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Feature Article: The PTS
Everything about the Practical Test is a given. If you have studied the PTS you know what is going to happen. You may not know when or just how but you can be sure of what. There is more to being prepared than just knowing answers. You need to know the 'why' of the answers.
--Know the airplane.
--Know how to draw the systems. Know the dimensions. Know the basic performance numbers.
--Limitations
--Know basic weight and balance, range, fuel consumption, structural limits.
--Emergency procedures
--Know how to make an emergency descent, your best options on engine failure. Plan ahead as to what you are going to do so that you wonít go rushing into a dark hole. Memorize critical procedures.
Checklists
--Make only checklists that you will use.
--Use aircraft and systems within performance capabilities and limitations.
--Perform emergency procedures
--Show good judgment
--Show knowledge of aircraft/ATC procedures
--Control aircraft in maneuvers within minimums
The best way to learn the systems of an aircraft is to learn to draw them. Study a pictorial diagram for a couple of minutes. Close the book and make your best drawing. Open the book to finish and correct the drawing. Repeat the process until you can draw a complete diagram. An examiner will be ëimpressedí with this ability and probably not pursue the subject any further.
The private pilot of today needs to know more than the commercial pilot of just a few years ago. With the automation of weather services, the pilot must be knowledgeable of weather and weather chart interpretation to the level required of the FSS technician two years ago. Two years from now all the technician will be replaced by computers. The aging of our aircraft fleet makes it vital that today's pilot be knowledgeable of maintenance factors never required when old planes were just replaced with new. The radio skills required by the high- density operations of ARSA and Class C go far beyond just getting into and out of a controlled airport. While the flying skills are much the same, the knowledge skills required have greatly increased.
You must know the safe altitude for performance of any maneuver both with respect to your aircraft and its occupants and with respect to those on the ground. Safety requires practice. Pre-maneuver checklists such as STOP and CAPS will prevent you from blowing the safety part of the PTS checkride.
S = safety
C = Clearing turns
A = Altitude
P = Place (to land)
S = Speed
T = Tolerances (altitude, heading and speed
O = Objective
P = Procedure
Last Modified December 13, ©2025 TAGE.COM
