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Your stage check is an exam comprised of a ground and flight portion. This stage examiner is one of our SUU "check instructors" who will assess your knowledge and piloting skill during a 4 hour examination. This is to ensure that you can perform safely without your instructor present and will make good decisions while on your solo flight.
(Oftentimes this exam is split into two days with your 2 hour ground portion first and your 2 hour flight portion the next day.)
Fixed Wing Stage Check
Fixed Wing Stage Check
Ground Portion
Ground Portion
The ground portion of the examination will be a 2 hour oral exam. You are able to reference any FAA document including, but not limited to the FAR/AIM, PHAK. faa.gov, and the POH during your exam. However, showing a heavy reliance on these materials will result in failure of the exam.
How To Be Successful: Reference the flight syllabus for private stage check 1 and 2 for details on what you will be tested on. C.O. Pilots are available to act like an examiner for a "mock stage check" if you reach out at least a few days before your stage. It is recommended that you meet with your C.O. Pilot in the first half of the semester, so you know what to study.
Flight Portion
Flight Portion
The ground and flight portion will likely be conducted on the same day with the ground first followed by the flight for a total of a 4 hour exam. It is possible that the test will be split into two consecutive days if necessary for weather or scheduling.
Stage 1
Stage 1
This is a progress check and is a GROUND PORTION ONLY. This is to check and see where your knowledge is at and to introduce you to the flow of a stage checks.
During this stage you will cover:
Airworthiness Requirements
Performance and Limitations
Weight and Balance
Weather
Airspace
Solo Pilot Privileges and Limitations
Stage 2
Stage 2
This your first full stage check! This is a check to make sure that if they send you on your first solo flight you will make safe choices. It is also a progress check to see how your maneuvers are coming along.
During this stage you will cover:
Normal and Crosswind Take-Off and Climb
Steep Turns
Maneuvering During Slow Flight
Power Off Stall
Power On Stall
Spin Awareness
Radio Communications and ATC Light Signals
Rectangular Course
S-Turns
Turns Around a Point
Normal and Crosswind Landing
Emergency Procedures
Emergency Approach and Landing
Go Around/Rejected Landing
Forward Slip to Land
Rotor Wing Stage Check
Rotor Wing Stage Check
Ground Portion
Ground Portion
The ground portion of the examination will be a 2 hour oral exam. You are able to reference any FAA document including, but not limited to the FAR/AIM, PHAK. faa.gov, and the POH during your exam. However, showing a heavy reliance on these materials will result in failure of the exam.
How To Be Successful: Reference the flight syllabus for private stage check 1 and 2 for details on what you will be tested on. C.O. Pilots are available to act like an examiner for a "mock stage check" if you reach out at least a few days before your stage. It is recommended that you meet with your C.O. Pilot in the first half of the semester, so you know what to study.
Flight Portion
Flight Portion
Stage 1
Stage 1
During this stage you will cover:
Preflight Preparation and Procedures
Preflight Inspection
Engine Starting and Rotor Engagement
Cockpit Management
Before Take-off Checks
Airport and Helicopter Operations
Traffic Patterns
Runway Incursion Avoidance
Airport and Heliport Marking and Lighting
Radio Communications
Hovering Maneuvers
Vertical Take-offs and Landings
Hovering Turns
Hover Taxi
Forward, Rearward, and Sideward Hovering
Vortex Ring State Recovery
Take-off and Landing
Normal and Crosswind Take-off, Climb out, and Approach
Go-Around
Emergency Procedures
Low Rotor RPM Recovery
Settling with Power
Rapid Deceleration
Straight-In Auto Rotation with Power Recovery
Auto rotation with Turn
Hovering Auto rotations
Engine Failure
Recognition and Recovery
Dynamic Rollover
Low G Condition
Ground Resonance
Systems and Equipment Malfunctions
Post Flight Procedures
After Landing and Securing
Pinning Ceremony
Pinning Ceremony
Once you have completed your lab and gone on your first ever solo flight, you will be awarded at our Biannual Pinning Ceremony! This is a celebration of the hard work and effort that you put in to get to this point.
Contact your C.O. Pilot and watch your email for updates on when this ceremony will take place.
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