ORAL EXAM PREP

     You are all aware that an oral exam is required as part of your training. These oral evaluations are usually considered the most stressful part of the entire training process. They are required not only for Airline Transport Pilot ratings, but for type ratings as well. In addition, the FAA has mandated some oral questioning (usually aircraft limitations and non-normal memory items) even for proficiency evaluations.

     Stress is magnified by the "unknowns" in any situation. This posting is to help answer some of those unknowns in an attempt to alleviate some of the stress.

     The oral exam is administered by either an FAA examiner or an FAA-designated Training Center Evaluator (TCE). The evaluator conducts the exam in accordance with the FAA Practical Test Standards (PTS). The PTS requires that the applicant "Exhibits satisfactory knowledge appropriate to the airplane."

      Knowledge will be evaluated through five elements: aircraft limitations, non-normal memory items, systems questions, an exterior inspection of the aircraft (conducted via a Power Point presentation of photos), and a few performance problems. To accomplish this, the oral exams are typically scheduled for two hours each. The oral exams are administered individually, not as a crew concept. 

     As you have been told, the type rating course does not include an oral exam prep class. You, the student, are solely responsible to be prepared for this exam. All elements of the exam will have been covered through the CBT and the Systems Integration training (fixed base simulator) phases.

     To further help in your preparation, I have prepared a "Flash Cards" review presentation. It includes both the aircraft limitations and non-normal memory items -- approximately 25 items. Click on the oral preparation Flash Cards to view the presentation.

     Good luck! The more you prepare, the "luckier" you will get.