Instrument Checkride KGAI Examiner from Balto
Oral: The oral exam started about 7:30am by going over my documents and paper work. I was next briefed by the examiner on the process of the test and the required approaches.
The main questions/discussions during the oral was:
* Weather
* Cross Country
* Approaches
* Regulations
I was asked to prepare (ahead of time) across country flight from GAI to PNE. The scenario for this flight was the ceiling was 600 foot and the visibility was 2 SM and two passengers on the plane.
We started by various regulation questions, certificate requirements, instrument certificate benefits, and the instruments proficiency process. We took my cross country plan and reviewed my route and the decisions I made. We discussed my alternate. And we reviewed my weight and balance. We discussed IFR cross country issues/planning. We got deeper into the alternate issues. We talked about the approach plate symbols and enroute chart symbols.
I was asked about:
* VOR operation and limits
* GPS limits
* Decision making during the approach
* How to determine the decent rate
* Meanings of chart and map symbols
After we finished with the cross country planning I was asked about the inspections required for this flight, how the check the flight instruments, and other required maintenance. I had to show the examiner the required inspections in the log books.
The last part was weather planning. We looked at a METAR, TAF, and some other weather charts and I had to explain them.
The practical exam:
I filed IFR from KGAI to KDMW and KFDK.
We did the VOR 34 at KDMW. I was partial panel – no attitude indicator or heading indicator. I entered the hold and flew the complete approach including the missed approach. On the missed I had to enter the hold at EMI.
From EMI I tracked the 295 radial for the ILS 23 at KFDK. The ILS was a low approach followed by the RNAV back to KGAI.
During the RNAV approach for RWY14 at KGAI I was asked to circle to land on 14. This confused me. We discussed this on the ground. The examiner wanted me to fly to the MAP and then circle to land on 14. He said sometimes if you go lower at the VDP to may not get in due to low clouds at the approach end of the runway. He said if you fly to the MAP and circle to land this gives you the chance to get in sometimes.
