Top Tips For a Successful PPL Examination Flight
with Katherine Moloney
Katherine Moloney is a PPL (H) and PPL (A) pilot, Director at Transair Flight Equipment, and Aviation Ambassador for the UK Department for Transport. She describes her experience here and details her best advice for anyone undertaking a PPL examination flight.
The flight test is your opportunity to showcase to your examiner - and yourself - what you have learntand how far you have come. Look forward to it and savour the moment.
There is often an air of anxiety and apprehension around any flight test (understandably so, as we all want to do our very best); however, getting too sucked into these thoughts can often hinder our performance.
It is not an easy mentality, but one thing I have learnt (having a naturally apprehensive disposition myself) is to always approach challenges thinking, "How can I nail this?" Not, I hope I don’t fail.
I flew my PPL (H) skills test at the end of May 2018, when I was 19, and my PPL (A) skills test was flown four years later, at the end of May 2022, when I was 23.
The improvement in my airmanship, awareness, and experience between these two points led to a much better experience for my second test. I had a different attitude and a clearer idea of the process, which meant I was much better prepared for the flight test.
I was fortunate to have two great instructors for my PPL (H) and PPL (A) licenses. They prepared me well, and I passed both exams the first time.
However, here are a few pieces of advice I learned for my second flight test, which will allow you to enjoy the experience and not just pass.
Know what you are preparing for in your PPL Examination Flight
It may seem obvious, but knowing exactly what you are doing before your test will really put your mind at ease and allow you to visualize the flight beforehand.
Each test has a set procedure that the examiner has to strictly adhere to. This presents you with a great opportunity to really understand the day's layout and plan accordingly. Any surprises you can remove will allow you to feel calmer and prepare with greater accuracy.
For my fixed-wing test, I called my examiner a day early and asked if he could spend a few minutes going through the layout of the flight with me over the phone and explaining what he expected from the flight. This short interaction not only put my mind at ease but also allowed me to build rapport with the examiner before we even met, which pays dividends when you are feeling a bit apprehensive on the day.
Always be proactive. It never hurts to ask questions and go the extra mile.
There is always more planning to do for the PPL Examination Flight
I felt that my planning was the true key to success for my fixed-wing flight test. Of course, I planned my helicopter flight, but it was not to the extent of my PPL (A) flight test.
I was unlucky that my helicopter flight was delayed, meaning that my exam was flown two hours later than it would have been otherwise. I was fairly apprehensive and keen to get on with the day, and in my nervous state, I glossed over the changing weather conditions. Rather than sitting back down with the relevant forecasts and adjusting my planning, I paced nervously around the flight school.
Ultimately, this did not matter, and the flight went smoothly. However, this change in conditions rattled me from the start as I had not thoroughly planned for the different afternoon weather conditions. If I sat back down and decided to reshape my panning (I had ample time), I would have started the test more confidently.
For my PPL (A) test I went the other way. I planned everything and prepared a commercial level in-depth brief for myself and the examiner. In this briefing, I removed as many unknowns as possible from the flight ahead.
The brief was written in full on the classroom whiteboard and followed a very handy acronym that my awesome instructor gave me to learn - ‘WANT’, as well as some other considerations added in afterwards.
I also provided a trip brief with timings, speeds, heights, and NOTAMS.
I would also confirm with the examiner at what point in the stall he would like me to recover, the speeds for stalling, and what stall configurations we would be doing during the flight.
I listed the other test elements, such as PFLs, steep turns, spiral dives, engine failure after takeoff, and precautionary landings.
Circuits: What circuits would we be doing, and at what speeds would I be flying those circuits?
Aircraft Information, for example, a three-bladed prop, the aircraft's engine, and the oil it takes.
All of the speeds, such as rotation speed, initial climb and climb speed, cruise speed, glide, downwind, base and finals speeds.
And underneath all of that, I wrote, “LOOKOUT!”
This reminder was to me, but I also wanted to take the opportunity to ask my examiner to please let me know if he spotted any aircraft that I did not. Of course, he would have done so anyway, but showing them that you have considered the extra person in your brief is a positive.
You may think this level of planning for a PPL test is unnecessary.
However, I saw this as an easy, open goal: an opportunity to show my airmanship and thought process to my examiner and absolutely nail the test before I even started flying. It was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up, and I would implore you to do the same.
This attitude will have you confidently walking out to the aircraft, ready to show your examiner exactly what you are capable of.
Communicate, and be proactive
To me, this is the most essential part of the course, not just the test.
When learning to fly a helicopter, I could have communicated my questions and the things I didn’t quite understand much better. This wasn’t just about flying but also about the aviating around me. I did not fully understand the fixed-wing circuit and, therefore, did not fully appreciate exactly where other traffic would be joining from and where the circuit was depending on the runway in use.
This was not essential to my helicopter flight test, but it was to my airmanship. Obtaining this extra knowledge once I started my fixed-wing licence and learning the fixed-wing procedures greatly improved my own flying and airmanship.
Be inquisitive and communicate your questions. Every answer will improve you as a pilot.
Being proactive during your training and subsequent tests is my greatest learning tip.
My instructor for fixed-wing was ex-RAF, and they instilled in me the importance of being proactive in preparing for a flight. They also made me want to be better every time I flew. This led me to strengthen my briefs and try to pre-empt any questions he might have. On the occasions that I did not prepare enough, I had less productive flights.
He also got me in the habit of writing down my goals for each flight, whether it was improving my stall recovery or reviewing VOR tracking. This allowed me to take ownership of my learning and really appreciate where I was in the course and how I was improving.
I had a run of bad weather before I started my solo section of the course, which was an inconvenience. However, it was also an opportunity to sit inside the cockpit on the ground and go through the checklist. This familiarisation would pay off in my next flights once the weather was more clement, as I had retained my “cockpit currency”—even if I wasn’t leaving the ground.
Finally, remember it is supposed to be fun; that is why we fly.
Your flight test is the culmination of immense effort, expense, training, and passion. This is a moment you will remember and be proud of forever. Relish the experience and enjoy every minute… you have earned it!
You can find Katherine on Instagram @moloneykatherine, where she often posts about her experiences and engages with her followers.