Examination Aviation

I woke up this morning with the intentions of passing my FAA Private Pilot written exam. I've been studying for it since I started flying again. I believe it was sometime back in April of 2006 that I purchased a "Ground School" program that teaches you all you'll need to know to pass the FAA Exam. I remember hauling my old crap box laptop to Indianapolis and studying lab after lab. There are 60 out of 785 possible questions and I made sure I answered almost every single one of them more than once. Over the past week, I've been taking practice tests that come with this home study program. In this past week, I've been consistently scoring 80%.

Last Friday, I decided to cram as much as I could this weekend and this morning as I intended to pass the test this afternoon. When the alarm went off this morning, I woke up, grabbed some food and took a final practice test. Again, I nailed 80%. Considering what a horrible scholastic student I am, 80% is an achievement. (For the record, 70% is passing) Upon completion of my practice test, I got my stuff together and went to the flight school. Once I arrived, I paid for the exam, entered the exam room, got a briefing as to how the Computer Aided Test System worked and then was left alone to chip away at another step towards my dream. It took me 1 hour and 10 minutes to complete the exam and this was not a simple quiz. You are allowed 150 minutes to complete it and I was even concerned that I went to fast and maybe I was too hasty with my answers.

I nervously clicked the mouse to check my results. The computer screen put up it's "thinking symbol" and then the results flashed onto the screen in a new window. "Congratulations" I was so happy to see that word! There is a video camera in the room and a see through glass door to it...my "Happy Dance" was witnessed by the receptionist, and I didn't care how stupid I must have looked. Once I got past my short and lame ass happy dance, I read what was in that congratulatory window. Not only did I pass, but I really surprised myself with the score that I got. 92 Percent! This is one VERY HAPPY future pilot.

Next comes some night flying, a long 3 landing Cross Country and a review flight or two with my instructor. After that, I take the practical exam to finally see a life long dream come true. But first...I'm going to drink a beer and enjoy the moment.