Flightblog

Lesson #21: Flying Into Honolulu's Class B for the Written Exam

After weeks of studying, reading, practice tests, posting questions to internet message boards and generally fretting over the outcome of my written test, it is finally behind me. I passed.

Photos here

The LaserGrade test center is at a flight school at Honolulu International, so I got to finally log some cross country time (for the purposes of the private pilot training requirements, a cross country flight necessitates a landing at an airport 50 miles or more from the 'original point of departure').

Fletch and I got an early start, meeting at the hangar at about 7:45am. After all the flight planning exercises, charting a course on the sectional, carefully correcting for wind drift, timing each leg of the trip...I discovered today that it really just comes down to flying the route you can see on the ground. We didn't do much flight planning at all...just preflighted the airplane and left. Our clearance was for a northwest departure and we were in contact with Honolulu Center all the way for flight following. The route of flight was no more complex than flying off the west side of Maui for Molokai, then following Molokai's south shore to the western tip of Molokai, then looking at the sectional for a course that would carry us across the channel to Koko head. About halfway between Molokai and Oahu we spotted the beach at the base of Koko head and got in touch with Honolulu Approach Control.

For all the warnings I've been given about the Class B controllers, they weren't difficult at all. Fletch assured me that I got lucky, they're usually not so polite. Whatever the case, it was quite pleasant having them talk us into the airspace, assigning headings and altitudes, notifying us of traffic and just guiding us across the channel toward the airport. The radio frequency was really, really busy. Every plane landing at PHNL was on the same channel, receiving and reading back instructions at a very brisk pace.

Once west of the Honolulu VORTAC 171° radial, we were vectored inbound for RWY 4R and given clearance to land on RWY 4R. No problem, this was just like home! Fly in for a base leg entry to right traffic for RWY 4R and watch the 747 on final for RWY 8 about 400 YDS away. What a HUGE airplane! As that one was landing, we saw another 747 climbing out above us, directly over our flight path. I caught myself wondering whether we'd get any wake turbulence from their departure and figured since we were on perpendicular headings it wouldn't be a factor.

My final approach was maybe a little fast, Fletch said carry it long since we had so far down the runway to taxi to parking. I rounded out right on time and floated, on the rudder, for a little ways before gently, gently touching down first on one tire, then the other and hold the nosewheel off....a real greaser, I was proud to have Fletch with me to see my landing progress.

We taxied to parking, not a lot different from Maui...the GA side of the airport is way far away from the airline terminal. The GA ramp is about the same size as Maui, with not many more planes. Very familiar. It's going to be quite a culture shock for me when I move to a part of the country where there are whole GA *airports* that are 3x as busy as PHNL!

As we secured the plane, Fletch reviewed the stuff I needed for the test. 'Got your E6B? Got your logbook? Got your medical certificate?'

My medical certificate and logbook? Oh no....ohno....ohno...OHH NNOOOOO!!! Panic began to set in, briefly staved off by denial...but then overtaking me. My logbook was in the desk drawer at Maui Aviators where one of the other CFIs told me to leave it. The medical certificate was taped to the inside cover of my logbook. Oh. No. I started to get angry, angry at the waste of effort and emotion to get over here to take a test that I wouldn't be able to take. Angry at the person who had persuaded me to part with my logbook. Angry at myself for not refusing and just keeping it in my bag. Angry at Fletch for not reviewing the things I would need for the test before we left Maui.

Then I took a step back and saw what was happening. I was in the cockpit of an airplane, faced with a non-life-threatening situation that was entirely beyond my control, and getting angry, visibly angry about it. Highly unprofessional behavior in my opinion. That's just not the kind of pilot I want to be. In my career, I will certainly face far more stressful situations than not having the necessary paperwork for a given operation. Getting angry will not help that career along at all. I'm not sure how, but I have to learn to relax when threatened with stuff like this. My career and crew depend on it.

While I was reflecting on the need for a change in my personality, Fletch called the hangar and talked to John and found out all I need is a note from Fletch authorizing me to take the test along with a photo ID.

It turned out to be nothing.

I've gotta' learn to keep my mouth shut and stay cool no matter what. Nobody is going to want to fly with somebody that gets bent every time something unexpected happens, right?

With that drama behind us, I enjoyed a Tiger's Milk Bar and some water and followed Fletch across the ramp to the FBO and availed myself of the much needed facilities there. Then we proceeded out of the 'secure area' (yeah, right!) and across the street to Flight School Hawaii where the test would be administered.

I checked in with the guy behind the counter and was shown to a little desk in a little room with a glass door. The test proctor entered all my personal information in the terminal very carefully and double checked to make sure it was correct. Then he let me sit at the computer and explained that I would go through a brief tutorial explaining how to use the testing software, followed by the actual test. Once the test begins, I will have 2.5 hours to complete the test. OK, OK...lets go!

I went through the tutorial and patiently learned how the 7 functions of the software worked. Then I started the test.

I've been preparing for the test using the Gleim Private Pilot Written Exam Prep. The way the test works, there are 62 questions. The questions are selected (seemingly at random) from a pool of probably 600 questions. The questions cover all areas of knowledge for the Private Pilot License: weather, regulations, aerodynamics, airport and airspace operations, procedures, flying the airplane. It is a daunting amount of knowledge to be responsible for. The test prep book groups all of the questions from the question pool into chapters. Each chapter has a review of the material followed by a practice test with answers and explanations for each of the questions. The best strategy for using the book is to go through and read each chapter and take the practice test. If you are reasonably well read and proficient in the subject matter (and you should be if you're signing up for this test) you will get at least 80% correct. Now, go through each missed question and review the answer & explanation, looking to the reference material that covers that question, until you understand the question and how to answer it. Then go through and re-do all the questions you missed the first time. Repeat as many times as you want.

It's an extremely effective (if not somewhat time consuming) way to prepare for this test. I will certainly be using the Gleim material for my future test prep.

As I answered questions in the test, I recognized questions from my study sessions! It was perfect. I went through and answered all of the questions I was sure I knew the answer to and flagged the ones I wasn't sure of. Then, I went through all my flagged/unanswered questions and selected a best answer from the multiple choice selection. Then I went through and reviewed each question and answer one last time before submitting my test to be scored. There was only one question I wasn't sure of.

I got a 97% with 2 incorrect answers!

70 is a passing grade, but I wouldn't want my family flying with anyone who didn't score at least 95%.

It is SUCH a relief to have this part of my training behind me. I have been studying and worrying about the need to study more for the last 4 weeks and am so relieved to have the test over and done with. Fletch has been assuring me that it's easy and I would do fine, but I wanted more than to do fine...I wanted a high score. My high score confirms the training and studying, all of the hard work I have put into earning my private pilot certificate. The high score I got is helping me to be at ease about the upcoming oral exam and practical test. I've demonstrated once that I know the material, so I can go into the checkride prepared and confident.

Posted by johnpeace at February 24, 2004 12:39 PM