Last week

So it's over. The language stay ended last week and I'm finally back in Switzerland. The daily life already took place again and it seems as nothing changed in the last few weeks. But we still need a résumé for the last week in San Diego. It was the most exciting and the most demanding one. However, it was also the best week in this time period. I feared to miss the opportunity of having a check-ride, which would give me the federal license I was seeking for. Nevertheless I got lucky and managed to obtain a final exam with a federal examiner. Last Saturday, just 12 hours before my flight back to Switzerland, I had the pleasure to attend a 6 hours exam.
When we came back from our flight, the guy told me that I passed the test and that I'm now officially a Pilot. I was sooo glad that the whole language stay succeed with just one signature on a paper, which says that I am a Pilot now.

My Pilot certificate

2nd last week in SD

The last week of my language stay has begun and my student pilot career entered its final stage. The time here in San Diego went by quite quickly although it hasn't been an easy project, I managed to keep focused.
In this last week I had to study for several final tests. First of all I had to take my Knowledge test, which is mandatory to continue with the other tests. I wasn't really prepared for the test and did not even look at all given questions in the preparation tool, nevertheless they told me to take the test as soon as possible due to the upcoming Prog 3. Luckily I passed the knowledge test with an unexpected high score.
As mentioned before there were several other test to be done at this time. The next one was Prog 3 which included the most difficult tasks and procedures yet. However I also passed and succeeded there and I was now able to go on with the preparation for my Final Progcheck. The purpose of Prog 4 is to simulate a Checkride (the Final Test), in which every single task and all skills gained in the last weeks of my education are tested again. We first went for the Ground portion (theoretical part), which  took 3 hours in itself. At the next day we did the Flight portion and performed the respective tasks....

....and i succeeded. I'm now ready for my final Checkride to become a FAA certified Pilot.

 A picture of la Jolla Beach taken on the huge cliff, which lays behind

The transition from day to night at Gillespie Field. Just before my Night Cross-Country flight...

Gillespie at Sunset

View over Mission Bay from Mount Soledad Veterans Memorial

Another Solo Cross-Country flight