Examiner "Distractions" During Checkride

On May 1, 12:23*pm, Mike Ash wrote:
In article
,

*Mike125 wrote:
I don't see how a mis-adjusted altimeter gets by the pre-flight
checklist. Instruments: altimeter set to field elevation?

You check it, see that it's a bit off, and set it so that it's correct.

All the while, never noticing that the thousands hand is in the wrong
place.

The human brain has a powerful capacity for illusion. If you "know" that
something is true, it can be difficult to see otherwise. Especially when
the object in question is small and you're not concentrating on it.

--
Mike Ash
Radio Free Earth
Broadcasting from our climate-controlled studios deep inside the Moon

I agree anything can happen to anyone, especially me. Having the
altimeter off by 1000' is would be easy to overlook in a hurried
check. Having it off by several hundreds should be caught. I assume
that would grounds for failure on a check ride.

Mike

In article
,
Mike125 wrote:

On May 1, 12:23*pm, Mike Ash wrote:
In article
,

*Mike125 wrote:
I don't see how a mis-adjusted altimeter gets by the pre-flight
checklist. Instruments: altimeter set to field elevation?

You check it, see that it's a bit off, and set it so that it's correct.

All the while, never noticing that the thousands hand is in the wrong
place.

The human brain has a powerful capacity for illusion. If you "know" that
something is true, it can be difficult to see otherwise. Especially when
the object in question is small and you're not concentrating on it.

I agree anything can happen to anyone, especially me. Having the
altimeter off by 1000' is would be easy to overlook in a hurried
check. Having it off by several hundreds should be caught. I assume
that would grounds for failure on a check ride.

Right, hundreds errors are easy and should always be caught, thousands
errors are tougher. When it happened to me, I think the altimeter was
reading around 0, with field elevation at 700ft. I turned it the quicker
way, ending up with a reading of -300ft, never noticing that the
thousands hand was under the zero. I didn't notice at any time during
the tow either, even though I was watching it in order to release at
3,700ft. It was only after release, when I could relax and take my time,
that I finally noticed that it was reading 1,000ft low.

--
Mike Ash
Radio Free Earth
Broadcasting from our climate-controlled studios deep inside the Moon

On Wed, 29 Apr 2009 19:59:45 -0700 (PDT), Michael
wrote:

Hi all,

My checkride is a long way off, but this evening I read the PTS for
Gliders for the first time. I noticed this section:

"Use of Distractions During Practical Tests
Numerous studies indicate that many accidents have occurred when the
pilot has been distracted during critical phases of flight. To
evaluate the applicant’s ability to utilize proper control technique
while dividing attention both inside and/or outside the cockpit, the
examiner shall cause a realistic distraction during the flight portion
of the practical test to evaluate the applicant’s ability to divide
attention while maintaining safe flight."

Obviously, the Examiner isn't going to do anything dangerous, but what
sorts of distractions have people encountered? It is obvious when the
distraction occurs....or is it something subtle?

--Michael

Not precisely a distraction, but Jim Foreman once pulled a move on me
during a club annual that was a nice dose of the unexpected. He had me
box the wake, and at the bottom left corner he popped the release to
see if I would automatically make the right turn -- which would be
into the rope. Of course, he had his knee positioned to block the
stick if I did...;-)

rj

During my check ride for my private pilot's license many years ago, the
examiner showed up claiming that he was in a hurry, because he just got back
from a trip and his water heater was broken. I finally told him flat out
that if he didn't have the time to do the check ride, we should reschedule.
At that point he was cool. The whole point was to see if you would say NO.

Mike Schumann

"Michael" wrote in message
...
Hi all,

My checkride is a long way off, but this evening I read the PTS for
Gliders for the first time. I noticed this section:

"Use of Distractions During Practical Tests
Numerous studies indicate that many accidents have occurred when the
pilot has been distracted during critical phases of flight. To
evaluate the applicant’s ability to utilize proper control technique
while dividing attention both inside and/or outside the cockpit, the
examiner shall cause a realistic distraction during the flight portion
of the practical test to evaluate the applicant’s ability to divide
attention while maintaining safe flight."

Obviously, the Examiner isn't going to do anything dangerous, but what
sorts of distractions have people encountered? It is obvious when the
distraction occurs....or is it something subtle?

--Michael

On Apr 29, 8:59*pm, Michael wrote:
Hi all,

My checkride is a long way off, but this evening I read the PTS for
Gliders for the first time. *I noticed this section:

"Use of Distractions During Practical Tests
Numerous studies indicate that many accidents have occurred when the
pilot has been distracted during critical phases of flight. To
evaluate the applicant’s ability to utilize proper control technique
while dividing attention both inside and/or outside the cockpit, the
examiner shall cause a realistic distraction during the flight portion
of the practical test to evaluate the applicant’s ability to divide
attention while maintaining safe flight."

Obviously, the Examiner isn't going to do anything dangerous, but what
sorts of distractions have people encountered? *It is obvious when the
distraction occurs....or is it something subtle?

--Michael

At the end of my private glider exam when on short final, the examiner
asked me to land on the taxiway instead and not to roll beyond a
certain point.

At the end of my private glider exam when on short final, the examiner
asked me to land on the taxiway instead ....


May we assume that you said "no"?

Tony