That Blasted IFR Checkride...I passed it!
Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2004 4:32 pmIn 2002 It took three tries to pass the IFR checkride. In COF it has taken countless tries and probably 40+ hours. The one place I couldn't get past was the SEA hold after the missed approach. My flight analysis always looked like it was drawn by draftsman and all the numbers were perfect (at least well within tolerances).
It turns out Rod Marchado has a web site and had the following advice: After you pass LOM outer marker on your nmissed approach and turn to heading 160, spin the OBS so that the flag is pointing to SEA. Do this before she says proceed direct to SEA and hold on the 140 radial.
It seems that after she gave the instruction, with the flag still pointing from, the computer read it as already passing SEA and starts a five minute timer for you to cross on the hold. The problem is, it takes you almost four minutes to even get there. So BLAM you did not enter the hold correctly, regardless of technique or precision. The correct entry to hold is parallel (according to the site).
Well, I'm somewhat layed up with a blown ankle and have a bit of time on my hands, so I loaded up on narcotics so I could stand pressure from the pedals and the tester.
I loaded the simulation and after my climb out on the missed approach, turn to 160 and started climbing to 3000 per the, uh, lady's instructions. I spun the OBS to 150 which flipped the flag and centered the needle. She gave the "proceed direct to..." instructions and I did. Once I crossed I turned left to 140, flew fore 1 minute and turned inbound, intercepting the 320/140 radial as I crossed SEA. I entered the hold. After I entered my second circuit and was turning back to 320 she dings me with, "I'm sorry, you'll have to try the checkride again. Please check the flight analysis and see what areas you need improvement in. You did not make standard rate turns." And the woman dropped me from the screen. I have to admit that I dipped the wing a little sharply trying to intercept 320 at first.
So I reloaded, flew the whole thing again, got to the same point and made absoluely sure my turn rates were right on the numbers. She pops me again with the same nonsense when I was sure it was perfect. I'm about to shoot the monitor when I realized I was still flying. So I shrugged and crossed SEA and she tells me to turn to 326 and fly direct to NOLLA. I turn, set OBS to 110.9 at 130 degrees and try to keep the Directional Gyro near 326 and the NDB centered. I don't hear another peep out of her, I get to NOLLA fly my BC and barbed entry (a little shaky but in tolerance) wrestle the plane onto the needles and fly it down. I come to a stop and she says, "Good job! You passed the checkride" and the screen gives me the name field. I don't know what happened, I wouldn't count on it again, but I'll take it!
I even saved a copy as PDF in case I lose this one. So if your still having trouble with it, go to rodmarchado.com and read the little post on that. The key thing, I believe is spinning that OBS as soon as you are turning to 160 from LOM. The narcotics were helpful, at least as far as attitude and serenity went, but that is a personal choice ;).
The Dragonfighter
BTW, I guess the bugs can work both ways.
It turns out Rod Marchado has a web site and had the following advice: After you pass LOM outer marker on your nmissed approach and turn to heading 160, spin the OBS so that the flag is pointing to SEA. Do this before she says proceed direct to SEA and hold on the 140 radial.
It seems that after she gave the instruction, with the flag still pointing from, the computer read it as already passing SEA and starts a five minute timer for you to cross on the hold. The problem is, it takes you almost four minutes to even get there. So BLAM you did not enter the hold correctly, regardless of technique or precision. The correct entry to hold is parallel (according to the site).
Well, I'm somewhat layed up with a blown ankle and have a bit of time on my hands, so I loaded up on narcotics so I could stand pressure from the pedals and the tester.
I loaded the simulation and after my climb out on the missed approach, turn to 160 and started climbing to 3000 per the, uh, lady's instructions. I spun the OBS to 150 which flipped the flag and centered the needle. She gave the "proceed direct to..." instructions and I did. Once I crossed I turned left to 140, flew fore 1 minute and turned inbound, intercepting the 320/140 radial as I crossed SEA. I entered the hold. After I entered my second circuit and was turning back to 320 she dings me with, "I'm sorry, you'll have to try the checkride again. Please check the flight analysis and see what areas you need improvement in. You did not make standard rate turns." And the woman dropped me from the screen. I have to admit that I dipped the wing a little sharply trying to intercept 320 at first.
So I reloaded, flew the whole thing again, got to the same point and made absoluely sure my turn rates were right on the numbers. She pops me again with the same nonsense when I was sure it was perfect. I'm about to shoot the monitor when I realized I was still flying. So I shrugged and crossed SEA and she tells me to turn to 326 and fly direct to NOLLA. I turn, set OBS to 110.9 at 130 degrees and try to keep the Directional Gyro near 326 and the NDB centered. I don't hear another peep out of her, I get to NOLLA fly my BC and barbed entry (a little shaky but in tolerance) wrestle the plane onto the needles and fly it down. I come to a stop and she says, "Good job! You passed the checkride" and the screen gives me the name field. I don't know what happened, I wouldn't count on it again, but I'll take it!
I even saved a copy as PDF in case I lose this one. So if your still having trouble with it, go to rodmarchado.com and read the little post on that. The key thing, I believe is spinning that OBS as soon as you are turning to 160 from LOM. The narcotics were helpful, at least as far as attitude and serenity went, but that is a personal choice ;).
The Dragonfighter
BTW, I guess the bugs can work both ways.
!!! Argh!!! The pre-flight instructions are insufficient, the tolerances unreal, and the after-failure advice utter nonsense.