Checkride

By the time your checkride day arrives, you’ll have experienced many types of in-flight distractions, each with the potential to take your attention away from your primary job of flying the airplane. In-flight distractions come in many forms but one thing is common to all—when improperly handled, distractions can spell disaster. Distraction survival strategy is not just for general aviation pilots, either. Many airliners have been lost over the years at the hands of experienced professional flight crews who failed to follow their long-established rules for dealing with in-flight distractions—some as minor as a burned-out light bulb.

That is why the FAA feels so strongly that distraction strategy be evaluated during every checkride. In spite of this, and because distractions are so common in everyday flying, most examiners agree that actually creating distractions is not usually necessary during a checkride. As one designated pilot examiner (DPE) put it, “What’s more realistic than distractions that occur automatically?” But whether created by the DPE or not, knowing that in-flight distractions are as common as dandelions in the springtime demands that an effective distraction survival strategy be developed throughout your training.

During a checkride it’s not unusual for the first distraction to occur soon after taxi out, possibly triggered by the need to retrieve a misplaced chart or pencil. Another could show up soon after takeoff when, for example, an improperly set heading indicator results in a navigational checkpoint that cannot be located. And so the seemingly never-ending flow of distractions continues, allowing the DPE to simply sit back and observe an applicant’s responses to them.

Although rare, there are times when a checkride produces no spontaneous distractions. That’s when the FAA relies on its DPEs to produce “realistic” distractions. Most approach this task cautiously, knowing that inventing excessively demanding distractions could mean the DPE is not only creating a situation in which the applicant cannot succeed, but also one that presents an unsafe testing environment.

Some of the more commonly employed DPE-created distractions are simulated radio communications problems, tuning frequencies, E6B calculations, GPS operations, medical emergency, passenger door or window popping open, fuel leak, inoperative landing gear position indicator, abnormal engine or system operation, and imitating passenger behavior by talking or asking questions excessively. The FAA provides additional suggested training distractions at its Web site.

Well-trained applicants will make recovery from any distraction seem like a non-event by demonstrating that someone is flying the airplane—full time! It’s very important to learn how to divide your
attention between working any problem and flying the airplane, never taking your complete attention from the airplane for more than just a few seconds at a time. Slowing down and being methodical are great strategies for dealing with most
in-flight distractions, with the possible exception of an in-flight fire. Rushing promotes getting behind the airplane, which is just another way of saying, no one is flying the airplane! Autopilots can help. But remember, autopilots are only meant to ease pilot workload—not eliminate it. And every airplane has an autopilot—it’s called trim.

Other distraction survival technique options might include, depending on the nature/urgency of the distraction and the phase of flight:

• Prioritize your actions—aviate, navigate, then communicate—and, if necessary, shed less-critical tasks or cockpit duties.

• Manage your workload. Completely stop the airplane or slow down.

• Manage your resources. Get help from ATC and/or your passengers.

• Get relief. Advise ATC or the DPE you are “unable” to comply or to “stand by.” I call this using the “U” word.

• Mayday! Mayday! Declare an emergency with ATC. Pilots are generally way too reluctant to do this. Use the “M” word.

• Just tell the DPE to shut up! OK, be careful with this one.

No pilot would ever agree that not flying the airplane while being distracted is permissible, but a loss of situational awareness can develop insidiously. The key to surviving any distraction scenario rests with your ability to continuously baby-sit your airplane’s flight path, never devoting your full and undivided attention to just the problem. Do this, and you’ll bring a tear to the eye of just about any DPE.