G-LOOC resting after being put through her paces in the Skills Test
After five cancellations the day finally dawned, the big one, the PPL skills test day. To cut a long story short, I passed first time! The weather was perfect in some ways -light winds, clear skies, general CAVOK conditions (Ceiling and Visibility OK) but it was swelteringly hot, even 22 degrees at 2000ft! After checking the weather, NOTAMs (Notices To Airmen), weight and balance of the aircraft and take off and landing performances, I went to check over the aircraft G-LOOC and then got airborne around 12.45pm.
The first part of the test is a navigational exercise- my routing was Goodwood to Compton Abbas (turning point) to Frome and back to home to Goodwood. I had to fly through the Southampton airport controlled zone, overflying the airport at 2200ft, really nice view but unfortunately no photographs, I was somewhat focused on the test instead! ( This explains the lack of photographs in this post)
Once reaching Compton Abbas airfield, perched on top of a hill, I turned north heading to Frome.But I never reached Frome because the examiner threw in a diversion, a reason could be bad weather on your route for example. So after calculating the diversion route we flew southward, eventually taking us near to home-Goodwood.
The other parts of the test include the general handling- steep turns, stalling, practice forced landings and finally the circuits. I think as a whole the test went fairly well, there were bits I performed really well and bits I totally mucked up, but I noticed mistakes and corrected them. One such action was to go around (abort the landing) because my touchdown was quite heavy-causing the aeroplane to bounce- I immediately didnt like what I saw so applied full power and performed a go around. During the de-brief,I was told that it was my decision to go around which probably saved my test, so I was commended for doing the righteous thing! Afterall airmanship accounts for a large part of the test, so making a mistake isn't an immediate fail, but its how you respond to it, the 'correcting of it' that counts.
So that was it, and by the way the two subsequent landings were the complete opposite- some of the smoothest I have done in a while! Brilliant. I'm still on such a high from the day, and probably will be for some time yet! Once my license comes through the letterbox, I may just realise the endless opportunites open to me, something I cant comprehend after just passing the test. I feel so proud of myself for getting myself through the highs and lows of PPL training and hugely grateful to my instructors, operations staff for their constant support and all the people I have met who have offered advice and support along the way. When you are around aviation and aviation people there is that strong bond of camaraderie which I have really noticed in my fledgling aviation career, and one I am so proud and grateful to be part of.
