CFI-A Lesson 21

Today was the final lesson in the Certified Flight Instructor - Airplane syllabus. Next up is the stage check. I'm excited and nervous and worried and several other emotions all rolled together.

I used today's flight as a preview/refresher for the stage check flight. I went through the Practical Test Standards (PTS) page by page, task by task, section by section. For each section, I determined which task(s) is/are required and which are optional. From those, I put together a plan of action that contained the minimum number of tasks required to complete the check. Of course, there's no guarantee that I will get to fly my plan, but I hear that it's a good idea to have a plan in writing when going in for the test.

The flight started with me teaching the Short Field Takeoff. We were following a small jet, so I took the opportunity to discuss Wake Turbulence Avoidance and how the wind can move the vortices. My 'student' did the takeoff pretty well, announcing the key steps as he executed them.

At altitude, we did the checklists and I demonstrated the key points of straight and level flight. I pointed out the sight picture of level based on the cowling and horizon. Then I pointed out the sight picture of wings level based on the wingtips and the horizon. Then I tied these concepts into the attitude indicator, the heading indicator, and the turn coordinator displays.

Next on the list was Steep Turns. I demonstrated, then sat back and watched my 'student' attempt the maneuver. He made many mistakes, so I was busy correcting and explaining.

Next I demonstrated a Chandelle to the left and to the right. To make things more interesting, my instructor covered the attitude and heading indicators during the second maneuver. This wasn't a big deal, since this is a visual maneuver, but it did point out the fact that I should be teaching it based on what's outside the airplane, not what's on the instruments.

Moving on, I demonstrated and taught stalls. The first was the Power-Off Stall. My entry was not quite right, so I redid it correctly. My 'student' did it as well; again, stating the key points along the way so I knew he understood the procedure. Then I demonstrated the Cross Control Stall. For some reason, I get caught up in leveling the wings and delay adding full power during recovery. That's something I need to be more aware of. I will NOT be putting this stall on my plan of action. :)

While climbing after the stalls, I surprised myself and had an engine failure (simulated). I pulled the power to idle and started the mental checklist of setting the best glide speed, turning towards an adequate field, and trying to restart the engine. That failed, so I verified the items on the actual checklist, then proceeded to do the forced landing mental checklist. My approach was OK, but a little high, so I widened out the turn to final and added full flaps a little sooner than normal. At five hundred feet, I added power and climbed back to a safe altitude.

Our time was up, so we headed back to the airport. I demonstrated a Short Field Approach and Landing, being sure to point out the steeper-than-normal glide slope and the passing of the hypothetical 50 foot obstacle. On the ground, I raised the flaps and simulated full braking and turned onto the first taxiway. I then realized that I missed the final checklist, so I kicked myself for making that mistake.

Back in the briefing room, my instructor and I printed endorsements and added them to my logbook. I now have all the necessary endorsements to take the final stage check. Tomorrow I will get accounting's approval, then I'll watch the schedule for my name to appear once more.

UPDATE: I forgot to mention the clearance I received when landing. I reported 4 miles northwest of the VOR (nav aid) with Charlie (current airport information). I was told to report over the VOR. Upon reaching the VOR, I called back and was cleared to land runway 11R number 2 behind a Seminole on a one mile final. I slowed a bit and tried to find the Seminole, but couldn't see it. Then tower told me that my landing clearance was revoked due to traffic sitting on the runway and that I was clear to continue. I acknowledged, then asked my instructor what that meant. I'd never heard that instruction before. Basically, the tower had an airplane on the runway awaiting takeoff, so I was no longer cleared to land. The tower expected to get the airplane airborne before my arrival, so he told me to continue (my approach). His intention was to clear me to land once the other airplane cleared the runway. A few moments later, tower cleared the other airplane to takeoff and I was cleared to land on runway 11R.