Instructor Report: Checkride checklist
The mental and physical impacts of anxiety can be overwhelming. However, there are methods that students can learn—and that instructors can teach—to help ease checkride jitters. As instructors we are well-versed in teaching students to become safe and competent pilots, but there are other skills—typically not covered in our own training—that allow us to better serve as mentors and role models for students preparing for their first checkride.
First, we need to better understand anxiety, which has three components. The first concerns the realistic aspects of the situation facing you at the time you become nervous. In this case, a checkride is a demanding situation requiring all of your students’ aviation knowledge and flying skills. Realistically, most students will be nervous that day. Next, certain physiological reactions accompany anxiety: pounding heart, sweaty palms, and trouble breathing. Finally, there are thoughts that we generate when we are scared or anxious, such as the fear of failure or embarrassment. Since relaxed students are more likely to succeed, it is worth adding some anxiety-reducing “maneuvers” to their precheckride preparation.
First, consider helping students develop a personal “checkride checklist” that focuses on their own unique concerns. Speaking honestly about their strengths, weaknesses, and worries, and suggesting ways to counter them, may well be the difference between success and failure when working with a well-prepared but nervous student.
The key to managing the realistic aspects of anxiety is preparation, and the key to preparation is organization. Of course, double-check that your students have all required documents, endorsements, and hours completed to prevent failure for administrative reasons. Also, remind them that other aspects of checkride preparation benefit from organization. Are their cross-country materials in a clear and logical sequence? If they are using an electronic flight bag such as ForeFlight Mobile, are they thoroughly familiar with its operation? Are all downloads up to date? Are they familiar with all equipment installed on the aircraft? Just as following a checklist helps ensure a safe flight, a checkride checklist helps ensure a calmer and more successful exam.
Anxiety also results in physical symptoms and, like flight maneuvers, controlling the physical symptoms of anxiety takes some practice. Research has shown that regular exercise helps people maintain a calmer physical state. When students are preparing for the big day, remind them that rest, exercise, and nutrition are important for optimum performance. Encouraging anxious students to learn relaxation techniques such as breathing exercises or meditation can help them learn to calm their nerves if they find themselves overreacting when the big day arrives.
When it comes to flying, many students also burden themselves with upsetting and unproductive thoughts. For example, some tell themselves, “I will never be able to land if there is a crosswind!” Others expect to run into a mean examiner who is out to flunk as many students as possible, or are convinced they will fail. By predicting the future and imagining a catastrophe, students stack the deck against their own success. These students need to notice they are focusing only on the negative and discounting their own positives. Writing worries in a journal or talking them over with a friend or fellow student might help these students realize how unrealistic their fears are.
As an instructor, you can help by reminding your student that you would never send him or her for the test if you did not believe that he or she was thoroughly prepared, and also that the examiner will not expect perfection. During the ride, if the student does not perform a maneuver to airman certification standards standards, encourage him to state his error and ask to perform it again. The DPE likely will appreciate both the student’s honesty and his ability to self-evaluate.
Finally, reassure your student that most of us are nervous before checkrides, regardless of how experienced we are, and that a little bit of anxiety keeps us sharp and even improves performance. If the student is comfortable doing so, she could share with the examiner that while she may be nervous, she is looking forward to demonstrating what she can do. The DPE may really appreciate her positive attitude, and that may set the stage for a calmer and more successful checkride.
M. Penny Levin, Ph.D, is a psychologist in practice for more than 20 years. She is a CFI and a certified personal trainer. She can be reached at [email protected] or through her website.
