I give a lot of FAA checkrides. Last Friday a private pilot applicant I
gave a checkride to got lost within 10 miles of his home field, right in the
middle of the VFR practice area. He did not know how to dead reckon nor navigate
via pilotage. His troubles began when I turned off the GPS. His young 300 hour
CFI signed him off as proficient to pass the checkride-- but did not know how to
teach and test navigation skills. The week before, a commercial pilot
applicant was going to fly into convective activity because he thought
I wanted him to maintain a centered CDI while on the cross country portion. When
I pulled the engine back to simulate an engine out he immediately extended the
landing gear. I have had multi engine applicants shut down the wrong engine and
also attempt gear up landings. Good enough? I don't think so. The GA community
can do better.
Jeff
It is my turn to get hammered.
Those are some interesting experiences. Based on what you report
Jeff, and I only observe this based on what you post, you may be in a
similar situation as law enforcement officers. They, day after day, year
after year, get a warped perception of people, because all they deal with
is the dregs of society. They have been dispatched by society to find
fault.
I know a lot of pilots. Some may be not-so-good, average, good, very
good, or excellent. I do not know which ones are which. Maybe you
do. But even the excellent ones make mistakes and cause grief. No
matter what, where, when, there is always room for improvement.
I have flown alongside of Fred. I would not hesitate to do it again,
nor would I hesitate to ride with him.
Gary Edwards