

Everyone feels nervous to some extent when they go for a checkride, so we share 14 ways to reduce your anxiety before and during a checkride. Checkride anxiety applies to student pilots in particular because it’s your first checkride. But it also applies to all pilots who think that someday they’ll go for an instrument, or maybe a multiengine, seaplane, glider, Commercial, ATP, or CFI checkride. Professional pilots working for a Part 135 charter company or an airline, also have to periodically be rechecked.

Here’s a brief summary of the 14 ways to reduce your nervousness about a checkride. Note: You’ll hear far more details about each one in the podcast.

If possible, meet the examiner ahead of time. Clear the deck for at least a week before the checkride. Do whatever it takes to guarantee that you get a decent amount of sleep the night before the checkride. Make sure you have all of your paperwork in order. Become intimately familiar with the ACS oral section, Use a study guide like the ASA Private Oral Exam guide to help you prepare for the oral. Do a mock checkride with your instructor or another flight instructor. If there’s a gouge available, a report that someone has written about their checkride with your examiner, see if you can find it and read it ahead of time. Don’t get upset if you make some mistakes on your last flight before the checkride. Prepare for a long day; bring some food! When you walk in for your checkride, exhibit confidence, but not cockiness. Know that it’s OK to tell the DPE a joke. If you start getting nervous, and feel you’re not doing well, ask for a timeout. Go into the checkride with just the tiniest bit of indifference or apathy, so you won’t be too upset if you don’t pass.

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