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02-26-2008, 12:57 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Waco, Texas
Posts: 1,658
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So Close to the IFR ticket
I must share my frustration.
I've been working on my Instrument Rating for just over a year. Finally, I went to take my checkride Sunday at 10AM. Everything was going great. My oral portion went off without a hitch. First approach was a partial panel VOR approach. Next was unusual attitudes. Next we did holding patterns. Finally we're down to the ILS approach.
No I didn't bust the ILS portion of the checkride. The glideslope indicator in the 172 we were using became INOP on the approach. We've got to have a precision approach to complete the checkride, so flying it to Localizer mins wouldn't qualify.
No problem, we returned to the airport and yesterday we took another 172 out for the ILS. We flew down to Sugarland and were vectored on the inbound course. ONCE AGAIN, the glideslope is dead on that one too!!! Good grief!
So now I'm in a holding pattern with my checkride. I'm literally one approach away from having that coveted rating.
It doesn't look like my schedule will allow for me to get back in the air until next Tues. I've reserved a different plane (one I know well) and I'll take a shot at the approach. In the mean-time, I'll just wonder what could have been.
BTW - The place I rented the planes from didn't charge me. Thought that was kinda cool.
Phil
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02-26-2008, 01:18 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 438
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WOW... that really stinks!
Hang in there Phil. Your so close now. Just think how its going to feel once you make it. Crazy you got 2 planes with the problem. Makes ya wonder about the rental market huh. 
__________________
Daryl Tolliver
VAF 1086
Yes: I paid my =VAF= membership dues for 2020
RV-7A - N754RV: Status - Pink Slip is In! First Flight 8/23/12 - My First Flight 9/24/12!
Home from GloCustom for Paint! 3/16/13
957 hours and climbing
7th Condition Inspection complete 10/31/2019
Superior XP IO360 (180 HP), Hartzell Blended Airfoil, AF-5400 EFIS panel, Garmin Aera 660, TruTrak Vizion 385 AutoPilot, Dual Pmags
Houston, TX
Track: SPOT
Weiser Airpark (EYQ)
http://www.rv7a-factory.com
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02-26-2008, 03:20 PM
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Guest
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Arizona
Posts: 613
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Are you taking your ride with the FAA or a designee? I would think if the guy was a human being, he would give you a little break and call it a day, and a ticket. Having just taken and passed my second IFR ticket (see the story about Darwin Barrie, I am the "other guy"), I know how frustrating it can be. Hang in there, and remember, if it happens again, to announce your failure to ATC (your examiner), if you didn't before. My examiner was real big on that. Fortunately I remembered when he "failed" my instruments.....hope this helps.
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02-26-2008, 03:48 PM
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VAF Moderator / Line Boy
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Dayton, NV
Posts: 12,256
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Years Ago....
....In a galaxy not that far from yours (Houston, actually!), I was taking my instrument check ride in my little Grumman Yankee with a wonderful lady who was based at Hobby. We completed the entire check ride except for the ILS, and she "negotiated" with approach to fit us into a slot for 12R at Hobby. I got on the localizer and waited for the glideslope....which nave came in. Finally, she had me take the hood off, and we we overhead Hobby at 2000'. "Well, at least I didn't let down without the ride guidance!" I offered....
Full of understanding, she suggested that I could show her an ILS in their simulator (some sort of Frasca twin I had never seen before). She sat me down and said "play with it until you feel comfortable, then give me a call." I got the feel of it, called her back in, shot one ILS, and walked out with my ticket.
I love someone that is reasonably flexible....but then ,that was back in the days when flexibility was allowed.....
Hang in there Phil - you'll get it!
Paul
__________________
Paul F. Dye
Editor at Large - KITPLANES Magazine
RV-8 - N188PD - "Valkyrie"
RV-6 (By Marriage) - N164MS - "Mikey"
RV-3B - N13PL - "Tsamsiyu"
A&P, EAA Tech Counselor/Flight Advisor
Dayton Valley Airpark (A34)
http://Ironflight.com
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02-26-2008, 03:59 PM
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Senior Curmudgeon
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Dayton Airpark, NV A34
Posts: 15,420
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Perhaps there are forces at work here, who know better than to fly where you cant see where you are going. 
__________________
Mike Starkey
VAF 909
Rv-10, N210LM.
Flying as of 12/4/2010
Phase 1 done, 2/4/2011 
Sold after 240+ wonderful hours of flight.
"Flying the airplane is more important than radioing your plight to a person on the ground incapable of understanding or doing anything about it."
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02-26-2008, 09:46 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Chandler, AZ
Posts: 2,904
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Hmmmm...
[quote=Phil;201828]I must share my frustration.
No I didn't bust the ILS portion of the checkride. The glideslope indicator in the 172 we were using became INOP on the approach.
ONCE AGAIN, the glideslope is dead on that one too!!! Good grief!
In the infamous words of the incomparable Yogi Berra, "That is too much of a coincidence to be a coincidence."
Sounds trivial but did you identify the station? Confirm the ILS was working at the airport at the time? On my checkride, before Glenn, I was so amped up I forgot to ID the GS/LOC frequency. Everything worked great but he did mention on the ground after the ride. I did check the airport for Class D Notams before going to make sure it was up. Later on a VOR approach, I remembered to ID.
It is easy to miss those things that were simple and routine under the pressure of the ride. I was able to brief Glenn to remember to do that before his ride  He probably would have forgot
At least you only have to do the ILS, probably the easiest thing on the ride. Good luck and congrats. You'll treasure the rating.
__________________
Darwin N. Barrie
Chandler AZ
www.JDair.com
RV-7 N717EE-Flying (Sold)
RV-7 N717AZ Flying, in paint
EMS Bell 407,
Eurocopter 350 A-Star Driver
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02-27-2008, 07:41 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 215
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Congrats....you're almost there
Hang in there, you'll get it, and the last and final checkride will be almost anticlimatic for you. Then you'll be on the road to enjoying your airplane in a whole new way, and one that makes it far more useful.
Planning a cross country and playing chess enroute with mother nature to assure a safe outcome of the flight is very very satisfying for me.
I fly a GA aircraft (soon to be replaced by my -8) on business 200+ hours a year. Rarely do I have to spend a night in a hotel due to Wx. You will be amazed at your new found flexibility for travel.
Be safe, study the Wx, and build on your comfort level in tiny steps.
Art Treff
N666AT "Lil Snorkey"
RV-8 Fastback
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02-27-2008, 11:58 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Corvallis Oregon
Posts: 3,547
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Amost
But that is why I did all my training in the RV...I.e it will be airplane I'm using( despite he fact the thing is a real handful IFR....at least when not using the autopilot), The equipment is brand new and therefore more likely to actually work!
Besides the DE was Very impressed with the RV..the way I had to start pulling power, prop pitch and mixture to avoid blowing the 3000' limit on the departure certainly got his attention.
"Wow, this thing moves" I think he said..
Hang in there, your one flight away from some of the most stressful flying you will ever do...
Frank
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02-27-2008, 02:06 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 436
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Is there any place locally with a PAR? That'd be a nice backup for your precision approach if the FAA guy is cool with it.
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02-27-2008, 04:47 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Waco, Texas
Posts: 1,658
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Thanks for the encouraging words. Many of you are right, now it won't be nearly as big of a deal when it's all finished.
As far as the problem, it wasn't a ground-based problem or operator error. The glideslope just didn't work. There are no NOTAMS, other planes were flying it, I asked the controller what it showed on the GS monitor, and identified it. Everything is fine, but the plane isn't.
We're setup for next tuesday. I'm was renting some planes from a different place than normal. On Tuesday, I'm going back to my regular place and flying one of theirs to pickup the examiner.
It won't be long and it'll be behind us. 
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