Check Ride Blues

[Augr]

The mixture cable got fixed on 802, so I could finally finish the 3 hours of prep time with my CFI.  We get everything done, I hit everything well within tolerances, and he finishes up all of the paperwork on IACRA.  The DPE is available later in the afternoon, so we're set to go at 3 PM or so Thursday.

The winds are a tad high, 13-15 knots out of the south/southwest, gusting to 20+.  The TAFs all say that the winds are going to die down to around 10 or less starting at 1800 local, so I'm thinking that this can work.  The oral portion goes well, he only stumps me on one question.  I have no idea what has orange lights on the airport, I don't recall ever seeing any.  As I start paging through the AIM, he tells me it's obstructions and vehicles.  The rest of it goes fine.

Then the waiting begins.  I check the AWOS every 5-10 minutes.  The winds start to die down, but the gusts go up.  Then everything starts to go lower.  I decide I'll wait 10 minutes, just to make sure the trend continues.  It doesn't.  13 @ 210, gusting to 21.  Ugh.  I decide to call it a day and get a letter of discontinuance.

I was out of town over the weekend, so I rescheduled for 9 AM Wednesday.  I was watching the weather forecasts the whole time.  Everything was looking good.  As I was reading my email last night, the glaring absence of a reminder email set off alarm bells.  The scheduling web site shows 802 is down for maintenance at least through today.  AAARRGH!

The school owner is on vacation, but one of the office jockeys tells me that it went in for its 100 hour and they found some problems.  It will be down at least until Saturday.

Someone or something does not want me to get a PPL.

[Splinter562]

It is the way of the world. I had a similar experience when I did my private. I did my exam 2 days before I had to leave for college. The DE was also a pilot for a Part 135 operation and had a flight come up as I was doing my oral, so I had to come back the next day to do the flying part... the day before I had to leave for college. Thankfully it all went well and I left with my Temporary Airman Certificate in hand.

Think of it this way: Now you've now got one more flying story to tell.

[RitterKreuz]

i know it seems that way, but this is the nature of little grimlins. They always pop up when its least convenient.

You will do fine. Roll with the punches.

You have waited due time for this... another week cant hurt  ;)

Good luck, We're all counting on you.

[Mobius]

Every checkride I've taken was rescheduled at least twice.  Stick with it and consider it time to practice.

[beaky]

Sigh... well, at least the oral's overwith, and it went well... smile.

What I wanna know is: what obstructions have orange lights? Ground obstructions (those orange strobes on construction barriers)?   :-?

[DaveSims]

Not quite sure where he got that orange lights are on airports.  I am an airport operations/maintenance coordinator and can tell you there are no orange lights on any airport I've been too.  Maintenance and construction vehicles are equipped with amber lighting, and obstruction and construction barricades all have red lighting.

[beaky]

Not quite sure where he got that orange lights are on airports.  I am an airport operations/maintenance coordinator and can tell you there are no orange lights on any airport I've been too.  Maintenance and construction vehicles are equipped with amber lighting, and obstruction and construction barricades all have red lighting.

I guess he meant "amber" when he said "orange"...

[DaveSims]

My vision is color deficient (not quite color blind), so amber looks yellow to me.  

[beaky]

My vision is color deficient (not quite color blind), so amber looks yellow to me.  

Close enough.
Some people call yellow traffic signals "amber"... that's a little much, I think.

[Mobius]

My vision is color deficient (not quite color blind), so amber looks yellow to me.  

Close enough.
Some people call yellow traffic signals "amber"... that's a little much, I think.

Amber!?  They're more of a rusty mustard wheat color to me. :-?