92%

So, I passed. 92% is pretty darn-itchin' good compared to what I was expecting ('round 85). Fifty-five questions right out of sixty, and as you can see, five questions wrong means five knowledge codes I need to study in preparation for my oral:

• G13 Reporting of Aircraft Accidents, Incidents, and Overdue Aircraft


• H989 Radio Navigation


• I27 Air Masses and Fronts


• J10 Other Airspace Areas


• J37 Sectional Chart

So, I'll e-mail Stephen and schedule sometime for him to give me schooling and sign off that I have received followup training.

The test was conducted at California Airways in Hayward Airport (no, I didn't fly there). Other club members talk a lot about California Airways -- after all, with the AAC reducing its four-plane fleet to three or even two, there's worry that people won't be able to get a plane when they need one. So people talk about joining California Airways to increase their options. Walking into their club building, I got a taste of the atmosphere of this club. Right at the door was the front desk, where a receptionist could sell you charts or aviation equipment, and nearby were couches and computers. This receptionist business made the club feel much less a club and more a corporation -- less a group of like-minded pilots and the planes they share, and more a company that offers you a service. Of course, I only spent an hour or so in the building, but that's my first impression.

They were having some kind of a BBQ, with hamburgers and hot dogs lined up, but even with that, compared to the AAC, this place felt like a business. The AAC is a much homelier and uglier place, but I had gotten used to its relaxed atmosphere so much that everything else seems stodgy in comparison.

Three foreign pilots were attempting to check out a plane for a trip to Napa, arguing at each other in what sounded like Hindi. A stout, heavy bald man was chastising them for taking too long, yelling "Just get it done! Stop arguing and get a plane!" This man I would soon learn is my proctor. The proctor was a gruff fellow who was clearly more interested in finishing the day and going home than anything else. He gave me a quick and heartless tutorial on the program, stripped me of all my belongings except my E-6B and my calculator, and left me alone in the room with the testing computer.

I was glad I brought my own plotter, because the plotter that was provided for me was the "other" kind (the kind I don't know how to use), whereas I was very familiar with the operation of my own. However, I did use their E-6B over my own, because there's was metal and therefore less likely to warp and introduce numerical error.

The proctor had told me not to write on any chart, and gave me two overlays and some whiteboard markers to use. I quickly realized this would be a problem -- I had to hold the overlay perfectly still over the chart for my plotting to be accurate, and the whiteboard markers barely worked on the plastic sheet. Plus, I only had two, and no way to erase the ink, meaning I could really only use it for two maps. This was not going to work. Eventually I opted to just write very lightly on the chart, and erase it afterward. After about 20 minutes of this I realized that I was surrounded my security cameras, so I humbly and surreptitiously finished the rest of the plotting with the damned overlays.

I worked through each question carefully and diligently, and with plenty of time to spare (no one runs out of time), I clicked the Finish button. Instantly my scores appeared -- 55 out of 60, 92%. Much better than I had expected. I was presented with a quick survey about which the proctor had warned, "don't fill that out unless you want junk mail." I saw no option to skip the survey, short of the close button for the whole program's window. Fearing that would shut down the entire program and erase my test scores, I opted to just take the survey and live with the ensuing junk mail.

My scores were printed, stamped, embossed, and returned to me. I received them with pride. All that's left now is my second phase check, some study time with Stephen, a last solo or two, and my checkride.