the VOR 17 to KPWG. He did not care that I loaded the approach in to the GPS and used it for situational awareness. I did have the CDI on VLOC mode though and used the NRST VOR page up on GPS#2 to use for a DME.

We made the approach and circled-to-land on RWY 35.

It was easy and almost mundane, thanks to Tony Hicks.