Aircraft Quiz #34

[Doug Robertson]

This quiz is formulated about a test for the CFI-Airplane rating that happened in America nearly 50 years ago, so you might take that into account in formulating your answer.

Our CFI candidate held a current Flight Physical appropriate to his ratings, a current Private Pilot Certificate, an FCC Radiotelphone Operator's Permit, a current Commercial Pilot endorsement and a current Instrument endorsement for the test aircraft used, a Piper PA-28 Cherokee with all endorsements signed off and in order in his logbooks. He had an accident-free record and all requisite number of hours for the CFI-Airplane rating he sought. He had completed all ground school training for the CFI-Airplane rating successfully from an authorized ground school instructor and was endorsed for that. He also had received and was endorsed in his logbook for all areas of operation in flight proficiency training in flight for an airplane, single engine land from a rated CFI-Airplane single engine-land instructor.

On his CFI examination day he flew from his airport a short distance to the local General Aviation District Office in the PA-28 which had a current Annual Airworthiness Inspection signed in the aircraft's logbook which was in the test airplane. At his appointment time he met with the FAA Flight Examiner, introduced himself and exchanged pleasantries, where his complete logs and the aircraft's logs were reviewed by the FAA Flight Examiner, finding all in order. They then walked out to the test aircraft and did a complete expanded aircraft pre-flight test guided by the aircraft's pre-flight checklist book with no aircraft discrepancies found.

Upon their boarding of the PA-28 for the in-flight exam for the CFI-Airplane rating, the FAA Flight Examiner announced the CFI candidate FAILED the CFI-Airplane flight exam.

Question-What did the CFI candidate do or nor do that caused him to fail before they even took off for the flight test portion of the CFI-Airplane examination? Be specific in your answer.

[moxy]

Did he forget to give the examiner a briefing on emergency procedures and use of seat belts? If not could it be he didn't check the examiner's credentials.

[Doug Robertson]

That didn't happen, but the FAA Examiner's credentials were a given in this situation. Rob, In general you are on the right track, but you need to be more specific re the CFI-Airplane candidate exam situation. If I were any more specific-you might figure it out correctly, I believe. Thanks for the try. Think about when they approached the airplane.

[Doug Robertson]

To all-be not confused by my edit of the post-it was only to replace the $ sign before the Quiz title number with the correct # sign. I'm a fumble-fingered typist.

[moxy]

Ok Doug, let me try this.

Whilst boarding the aeroplane did the candidate fail to warn the examiner to beware of stepping on the wing, other than on the reinforced strip adjacent to the fuselage?

[Doug Robertson]

Rob,
That is true, but not the CRUX of the CFI-Airplane candidate's reason for failure. I will provide the complete answer as follows. The situation of being tested for the CFI-Airplane rating after fulfilling all prior requirements requires ROLE REVERSALS of the CFI-Airplane candidate and of the FAA Examiner. This examiner gave this candidate a LOT of leeway hoping for a behavior sign that the CFI-Airplane candidate would exhibit such behavior and teach and monitor a flight lesson to the FAA Examiner as was required, which didn't happen.

At the FAA GADO Office the candidate after the introductions and review of his and the plane's documentation; the CFI-Airplane candidate could have or should have requested the FAA Examiner check weather and figure and file a flight plan to, say, a nearby field without a control tower, for example. That could have been filed in flight AFTER the Examiner did the preflight under the DIRECTION of the CFI-Airplane candidate, and cancelled while in flight. This always would have been a good option. Instead, they walked to the plane and, the FAA Examiner not getting any directions, watched the CFI candidate NOT enter the airplane to check Master switch off, Magnetos off and mixture to idle cutoff before starting the outside preflights events. Still, a lot of leeway was given by the FAA Examiner hoping the CFI-Airplane candidate would see the light and start verbally DIRECTING and exhibiting by example the various preflight tasks to the FAA Examiner cum student, which were extensive.

The examination failure was announced after the CFI-Airplane candidate boarded the PA-28 and took the LEFT seat, either out of nervous tension or habit. This is a true story that happened at the MSP GADO, and NO, I was NOT the CFI-Airplane candidate of the quiz.

[moxy]

That makes sense Doug.

If the candidate had actually acted the role of CFI and treated the Examiner as his student, despite the odd faux pas, he may well have passed.

It didn't cross my mind that you may have been the candidate. The Examiner, possibly. :)

[Doug Robertson]

Thanks, Rob.

You did get the exact gist of the test situation from the git-go re the CFI-Airplane candidate's role reversal requirement on the day of his final flight test. I recalled the event as it occurred about the same time that the MSP GADO gave me my flight test for the Private Pilot rating. The CFI-Airplane candidate was from the same flight school that I attended and his mistake became highly public and embarrassing to him.

My flight school had Examining Authority from the Federal Aviation Agency at the time, but the FAA wanted to check every tenth student for the Private Pilot rating by the MSP GADO, and I volunteered for that and passed. Date was 11 July 1966.

Thanks again!