The Flying Inkpot’s Pilot Checkride Prep: Commercial and Private Pilot Series Episode 1. “Flying Smarter: Essentials Every Pilot Must Know”

“Welcome aboard, fellow flyers — you’re cruising with The Flying Inkpot, where the skies are clear, the pens are full, and the lessons never stop flowing. Today, we launch the first in a series designed to sharpen your mind for your checkride — whether you’re polishing up for Private or Commercial. Buckle in. Twenty minutes of crisp, smart flying talk — no passengers, just pilots. Let’s dive in.”

Documents and Legal Requirements

“Alright, first stop: Pilot Documents. You’d be amazed how many pilots show up to a checkride… with the right answers but the wrong paperwork. Instant bust. Not today, my friends.

For a Private or Commercial pilot, you must have three things on your person anytime you’re acting as Pilot in Command:

• Your pilot certificate

• A government-issued photo ID

• And a valid medical certificate.

That’s the holy trinity, right there. Forget one, and you’re not flying legally.

Now, quick sidebar:

• If you’re a Private Pilot and under 40, your Third-Class Medical lasts 60 months.

• Over 40? Only 24 months.

• Commercial Pilots typically need a Second-Class Medical for exercising commercial privileges — valid for 12 months.

  
  

  After that, it reverts to Third-Class privileges if you don’t renew.

Stay sharp on that — examiners love to quiz you on medical expiration dates based on date of examination versus today’s date. It’s sneaky — and it trips people up.”

Logging Flight Time — What Counts

“Next up: Logging flight time. When you crack open that logbook — real or digital — what can you log?

Simple rule:

• Log what you ACTUALLY DO,

• Log what you’re REQUIRED to do,

• Log what you WANT TO PROVE later.

If you’re the sole manipulator of the controls of an aircraft you’re rated for — guess what? You’re logging Pilot in Command (PIC) time.

Training toward a rating? You log dual received.

Acting as a safety pilot under simulated instrument? You both get to log it — but under different sections. Know your roles.

“And remember — your logbook isn’t just a diary. It’s legal evidence. Treat it with the respect you treat a fuel gauge before crossing Lake Michigan at night.”

Flight Reviews and Currency

“Alright, moving along. Every pilot needs to stay current. Otherwise, you’re a museum exhibit, not a pilot.

• Flight Review: Every 24 calendar months, you need a review — minimum 1 hour of flight, 1 hour of ground, with an instructor.

• If you don’t have a valid flight review — you can’t act as PIC. Period.

Currency for carrying passengers?

• Three takeoffs and landings within the past 90 days.

• At night? Three full stop landings at night in the past 90 days.

Easy to forget… until you’re standing next to your examiner sweating bullets.”

VFR Equipment Requirements: Day and Night

“Equipment time, folks. Quick checklist. What do you need in the plane for VFR flight during the day?

Here’s your acronym: ATOMATOFLAMES.

• Altimeter

• Tachometer

• Oil Pressure Gauge

• Manifold Pressure Gauge (if applicable)

• Airspeed Indicator

• Temperature Gauge (for liquid-cooled engines)

• Oil Temperature Gauge (for air-cooled engines)

• Fuel Gauges

• Landing Gear Indicator (if retractable)

• Anti-Collision Lights

• Magnetic Compass

• ELT (Emergency Locator Transmitter)

• Seatbelts

And at night? You bolt on FLAPS:

• Fuses or circuit breakers

• Landing light (if for hire)

• Anti-collision lights

• Position lights (the red, green, white nav lights)

• Source of electrical power (battery/alternator)

I once had a young hotshot forget the Landing Light requirement at night. Cost him the checkride… and a fair bit of pride.”

Aircraft Inspections — Annuals and 100-Hour

“Next point: Your airplane needs love too.

• Annual inspection: Required every 12 calendar months. No exceptions.

• 100-hour inspection: If you’re carrying passengers for hire or instructing in the aircraft for hire, you need it every 100 hours of tach time.

• The 100-hour can be overflown by up to 10 hours only to reach a place where the inspection will be done — but those 10 hours count toward the next interval.

And for the love of lift — don’t confuse the two on your oral exam. The Annual is a bigger deal — has to be signed off by an IA (Inspection Authorization) mechanic. 100-hour just needs an A&P.”

“Whew. We hit a lot of checkpoints today, didn’t we?

• Pilot documents

• Medical expiration

• Logging

• Currency

• Equipment

• Inspections

And we’re just getting warmed up. In the next episode, we’ll shift gears into aerodynamics, airspace, and weather minimums — because if you don’t understand what’s going on around your wings, you don’t deserve to be under them.

Until next time — keep your head on a swivel, your inkpot full, and your mind sharper than a propeller blade. This is The Flying Inkpot — signing off.”