Tips for a Successful Check Ride

Check rides are an essential part of achieving ratings, so we asked Check Flight Instructors Isaac Duncan and Maram Shahidi to share their tips on how to pass a check ride on your first try. 

 1. Familiarize yourself with the Airman Certification Standards.

Make sure to spend plenty of time getting familiar with the Airman Certification Standards (ACS). There is a lot of useful information in the Appendix that explains the expectations of each party involved in a check ride as well as how your Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) will use the document during your ride. Everyone knows that the ACS is a “testing” document, but it’s also a great place to go when you need help narrowing down what topics to study.

2. Use your resources.

You can reduce some of your pressure by knowing what resources are available to you and how to utilize them effectively. If a question is stumping you, admit it and look it up! Proving that you understand how and where to efficiently look up important regulations and limitations can be a great way to show that you will use sound aeronautical decision-making.

3. Study, study, study, and don’t do it alone.

When our students aren’t flying, you can find them in briefing rooms or around the hangar studying in partners or groups. As students, you are on the same journey and have similar goals, so group study is a great way to enhance learning and share insights with your peers. It can be helpful to learn from others through discussion so that you are prepared for the check ride and know what to expect.

4. Don’t be afraid to ask questions!

Many students chose to study at LIFT Academy even if they don’t have a flight because there is a building full of people ready to answer questions and support them. During your check ride, if the instruction given or the question asked does not make sense, feel comfortable asking the instructor to restate the instructions or reword the question to ensure you are both on the same page.

5. Stay calm and be confident!

It’s normal to feel stressed before or during your check ride. Don’t forget to breathe and fly with confidence! You can always take a moment to collect your thoughts. Our flight instructors want to see you succeed and are there to guide you through the entire check ride. Evaluators can also sense your nerves, so exude confidence even if you don’t feel confident. Remember that you prepared for this, so you are going to pass!