Private Pilot (MEL)
Eligibility
• Complete and signed 8710-1 Form
• Private Pilot Certificate.
• Current Flight Review (if appropriate).
• English: Speak, Read Write and Understand (61.123(b)).
• Complex and/or High Performance Endorsement (61.21(e) and/or
61.31(f)).
• 3rd Class Medical Certificate or Higher.
• Flight Instructor Endorsement or Addition of a Class Rating
(61.63).
Ground Portion
The practical Test Standard required are for Private Pilot Multi
Engine.
The example below is currently holds a Private Pilot with
Airplane Single Engine Land Pilot certificate.
Certificates and Documents
You will be tested on what you know about certificates and documents
including showing the examiner all of the required inspections in the
logbook for the airplane including the status of the recurring AD's.
Showing the sticker that mark the page is not sufficient. You need to
show the inspection in the logbook to verify the date and if appropriate,
the time and prove that this airplane is in compliance for the checkride.
You will also be asked about currency requirements in the Multi Engine
airplane as well as your new privilege and limitations that the new rating
gives you.
Multi Engine Aerodynamics and Performance
You will be
asked about Multi Engine Aerodynamics including factors of a critical
engine, how performance is affected with one engine inoperative, Vmc,
Vyse and other performance related factors. You should be familiar with
the factors of Vmc as specified in FAR 23 and in the Airplane Flying
Handbook. You can expect to calculate things like "accelerated stop
and go distances" and explain them. You can also expect to get a
scenario question like, "What rate of climb would you expect leaving
Lake Tahoe Airport with a temperature of +20C?".
Multi Engine Systems
Expect to explain the fuel system, landing gear, electrical system and
propeller/ governor system on your airplane. Draw your references for
the flight manual for the airplane and from the Airplane Flying Handbook.
Questions won't be about much theory, but practical questions regarding
how to use and how to tell if something in the system has failed. Certain
areas like electrical system seems to give people a scare. What you need
to know is generally what does what, if there is more than one bus and
what is connected to it (not memorized, that's what the manual is for)
and the major function of the master switch and load meters. You would
be expected to have details about your airplane like the max useable
fuel, etc.. memorized. Knowing the tire pressure, wing span, etc.. are
generally not required to be memorized. You should also be familiar with
all of the speeds for the airplane that aren't on the airspeed indicator.
Any limitations such as Va, etc.. you should be able to explain. Your
best ally will be the Flight Manual. Know how it's organized and where
information is in it. That way, if you come across an odd question or
one you've simply forgot, you can immediately find it in the manual without
fumbling and wasting time. It's a real nuisance to see people fumble
thorough their reference material. Don't bring reference material on
a checkride that you've not spent time going through. Remember, it's
reference material NOT RESEARCH MATERIAL. It doesn't impress any examiner
to see an applicant with an arm load of books who takes hours digging
through them for a simple answer.
Weight and Balance
You must calculate a weight and balance for the day's flight. You can
use 190 pounds as my weight and I usually bring 10 pounds of baggage
along positioned in the rear seat directly behind me. You will also be
asked as to what happens when an airplane is operating with a forward/rearward
CG and how performance is affected.
Briefings on Engine Failures and Conducting the Vmc Demonstration
You will be expected to explain to the examiner how you will handle
an engine failure, real and simulated. The purpose of this is to make
sure that you are using a consistent method the examiner is familiar
and comfortable with. It will also confirm what you will do in flight
when the examiner fails an engine. A Vmc safety briefing will also be
conducted and in it you will be asked to describe how you will do the
demonstration, how you will recover and what actions you will take in
the event of stall warning or engine failure during the maneuver.
Flight Portion
To do the test flight, I combine the PTS in several ways. The usual
theme is something like the following:
• Plan to depart the airport to the practice area.
• Set up for a Short Field Takeoff.
• Engine Failure on the takeoff roll well before Vmc.
• After recovery for the engine failure, continue on with the takeoff.
• Depart to the practice area and climb to 4000 feet.
• Expect Engine Failures at any time.
• Steep Turns to the left and right.
• Slow Flight with turns to the left and right.
• Stalls - Power on and off in the turns.
• Vmc Demonstration.
• Engine Failure above an airport with Feather and Secure.
• Emergency Descent.
• Instrument Approach (One Engine INOP to a landing)
• Enter home base traffic pattern.
• Short Field Landing
• Normal Takeoff
• Pattern
• Go Around
• Normal Landing.