Finger Lakes Soaring - Spring Checkride - Expectations/Standards for Your Spring Checkride

Sep 25, 2026

Finger Lakes Soaring outlines expectations and standards for pilots participating in the spring checkride, including requirements for field checks at the start of the flying season. It emphasizes that the instructor functions as a passenger, so candidates must be prepared, expect operational questions, and demonstrate readiness, judgment, and proficiency. Standards cover preflight review, takeoff techniques, collision avoidance scanning, normal tow coordination, wake boxing, slack rope recovery, release procedures, straight-and-level control, medium/steep turns, slow flight, and stall demonstrations.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages3

Reading Time8 min

AccessFree to download

Expectations/Standards for Your Spring Checkride

1. Preflight

2. Take-off

Throughout Flight-Collision Avoidance

3. Normal Tow Position

4. Boxing the Wake

5. Slack Rope Recovery

6. Release

7. Straight & Level

8. Medium & Steep Turns

9. Slow Flight

11. Stalls

Finger Lakes Soaring Spring Checkride Expectations/Standards for Your Spring Checkride OK, Winter's over and it's time to go fly, but first we really want you to spend some time thinking thru all the things that could happen this season. All private pilots and previously solo’d student pilot members are required to get a field check by an instructor at the start of the flying season. The instructors have met and are going to emphasize a more thorough approach to the annual spring checkride, and bienniel flight reviews. First, understand that the instructor is not doing all the work. We expect you to be rusty in the flying skills, but want to emphasize you should be prepared for every flight you take. We are checking your preparation, and the attitude with which you are approaching each flight. This is not designed as an instructional flight. The instructor will be acting as a passenger. This is your chance to show the check-pilot that you have the skills and judgment equal to the rating you hold. Ask questions if you have them, and the instructor will be willing to instruct you in anything you have not been exposed to before. Do your homework: Attached is a list of recommended reading you should have already been familiar with. If you're a licensed pilot, review the practical or written tests. For post-solo students, you can expect anything on the pre-solo exam. We recommend that you take the checkride in the most complex aircraft you're qualified to fly. Although 1 flight is typically all that’s needed, if you do well, request another if you’d like. 2 or more flights will cover everything on the following list. Talk us thru the checklists, any action or maneuver, it will help us clearly understand what you are thinking. These standards are provided so you will understand what is expected of each maneuver. We understand that you are a little rusty after four months of just reading about soaring-but you must demonstrate that you can complete the exercise with at least the proficiency indicated here. 1. Preflight: Review with the instructor and towpilot your expectations for the flight. Prebrief positive transfer of aircraft control and lookout responsibilities. Demonstrate through actual inspection the required preflight items for the aircraft. Review the aircraft operating manual. Recheck the required paperwork and perform a positive control check. Calculate the weight and balance for the aircraft to be flown. Demonstrate the checklist such as "CB SIT CB" or equivalent. Explain what you are doing and why. Explain the signals used for communicating with the ground crew and tow pilot. Brief the weather conditions. Check the wind and take the correct pre-takeoff action. This includes correct aileron and rudder positioning. 2. Take-off: During the ground roll, correct for crosswinds, control ground track, allow the glider to fly itself off the runway, and wing positioning. After liftoff, hold low for towplane liftoff, including crab if required, then translate position and attitude to normal tow (fin centered and wheels on the horizon) . Throughout Flight-Collision Avoidance: Properly scan for traffic. The instructor will particularly watch that you look before turning and that you perform clearing turns before vertical movements (stalls/spins) . Be able to explain the right of way rules. When in the vicinity of others, you must make course corrections that allow you to keep visual contact. 3. Normal Tow Position: During the tow, the yaw string should be straight (within 5 degrees), and control movements should be smooth, resulting in a reasonably aligned tow. Slack in the towline should be dealt with smoothly and without endangering either towplane or glider. Reference: ASH and FTM 4. Boxing the Wake: Move smoothly around the box and hold coordinated flight at each of the corners. Your pattern should clearly define the towplane wake. 5. Slack Rope Recovery: Slack in the towline should be dealt with s

FAQs

Who is required to complete a field check at the start of the flying season?

All private pilots and previously solo’d student pilot members are required to get a field check by an instructor at the start of the flying season.

How should a pilot prepare for the spring checkride if it is not an instructional flight?

The pilot should be ready for every flight, expect the instructor to act as a passenger, and demonstrate preparation, skill, and judgment at the level of the rating held. Questions are welcome for topics not previously covered.

What are the key expectations during takeoff and the tow?

During takeoff, correct for crosswinds and maintain proper ground track while positioning the wing and glider for towplane lift-off. During the tow, keep the yaw string straight within 5 degrees, handle slack smoothly, maintain smooth coordinated control, and define the towplane wake clearly around the pattern corners.

Sep 25, 2026

Uploaded by Riley West