Lieutenants Log: (Training day 87) A ‘checkride’ is a progress evaluation normally affiliated with the end of a phase of training in flight school (or a yearly requirement in the operational Army). It tends to include a discussion period, in which the certified evaluator determines your level of cognitive comprehension of the ideas being taught, and then a flight where you physically apply these ideas. At this point, I have begun to relate a specific emotional pattern to checkrides. First, obviously, is the anxiousness. We are evaluated to a degree every day, but for some reason, you cannot avoid the anxiousness of a checkride. That lasts for a short period. It never goes away, it only is masked by more significant feelings. The disbelief and amazement in personal progression through the hardest thing you have ever done. A strong sense of accomplishment. The time flies much faster than we do. Academics covering extremely complex ideas with exams weekly, and of course flying every day. Then, one day it happens. You go in, you meet your check pilot, and it begins. It is just as much a learning experience as it an evaluation. I actually find them enjoyable. After the flight, which you were actually prepared for, despite the lack of confidence you had going into it, you debrief with your check pilot. Immediately, you report the good news to your instructor pilot. He smiles, partly for pride in his own ability to teach, and partly because he really does want to see you succeed. Then you shake his hand, and you turn around and walk away from the person who has taught you to do the most amazing thing you ever done in your life. With about 100 hours logged, and four months of flying daily, I am taking my instrument check ride tomorrow. On Tuesday, I start ‘basic warfighting’. The standard traffic patterns and airport hopping is over. The orange and white Bell 206 will become a dark green OH-58 Kiowa Warrior. The shift in flying techniques, maneuvers and information will be just as significant as the change in aircraft. Obviously, I am excited about it. I know I am not doing anything great here. Thousands have done it before me, and thousands will do it after me. I acknowledge I still have what feels like an infinite amount of information to learn. I have hardly started my training. It is significant to me though. I appreciate the opportunities I have. That is only getting stronger. A good friend of mine told me to ‘keep calm and fly on’. Wilco.
Posted on: Thu, 31 Jul 2014 00:11:08 +0000