Flight Test Ground Tips

Flight Planning Portion

1. Check Weather
   
   Get sequence and terminal forecasts of point of departure and destination, plus some points enroute. i.e., METAR, TAF, FA (or the new GAF), etc. Also, winds and temperature forecasts (remember: these are given in degrees TRUE).
   
   Also, ask for any NOTAMs for your departure and destination (and some aerodromes you might pass en-route).
   
2. Select an Appropriate Set-Heading Point
   
   
   
   • Appropriate distance - you have to be at altitude when you get there
     
   • Easy to identify
     
   • Not on the approaches or departure paths of the long runways

3. Determine your Route and Altitude Using:
   
   
   
   • Direction (Cruising Altitude Orders),
     
   • Length of trip
     
   • Obstacles en route
     
   • Best winds
     
   • Restricted areas
     
   • Fuel consumption
     
   • Glide distance over water
     
   • Cloud height
     
   • Low level turbulence
     
   • STUDENTS CANNOT FLY INTO U.S. AIRSPACE

4. Know your TAS by altitude and temperature
   
   Also, know how to convert from TAS / IAS / CAS
5. Check TRUE HEADING with the wind direction
   
   If the wind is less than the track, the true heading should be less (and vice-versa)
6. For Time on the Climb:
   
   Use the figures provided in the POH (worst case, you can use an estimate of 2 minutes per thousand feet).
7. For Fuel:
   
   Add 30 minutes to the fuel required as per the CARs fuel reserve requirement for Day VFR. Also, add 20% to your overall fuel required for the planned trip.
   
   
   
   • This is due to the fact that the Club's C150s have not EGT gages and the Cruise Performance chart specifies Recommended Lean Mixture

8. Ground Speed Checks:
   
   Ground speed checks should be at least 8 miles apart and at most 15 miles apart. Know the distance between the second checkpoint and the destination so the ETA can be calculated quickly.
9. Chart:
   
   Know your charts symbols and related symbols THOROUGHLY. And make sure your publications (charts, plates, VFR supplements, etc.) are CURRENT.
10. Radio Frequencies and Navaids:
    
    Have your enroute radio frequencies at hand, so you can reference them easily. And don't forget to TEST your Navaids prior to using them!
    
11. Destination Airport:
    
    Have all possible information about your destination airport from NOTAMs, the Canada Flight Supplement, and the Canada Air Pilot. If necessary, call the airport, too.
12. Have your required airspeeds memorized:
    
    
    
    • Stall Speeds (in the landing configuration).
      
    • Manoeuvering Speed (remember: it changes with weight).
      
    • Best Angle of Climb speed.
      
    • Best Rate of Climb speed.

    You can be asked any other speed - know where to find them. Other speeds that you should have memorized include:
    

    
    
    • Clean Stall Speed
      
    • Best Glide Speed
      
    • Maximum Recommended Crosswind Component

    Also, you should have the Takeoff and Landing distance charts readily at hand.

13. Fuel Capacity and Consumption:
    
    The Fuel Consumption is calculated on a Gal/HR basis using the Pilot Operating Handbook figures. You must know which fuel grades are approved in your aircraft.
14. Oil Capacity and Type:
    
    Know the minimum and maximum oil capacity, and the approved type for your aircraft (Note: The required oil types can change seasonally).
15. Weight and Balance:
    
    Do a step-by-step weight and balance calculation using the AIRCRAFT's papers. Be prepared to make proper adjustments (eg., moving baggage, removing fuel) based on situations the examiner may present.
16. Aircraft Documents and Validity:
    
    
    
    • Radio Operator's Licence and Pilot Licence endorsed for type (including the medical validation certificate)
      
    • C of A with valid CCII slip (i.e., your copy is BLUE, Transport gets
      the white, pink, and manilla)
      
    • C of R
      
    • Radio Operator's and Station Licence, with valid receipt
      
    • Weight and Balance papers
      
    • Pilot Operating Handbook
      
    • Journey Log
      
    • Interception Orders

17. Airworthy Check of aircraft papers, log books, and pilot licences:
    
    
    
    • Private pilot licence renewed with medical: 2 years if under 40 years of age and 1 year after reaching 40 (valid to beginning of 1st day of 1st month following the date of the medical).
      
    • C of A valid if CCI inspection is completed yearly:
      
      
      
      • 30 days or 50 hours for commercial - inspection completed
        
      • yearly for private (minimum)
        
      • compass correction cards within 12 months

    • C of R valid for life of aircraft unless it is sold or its status is changed (e.g., private to commercial)
      
    • Radio Operators Licence - indefinitely
      
    • Weight and Balance - under 3000 lbs, valid for life of aircraft
      
      
      
      • ammendments must show the current weight and balance state of the aircraft

    • Pilot Operating Handbook - valid until ammended
      
      
      
      • Use the POH for the specific aircraft - mods and kits can affect your aircraft's performance

    • Journey Log - valid if all entries are made as to hours flown and inspections carried out by licenced engineers.
      
      
      
      • ensure that there are no defects logged
        
      • check for ELT Certification within the last 12 months
        
      • check for a compass swing within the last 12 months
        
      • ensure that there is enough time before the next inspection to complete your flight test

    • Aircraft Identification Plate installed near Pilot's door in a visible spot
      
    • Interception Orders

18. Walkaround:
    
    Make sure you have a thorough knowledge of instruments and systems. Know what all the aerials are for, and know what all those pipes, holes, and vents are used for.
    
    
    
    • know what to do if you find an unserviceability

Gotchas - Examiners' Hot Buttons

• Know Your Emergency Procedures
  
  Know your emergency procedures verbatim, as per the Pilot Operating Handbook. This is important.
  
• Radar Vectors and DF Steers
  
  Know how radar vectors and DF Steers work and how to make use of them.
  
• Weight and Balance Irregularities
  
  Know the effects on performance of being outside the Weight and Balance envelope
  
  
  
  • What happens if the C of G is forward/rearward of the envelope?
    
  • What happens if the aircraft is too heavy?

• Airspace Classes
  
  Know your airspace classes and associated VFR weather minima (including where you can get Special VFR). Also, be aware of minimum equipment requirements (radios, transponder, etc.) and what is required to enter a particular class of airspace (permissions or the establishment of 2-way communications, etc.).