Need help with instrument checkride

[farmerdave]

Does anyone know how you're supposed to enter the holding pattern over the SEA VOR?  In the window it just said "enter holding on the 140 degree radial", but in the flight criteria on the holding section it says "cross SEA VOR on 140 degree course".  Now I think this means you use the parrallel entry, but then you would have to fly the 320 inbound course.

[gr31]

You have it right. It should be a parallel entry and the inbound course will be 320. If your told to hold on a "radial" of a VOR, the inbound is always the reciprocal of the radial.

Ken

[farmerdave]

Thanks.  I was getting rather confused with all that.

[gw]

You're going to be approaching the KSEA VOR on a heading of about 154 degrees.  You might be able to make a parallel entry work but a teardrop entry is the one an instrument flight instructor would most likely tell you to use.

After you cross the VOR (and you have to cross the VOR within 0.9 nm or you will fail) turn to a heading of 110 degrees.  Fly that for about 60 seconds, then turn right to to pick up the VOR and head toward it on 320 degrees.

If you're interested there's a detailed how-to on this checkride over on the help and tutorials page here.

gw

[gr31]

[quote]You're going to be approaching the KSEA VOR on a heading of about 154 degrees.

[gw]

You're welcome to use whatever entry suits you on this.  However, I've flown the checkride and I spent two months wandering around inside the programming behind it and, trust me, the code wants you to fly a teardrop entry.

One of the reasons that so many people have trouble with these checkrides is that the progamming expects you to be at certain places at certain times.  That's the only way it can keep track of what you're doing.  So you may fly the ride in a way that makes perfect sense to you and, in the real world, would probably be just fine.  The flight sim checkrides are harder because you not only have to be a good pilot but you also have to figure out what the code wants you to do.

That's what led me to dig into the code and write 20 pages explaining this checkride and to let Pete post it over on the help and tutorials page here.  Take a look at it if you think it might help.

gw

[gr31]

Ouch! I was afraid that might be the case here. No disrespect ment to you, in fact I greatly admire some one who has put in the time and effort you must have and then share it with others. I guess I just keep thinking real world when I should be thinking simulator.

Ken

[gw]

Well, I was a little strong in my reply so I apologize for that.  I have heard people say that they have made the parallel entry work so it might be possible in spite of what the code wants.

Anyway, it was fun finding out how the checkride works.  You can't get away with much but some of the things I found out are really surprising.

For example, at the end of the VOR approach the examiner tells you to go around.  At that point she stops watching your air speed.  After all, you can't maintain 100 kts in a climb.  But it just about blew me away when I discovered that she *never* starts watching it again!!!  I remember going back through the code thinking I must have missed something.  Nope! You can fly whatever speed you want and not get dinged.  Now, you still are on a schedule so you can't get too far away from 100 kts but you don't have to sweat it anymore.

gw

[gr31]

The "ouch" ment that it hurts to realize I kinda blew it! Anyway, thanks for the info!

Ken

[farmerdave]

For example, at the end of the VOR approach the examiner tells you to go around.  At that point she stops watching your air speed.  After all, you can't maintain 100 kts in a climb.  But it just about blew me away when I discovered that she *never* starts watching it again!!!

 Cool! That should remove a lot of stress the next time i try it.