Russ DeFrancesco
Recent reviews
Write a reviewRuss evaluates on safety, proficiency, ADM, and depth of knowledge on flight planning.
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Friendly, non-adversarial oral. Heavy on weather products (TAF/METAR/winds aloft), pitot-static and gyro theory, lost-com at CRQ/MYF, holds and alternates. He prompts you rather than trapping you.
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Extremely fair and clearly wants you to succeed. Very big on scenario-based teaching — expect to be asked how you would tailor a lesson to different students. Knows systems cold and expects you to as well. Rescheduled me kindly when my lesson plans were not ready the first day.
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Checkrides conducted
31st-time pass rates
First-attempt only — rechecks excluded.
AI study guide
Russ DeFrancesco (DPE #330135, based Carlsbad, CA) is described as friendly and non-adversarial, with a teaching-oriented, scenario-based style for the Instrument-Airplane (IR-A) checkride. He leans heavily on systems depth (instrument theory) and realistic approach/lost-com scenarios rather than "gotcha" questioning. He is prompt-driven — expect him to feed you weather products, clearances, and in-flight scenarios (e.g., simulated failures, lost comm) and see how you reason through them rather than just quiz rote facts.
- Typical start: Not specified in available material
- Locations: Carlsbad, CA area (CRQ), MYF (Montgomery Field) used for approach scenarios
- Duration: Not specified in available material; expect a full oral covering weather/systems plus a flight with multiple approaches, holds, and lost-com scenario
- Fees: Not specified in available material
Prompt-driven oral: Russ presents weather products and asks you to interpret them, then moves into instrument systems theory, then scenario-based questions about approaches, holds, lost-com, and alternates. Friendly, conversational tone rather than adversarial cross-exam.
Fluent reading of TAFs, METARs, winds aloft, and correct identification/application of AIRMET and SIGMET types and radar summary charts, tied to a specific flight scenario.
- Given a TAF/METAR set, decide if a flight is legal/advisable and why
- Identify AIRMET vs SIGMET types and what hazards each represents
- Interpret a radar summary chart for a route
- Winds aloft interpretation for climb/cruise planning
Clear explanation of how the altimeter, VSI, and airspeed indicator work (pitot-static system), plus gyroscopic precession and the effects of static/pitot system failures or blockages.
- Explain the operating principle of altimeter/VSI/ASI
- Describe gyroscopic precession and how it affects attitude/heading instruments
- Walk through symptoms and effects of a blocked pitot tube or static port (with alternate static source considerations)
Ability to brief and fly an ILS, execute a circle-to-land, and correctly fly published missed approach procedures, discussing non-standard minimums and alternates as they apply.
- Full ILS approach with a normal or circling landing at CRQ or MYF
- Missed approach procedure execution and communication
- Discussion of non-standard alternate minimums and when an alternate is required
- Determining appropriate alternates based on forecast weather
Correct hold entries, timing, and EFC compliance, plus proper lost-com procedures (route, altitude, approach/clearance timing) applied in flight, not just recited.
- Given a hold clearance with EFC, execute entry and timing correctly
- Simulated lost-com scenario in flight requiring route/altitude/approach decision-making
- Questions on how EFC time interacts with lost-com procedures
- Departure and en route instrument work
- One or more approaches at CRQ and/or MYF, including at least one ILS
- Circle-to-land maneuver
- Missed approach procedure
- Simulated lost-communications scenario in flight
- Hold(s) with EFC compliance
- Weak raw weather product interpretation (TAF/METAR/winds aloft) without relying on decoded/software summaries
- Shaky explanation of instrument system theory, especially precession and pitot-static failure effects
- Imprecise circle-to-land maneuvering or missed approach execution at CRQ/MYF
- Fumbling lost-com procedure logic (route/altitude/EFC timing) under scenario pressure
- Incorrect or hesitant hold entries
- Practice reading raw weather products (no decoder apps) until fluent, including AIRMET/SIGMET types and radar summary charts
- Deeply review pitot-static system operation and failure modes, and gyroscopic precession, in plain conversational terms
- Chair-fly ILS, circle-to-land, and missed approach procedures specifically for CRQ and MYF
- Rehearse lost-com decision-making (route, altitude, EFC) so you can narrate it smoothly during a simulated scenario
- Treat the oral as a teaching conversation — think aloud and show reasoning, since the examiner rewards scenario-based problem solving over memorized answers
- Review alternate airport requirements and non-standard minimums before the test
Aggregated from 1 gouges (2026). Derived “what to expect,” not verbatim test items.
Checkride FAQ — Russ DeFrancesco
What is Russ DeFrancesco's first-time pass rate?
Based on 3 pilot reviews, Russ DeFrancesco's first-time checkride pass rate is 100%. First attempts only — rechecks are excluded.
How much does a checkride with Russ DeFrancesco cost?
The most recent examiner fee reported by applicants is $1,500. DPE fees vary by certificate and location, so confirm the fee when scheduling.
What checkrides does Russ DeFrancesco conduct?
Pilots have reviewed Russ DeFrancesco for PVT, IR, CFI checkrides.
Where is Russ DeFrancesco based?
Russ DeFrancesco is based in Carlsbad, CA and assigned to the San Diego FSDO.
Where can I find the gouge for a checkride with Russ DeFrancesco?
The reviews on this page are applicant-written checkride debriefs (gouge) for Russ DeFrancesco, covering the oral and the flight. The study guide aggregates approved gouges into what to expect on your ride.
Flew with Russ DeFrancesco? Add your gouge to improve the study guide.