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Thursday July 4, 2002 - Last Student Solo
I've found a flight examiner. I did some looking on the Internet and
talked to a few people and lined up a guy up in Concord that seems to have a
more "relaxed" style that I'll do better with.
The normal DE for Livermore has a reputation for having a style that I'll
call "confrontational". I won't say more out as my knowledge is all 2nd
hand - but he sounds like he tries to stress students out by being especially
abusive during the check-ride to see how they're respond under pressure.
Well I appreciate the reasoning - I'm also not your average student. I'm
well into my 30s, I am a paramedic, I've been a tank platoon commander and I
have no doubt about my abilities to remain in control under stress and to manage
distractions and my situational awareness. I'm also "too old for that
shit".
So I scheduled with a DE who sounds much more relaxed with a strong emphasis
on the orals and good knowledge. But I have to fly to Concord to take my
check-ride. Luckily Concord is within 25nm of Livermore so I only need a
general endorsement to be able to fly to that airport which I was able to get
from Mike before he left town. So today was just a final practice
including going past Concord so I could know my way around a little better.
It will be a little bit interesting though. I found out yesterday that
I have to go out of town for my day job on Sunday and return Tuesday. My
check ride is Thursday so I really don't have any time to study more or get in
another practice solo. So today was a little long by practice solo
standards - a full two hours. But this was it and for reasons mentioned
before - with my CFI now gone - I really, really wanted my white slip on the
first try.
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