Commercial update
On Monday evening I'm meeting up with a flight instructor to map out a plan on how to complete my remaining commercial requirements. Talking to him on the phone just now, he seemed to indicate that the two 100nm cross-country flights were supposed to be solo (as I originally thought) even though the regs seem to indicate it is dual. So we'll clarify that. Also I'll ask about my logbook entry for the 7 night landings at SJC and if it will hold up to scrutiny on a checkride. And finally I'll have him endorse my logbook so I can take the commercial written test. Lately I've really been plowing through my Gleim Commercial Pilot knowledge test study guide and last night I took a practice test on which I only missed 3 out of 100 questions. I aim to take the written test sometime next week.
So with that said, the requirements I still need are:
* 30 more hours of total time
* 4.8 more hours of dual instruction in a complex aircraft
* dual instruction (and then solo practice) in the commercial specific flight maneuvers (chandelles, lazy eights, eights on pylons, steep turns (50° bank), steep spirals)
* 100nm day and night dual cross country flights, if needed
* Score 70% or better on the commercial knowledge test
More info on the maneuvers here:
Chandelle: Wikipedia, AOPA how to teach
Eights on Pylons: Wikipedia, AOPA how to teach
Lazy Eights: AOPA how to teach
The FAA publishes Practical Test Standards which define the precision with which each of the above maneuvers must be performed. The PTS can be found here (pdf)
A nice summary of all the commercial checkride maneuvers (including ones that I have already been exposed to on the private pilot checkride) is here
So with that said, the requirements I still need are:
* 30 more hours of total time
* 4.8 more hours of dual instruction in a complex aircraft
* dual instruction (and then solo practice) in the commercial specific flight maneuvers (chandelles, lazy eights, eights on pylons, steep turns (50° bank), steep spirals)
* 100nm day and night dual cross country flights, if needed
* Score 70% or better on the commercial knowledge test
More info on the maneuvers here:
Chandelle: Wikipedia, AOPA how to teach
Eights on Pylons: Wikipedia, AOPA how to teach
Lazy Eights: AOPA how to teach
The FAA publishes Practical Test Standards which define the precision with which each of the above maneuvers must be performed. The PTS can be found here (pdf)
A nice summary of all the commercial checkride maneuvers (including ones that I have already been exposed to on the private pilot checkride) is here