When I was a student pilot, heading into my first checkride, and every checkride after that, my instructor was always by my side, in the room with me, providing the support I needed, heading into one of the biggest days of my life, my first checkride.
To any pilot, a checkride is the most nerve racking event you can possibly imagine. Could you ever imagine walking into your first day of school, and not having your Mom and/or Dad by your side to give you the moral support you needed on that big day. Well, you may not remember that day in your life, but trust me, it made all the difference in the world.
I know sometimes we may say, if the instructor is present, and there are paperwork issues with IACRA, or an endorsement that needs to be fixed, it’s easily taken care of, and we keep moving along with no added stress. But it’s more than that. You have trained your student from day one, providing them with all you have to offer. You spent all your time and energy to make them the best pilot, at whatever level you are training them for, and even sharper and more knowledgeable then you were when you were training.
How do you think your student felt the first time you got out of the airplane for their first solo flight? Nervous, afraid, overwhelmed, uncertain if they will remember everything you taught them. Well, that is the feeling they have sitting in that small room waiting for the Examiner to show up.
Be there, support them on their big day. It will make all the difference in the world. It did for me.
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