For people that have graduated ATP flight school, did you feel prepared for your checkrides and orals and did the studying resources for the writtens prepare you. Did you fail any writtens or checkrides, and if so what would you have done differently?
Thanks!
Jacob,
While I had no checkride busts, I honestly never felt warm, fuzzy or confident before any of them. Thing is, that’s part of the concept.
If you go to your local flight school they’ll ask you if you’re ready for a checkride. If you’re not no problem, they’re happy to keep taking your money until you are. With that in mind, given enough time almost anyone can eventually earn their license. Problem is that’s not how the airlines work. When you start your newhire training the clock starts and ALL your checks are scheduled day one. No one is going to ask if you feel ready, you will be or you’ll washout. It’s to you to bust your butt, prepare yourself and do your best to make sure you’re ready. ATP does the same. This is the reason, long before the pilot shortage, ATP grads were getting preferential hiring and even min hour reductions (when that was possible), when people with much more time couldn’t even get an interview. Because the airlines knew ATP grads could successfully get through newhire training. Even today when getting an interview is easy, getting through training is not and the Regionals are facing the highest washout rates ever.
Adam
Jacob,
This reminds me, I’ve been working on a guide (that I followed for myself, and been wanting to share for time) and just have not gotten around to double, triple and quadruple check to make sure of its accuracy. While it worked for me, it may not someone else, it’s also a summary of tips/tricks that worked well in the type of studying I did. I briefly talk about the following:
When receiving your AKT’s, get into the respected ACS/PTS and find the knowledge element you missed out on. Start writing notes that correlate to the topic, whether it’s; i.e., pressure altitude, night vision, etc. Afterwards you will have an idea of what will definitely come up in a checkride oral.
Having quality control flights (or evaluation flights) with other instructors than your primary are significantly important. While you and your instructor may have a tight relationship and be buddies, it’s very important to get a second opinion, and be open to criticism.
Find the simulator and get on it regularly. Even to just refresh your memory of flows or procedures prior to a flight event. You can’t practice too much.
For the oral, do a mock checkride oral with your instructor and another instructor. There are free guides across the internet that give valuable information and tips/reference sheets, and even YouTube has mock orals.
If your checkride gets delayed, continue chair flying and getting in on the simulator. If you just sit around twiddling your thumbs, your consistency and proficiency of maneuvers and skills will deplete.
When it comes for the actual checkride, be early, professional, prepared. When the DPE walks in, everything should be ready in front of them to begin the oral. You introduce yourself, thank them for their time, and get to the meat and bones of the actual checkride.
Did I miss anything?
Brady
Jacob,
I have never once felt fully, 100% prepared for any check ride I have ever taken, yet I have passed them all. That is just the way it works for me.
I used King Schools video series to prepare for all of my written exams. Most people on here will say to just do the memorization route, and most do just fine with that. I had a year to work on my writtens, so I took the more in-depth route.
I have never failed a written or a check ride, I have studied incredibly hard for all of them. While I have never once had a perfect check ride (or the perfect flight for that matter), I must have done alright on the check ride days 
Chris