My Number 1 Checkride Tip - Cross Country Diversions

[@Nahiyanize]

This helped me so much for my commercial check ride. My diversions were terrible prior to watching this video. The examiner was impressed by this method, he asked me to divert and 2 minutes later called it off saying “you obviously know what you are doing here” and moved onto airwork.

[@MauriR6]

Passed my PPL Checkride yesterday. Couldn't have done it without all your amazing videos. I've seen them all. Thanks so much Jason!

[@MzeroAFlightTraining]

Congrats!!! Glad we could help! Thanks for watching!

[@jaydee17]

I'm just starting my cross country navs in Australia - and learning quickly how busy the cockpit has suddenly become; my instructor showed me diversion techniques in the air but not as methodical as this and without the added ground prep of the windcard. Quick and simple backup. Many thanks

[@ersatzS2]

The wind card is a great idea. As Jason mentions, the heading you are looking for is only approximate, so there are two other ways to make a quick assessment: 1) see if any Victor airways on the sectional are roughly parallel to your route. 2) locate a nearby VOR rose, and using your pencil as a straightedge, connect start/finish of your diversion course w/pencil, slide it in parallel to the center of the VOR, and just read the heading off the VOR rose. Both headings are already corrected for your magnetic variation, so then all you have to correct for is wind. (So I agree with other comment that WCA wind correction angle is helpful along with groundspeed)

[@jonski19887]

An important caveat, the heading indicator is aligned with the magnetic compass and therefore references magnetic north. The map is referenced to true north (lines of longitude). I was asked to divert to an obscure private airstrip 25miles away, it's therefore a bit more critical to be more precise with headings. Drawing a thick line on your map is the best thing you can do. Split your attention both in and out the cockpit and simply slide a straight edge parallel across the map until you reach a VOR compass rose. This will give you the correct heading within 5deg.

[@92348fyi]

Awesome videos! I haven’t been flying for over 1 year and I stopped flying just when I was ready for my check ride, your videos are helping brush up to get back into it. Thanks so much!

[@ricardoq.3801]

I fly in europe and i´m currently working on my PPL and with this video i just gained few tipps that i can prepare for my flight next time very handy. Appreciate it bro. Keep up the hard work thumb up 101%

[@Parrott65]

Hey Jason! Keep in mind that it really depends on the Examiner regarding the GPS situation. Mine actually let me use mine and said that GPS is becoming the norm in flying and there is no reason to make people go back to using compasses and rulers if you have functioning equipment. It's just like using a glass cockpit. I mean, if it goes out on you, you're screwed anyhow. It's the same with a GPS.

[@mattg1847]

checkride coming up on tuesday, this was a great reminder thank you. I also translate the scale for sectional nm onto my wind card, helps! thank you sir

[@alexramirez2739]

Thank you MZeroA Mr. Jason! My checkride is within the week, I'm definitely using your tips and advice, best CFI on the planet.

[@sethregan8734]

Jason, you’re a genius! This is an amazing tip!

[@davidrivera7069]

First time I’ve seen this wind card. Amazing idea! Thanks you for your useful videos. You have been helping on my PPL training.

[@taridean]

Jason, Braaaaavo once again! The Wind Card is an excellent idea. I shall be adopting that on my future flights. Thank you very very much for including this in the video. I have my PPL already but, this is something that can help with managing my flights. Stay blessed & thanks again.

[@gab1961]

Thanks again, Jason. The wind card is a great idea which if I may, will forward to my PPL students. Appreciate the content so much and "Go Avidyne!!!"

[@peregrinussolutionsllc6010]

Love the wind card for my check ride and all future cross country flights :-D Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience with us!!!

[@MzeroAFlightTraining]

Glad it was helpful!

[@MrJohnBatty]

Ha my DPE felt that the standard diversion was too simple. After steep turns and then unusual attitudes under the hood I was given a diversion to an unknown airport. I was not allowed to depart on an estimating heading until all calculations were complete. I had to circle hands free (to use charts and plotter) maintaining altitude within PTS limits, triangulate on two separate VORS to identify my position accurately (after disorienting maneuvers). Whew! My CFI said he had never seen this before in his 25 years of instruction. He now incorporates in his training.

[@rn2811]

It seems like that is a lost skill now these days.

[@matthewrammig]

@@rn2811nice pun!

[@ooSilverSurferoo]

Man! I got to say again, you've really got a great channel with valuable info. Don't let some of these strange comments bother you. KZbinrs can be bizarre sometimes. Keep up the killer work.

[@StuntmanJake]

This was an amazing tip for diversions and I had never heard this before seeing this video. Big help.

[@BonanzaPilot]

For your first tip, another quick way to figure out direction is to look at the airway. my initial reaction to divert to leesburg was to fly inbetween the 154 and 129 airways I'd turn to heading 135 and start looking for Lady Lake in the middle of that populated area.

[@zimmerman630]

Checkride in 2 days. Thx in advance jason

[@GlobalAviator09]

Thanks for sharing that wind card trick , I'm definitely using it on my X country flights!

[@MrPouHan]

Very cool. Am working on my CPL flight test. Thanks for the tip. Btw, I like "Circle, Circle, Line... Heading, Distance, Time.... Fuel, MEF, Half-point". And then 5 T's (Time, Turn, Twist, Throttle, Talk). I highlight NESW on the compass roses on my VNC beforehand. I also find an erasable highlighter works a lot better than pencil for drawing your circles and lines. Good luck and blue skies everyone.

[@andresgarcia438]

This is lifesaving! Thank you!!

[@SRvideography]

Thanks Jason for the great tips. I'm already registered for your webinar and hoping to get all my requirements and be ready for my checkride in about a month. I think I will find it really useful now that I know each of my fingers is 5 nm wide.

[@The_GreenMachine]

i love that wind diagram idea, if i dont remember this, i will be very angry. your videos are great! very very helpful

[@NickScottProducer]

9 years later and this videos is amazing - a guy taking his chrckride in 2 days

[@captainchris93]

I like the wind card idea, but my cherokee had DME so my check airmen let me use the GS reading on the DME, but made me calculate the distance with my plotter which is fine. just a heads up.

[@vbertrand]

Good pilots are always learning. That's soooo true. I'm no rookie, and that's the 1st time I hear of that wind card. It's a great idea and I will start using it. Thanks.

[@johnlillyblad5188]

A Navy flight plan has all of this filled out for each leg.

[@maenischmed6811]

Great tips Thank you

[@Rlkent62]

Great Video. Thanks so much.

[@nicolaspazmino7067]

I did this best guess heading in my pre end of course in the diversion part because that's how my instructor showed me diversion, the instructor I did pre end of course with failed me because he wanted me to start circling where I was while I got my plotter and get the perfect heading.

[@hanamalyn5954]

I greatly appreciate MZeroA content! It has helped me with understanding training tremendously! THANK YOU SO MUCH JASON

[@lytening79]

Why do you not pick the midpoint (eg 45, 135, 225, 315 degrees) between each 90 degrees?

[@call911forcookies2]

that wind thing is such a smart idea!!

[@abbieamavi]

*very helpful video!! I think i makes total sense to do things the old fashioned way because you honestly never know! I'm getting ready for my checkride July 20th* :)

[@julesteles1]

Is this still true? The diversion has to be done manually not using anything?

[@nonhlanhlamthembu1142]

Well explained 👏👏👏

[@bed199150]

Hey is there a link for you 15 questions? I am one month away from my check ride an am nervous an would love to get as much insight to be prepared as possible. Thanks in advance. Also ive loved your videos so informative ive used your videos to pass my practical exam.

[@mikemurphy4814]

Great Vid again Jason. Please keep up the videos!

[@alaskancabin7506]

I drew the sectional chart scale on the side of the wind card

[@MzeroAFlightTraining]

Good idea!

[@smith0426]

very efficient technique! I'm stealing it

[@goofeybutreal4398]

Wind card! Awesome.

[@gerryortiz7276]

In the real world you will rely on your GPS like Jason stated. However, student needs to develop and show fundamental piloting skills. I believe the wind card to be a great tool and does show preparation but it’s not realistic to have a wind card made before every XC flight and it’s gonna be another piece of paper to manage w your 37 others on your lap. Examiner may want to see real time calculations being made all the way thru. The spirit of a diversion in the private pilot course is to be able to handle and utilize an e6b and plotter in the cockpit. Just have it in your side pocket ready to go and sectional folded open on your lap for your specific leg. Pro tip: Instead of a wind card just look up your winds aloft for your cruise altitude on the ground and go ahead and mark the wind dot on the E6B so that’s one less thing to do in the air.

[@olivierXV]

Hi, my question is if the rule of +30/x2 is accurate and the only best way to estimate your wind at altitude?

[@hikaruultma]

Do they still do this for private check rides?

[@maritestaylor8458]

Awesome 😎😎😎😎

[@aadsgames4964]

Is this for private or commercial?

[@gideonhall9]

do they give you a set amount of fuel to take up? or do you plan all that?

[@ccubsfan94]

Gideon_Hall you plan it in your flight plan. Although for the checkride you can take less, the whole flight shouldn't take more than a hour and a half.

[@heavybubble41]

Great tip! I'll try this on my checkride!

[@fsbell1]

Jason, have you, or anyone else made a sticky pad of the wind/gs chart? Also, are you still doing the check ride webinars for $10 ?

[@ComesTheRooster]

I think Vistaprint offers custom sticky pads for a few bucks. Good idea!

[@fsbell1]

My comment was from 2 years ago...I had Vista make them and have been using them ever since!

[@flyboi1320]

@@fsbell1 how much did it cost

[@ivannova8504]

Hello, Any tips to find the wind direction during flight? Thanks

[@gideonhall9]

the wind chart, is that set for a certain amount of rpms, because of obviously its not always going to be those figures, cheers.

[@mrskyrim1212]

Could you use a VOR potentially as well to divert?

[@karlsandin4515]

Tyler Sperry yes

[@bigboy359]

This thing saved my life​

[@terryscott5568]

thanks! thankfully the internet doesn't forget!

[@MerryfaceAviation]

greetings from Europe. This wind card business sounds very useful. I've searched the web and come up with nothing. Could anyone point me in the right direction please? cheers!

[@strider00111]

Do you add wind correction to the card ? What about variation ?

[@ViewbyvideoTv]

Ha - I flew into Marion County the other day from KISM!

[@charlesballard4485]

How to you find the ground speed in knots to fill in the wind card?

[@donnyguns1]

Great tip

[@737NGFO]

Are you still doing webinars?

[@Bdubs429]

yeah but how do you know what your TAS is going to be at that time.

[@AlexTheG9009]

Can I use VORs?

[@jan.bredeskulstad4414]

hello jason. good flying stuff.

[@scottamolinari]

Too bad the checkridesecrets site is no longer available.

[@something7239]

In Canada we don't get to use our E6B during diversions... Guess they're worried about it failing somehow.

[@cookiemonster0626]

Yeah I wondered that too, not even a pre notched pencil with distances, like that could fail too

[@something7239]

It's a wonder they even let us use our charts haha.

[@cookiemonster0626]

@@something7239 haha! Divert using instincts only... GO!

[@stevejarvis1366]

Awesome

[@thisisbob1048]

Aren't winds a lot in true headings?

[@MerryfaceAviation]

"Everything the Met man tells you is true."

[@joytemo4133]

How do we calculate wind card.

[@johnlillyblad5188]

Using a flight computer and forecast winds aloft at your given altitude.

[@pilotz7975]

When flight planning use the flight computer to calculate the winds aloft on those headings and find out the groundspeeds

[@Chorizo727]

good stuff!

[@alexandranickerson805]

so good!! (:

[@charlieinthebushes6207]

i didnt know about the diversion till today....

[@isaaccool3183]

Greetings from Canada. Here you are also not allowed to use an E6B. Now that's just salt in the wound

[@WinginWolf]

What if you don’t have enough fuel ;) ?

[@MzeroAFlightTraining]

If you don't have enough fuel to make a diversion to a particular airport it might make sense to find an airport closer by that could be an option!

[@IamJasonHall]

This video is no longer accurate as to "not allowed to use iPad", The ACS allows either paper or electronic charts. See ipadpilotnews.com/2018/06/ask-a-dpe-is-it-ok-to-use-an-ipad-on-the-checkride/ for a short discussion on the topic.

[@theboringchannel1776]

I dreamt I failed my checkride.

[@liliiavoevodina6245]

what happened to drift? if student flies his guesstimated course with no drift correction, he might end up in Inverness :D

[@HiTechRob]

www.checkridesecrets.com no longer works - FYI.

[@hawker800FO]

i can do it with a sectional chart and a bic pencil nothing more

[@OculusQuestFun]

No iPad or Gps? Good. That's similar to doing math without a calculator. Besides there's not an app for passing your check ride anyway.

[@theknifekid]

The wind card seems like cheating haha

[@johnlillyblad5188]

It's just proper planning. Of course, you should know how to solve for the winds aloft on the fly as well.

[@beardedbarnstormer9577]

Um pretty sure they cant fail built in GPS. If you have a 430 you can use it

[@pacadet]

DPE can "fail" whatever equipment they want. As in "oh hey, GPS signal is degraded and your G1000 isn't working. And what a shame, your iPad can't get the signal either". A lot has changed in the 7 years since this video was made, especially since the ACS; most DPEs are better about allowing tech now. But some still do it, and applicants need to be prepared for it.

[@beardedbarnstormer9577]

@@pacadet they are not allow to fail a waas equipped aircraft. period.

[@pacadet]

Bearded Barnstormer Is there some AC or FAR that states this? I’ve been told by DPEs directly that they can disallow you using any equipment that they want. We’re not talking them physically disconnecting something. They will flat out tell you, in the scenario, that your GPS is “broke” and you can’t use it.

[@beardedbarnstormer9577]

@@pacadet ok lets take a step back and talk about WHAT checkride you are doing? PPL? yeah probably should know how to do it the other ways. hell they dont even need to "fail" it they can just request you do it a different way. IFR? well youre not doing diversions, but if you are and your IFR with WAAS they are not allowed to fail it otherwise the flight shouldnt have taken off in the first place. Commercial? again, id say they cant fail a WAAS, ill look up the AC for it. theres info out about the g100 and what you can and cant fail as well, alot of DPEs go about doing whatever the hell they want but doesnt make it right, they arent gods.

[@rn2811]

My DPE on my IFR checkride failed my lovely waas garmin 530 so yeah they can and no worries that’s probably not going to happen in real life so need to panic on losing that pretty magenta line but hey, that’s what the vor’s are for 😉.

[@paulgarcia1699]

who on earth would vote no on this?

[@user-re4hc7yf2m]

i feel like this is cheating. in a real flight you would never make one of these.

[@AlexanderBrown4068]

In a real world scenario, let's be honest - no-one uses sectionals or WACs anymore. We all use GPS and EFBs.

[@StacyMelliott]

Jason, you just taught students what to do on a Checkride, but not what do the rest of their career.... That is not a best practice as a CFI.