How to get the most out of a checkride bust
The first topic I’m covering is grim however I’m hoping each of you can take something away from it. Checkride disapproval, also known as a bust, is something that many aviators have experienced if they’ve taken enough exams. I’ll be writing about why they happen & what they mean and how to react to them. Most of all, what you can to get over and get the most out of a checkride bust.
Checkride disprovals happen for many reasons. To simplify it, they happen any time the examiner (DPE) finds that the applicant has exceeded one or more tolerances set forth by the ACS/PTS as applicable. All this means is that the DPE has found an opportunity for you to go back with your CFI and laser focus on that subject(s). This does NOT mean you are a bad student or a bad pilot.
The first step to recover from this, no matter the reason for the bust, is to OWN it. You must take responsibility in order to move on. When the DPE sees this it will make your retest go smoother. Pay close attention during post-flight debrief. The examiner is likely going to give valuable feedback and should set a clear idea of their expectations for the retest. Sending the DPE an email thanking them for their feedback will also go a long way for the retest, assuming you apply their feedback.
Mentally, a checkride bust can definitely take a toll. Not gonna lie, it straight up sucks to bust. As someone who has had 3 checkride disapprovals, my advice to get past it is to unequivocally own the result. It sounds kind of weird but in a way you should be proud of them and how they shaped your aviation career. My failures have made me a better CFI. I definitely was not a natural as a student and my experiences have helped me reach and teach students with varying levels of aptitude.
Career and interview wise - do not omit a bust from an application (it will come up eventually and as you can imagine, hiring managers will not appreciate omissions from your experience). Instead, discuss what happened as a learning experience and how it made you a better aviator. How did it change how you fly now? What specific actions did you take to make yourself better?
The checkride bust itself does not define who you are as an aviator. Your reaction and what you do in response to the bust are what will ultimately define the kind of pilot you are. This advice applies to any failure in life.
