ATP Checkride

[west]

Has anyone had any success completing the ATP checkride on MSFS2K2?  I do everything right but get held in the holding pattern for about an hour going around and around and it never gets me to progress.  I pass the VOR, turn left to 060 for one minute, then turn right onto the 090 radial and hold there, what am I doing wrong?  What must you do to progress through the checkride?  Please help.
Thanks

[FSTipster]

If you fly a parallel entry instead of the teardrop entry she (The examiner) suggests, you will pass this part of the checkride. Once you are established on the inbound radial and she asks you to request the approach, you will know that you have been successful.
Some suggestions for the hold:

Fly the reciprocal for about 45 seconds before turning LEFT towards the VOR. You will have to turn onto about 210; watch the RMI & DME and at about 2.6 NM, start a right turn towards 270 - this should get you almost overhead the VOR so that you can continue the turn onto the outbound heading of 090. If you maintain about 200 KTS with flap 1 or 2, your radius of turn will be smaller. Once you are cleared to proceed to Lokks (21.3 miles away), clean up the flap and increase the speed otherwise you could be up there all day or night, but DON'T exceed 250 KTS ... and now for the ILS.

[west]

Thanks for the help, can you just clarify what you mean by reciprocal?  As I approach the VOR I am heading 090.  Are you suggesting I keep going 90 for 45 secs then turn left to 210, cross over the 90 radial  then right turn to 270 and finally right turn onto the outbound 090 radial?  Also do you know if having auto throttle on and GPS on has any effect on the checkride?
Thanks

[FSTipster]

You are somehow approaching the VOR from the wrong direction according to those instructions - exactly opposite in fact to the direction you should be. I should have said that they are from my old FS2002 tips site and are a quote.

The reciprocal refers to the course you were flying prior to the turn (left not right) for the VOR. Somehow, you seem to be on the opposite side, or travelling in the opposite direction to which you should be.

The 210 degree course should place you flying to the left of, and towards the VOR, whereas, if I understand what you're saying correctly, you appear to be flying a 90 degree course with the VOR in front of you.

When the DME reads 2.6nm, you should be turning right to take you over the VOR itself, continuing the turn to leave the VOR on a course of 90 degrees.

[west]

What you say is correct, flying directly to Calverton VOR from where I end up after the required manouvers is almost directly due west  and about 20 nm from the VOR i.e. I am heading 090.  Actuall the last instruction is to climb to 8000 at 140 knotts at a heading of 090, she then says to proceed directly to Calverton at normal speed.  Usually there is little or no course adjustment to get there.  any further advice?

[FSTipster]

All I can add is the following:

Remember that holding on the 090 radial means on the radial extending FROM the VOR on mag 90.

I don't know if you've already obtained the charts for this checkride, Microsoft forgot to include them, but if not, you'll find them half way down this page:

http://www.microsoft.com/games/fs2002/