Recent checkride reviews

Alex has a very calming presence, was a pleasure to talk to, and was very clear with his expectations during both the ground and flight portions of the Checkride. Expect the ground portion of the practical test to last approximately 2 hours. What to Bring (Physical & Digital) I'd recommend bringing physical binder containing your government-issued photo ID, Student Pilot Certificate, FAA Medical certificate, written exam results, logbook tabbed by requirements, and ground lesson logs. You will also need the aircraft maintenance logs, weight and balance data, and FAR/AIM. For quick access, your iPad should be fully prepared with an updated ForeFlight library containing the POH, Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, Airplane Flying Handbook, Aeronautical Chart User’s Guide, Chart Supplement, local TAC charts, and the Aviation Weather Handbook. Oral Exam Focus Areas 1. Pilot Qualifications & Currency Be prepared to thoroughly explain how to remain legally current to fly, including the timelines for a flight review and specific passenger currency rules for day and night full-stop landings. You must understand aircraft-specific endorsement limitations, such as the requirements for flying a complex aircraft. Additionally, you should demonstrate safety and pilot-in-command responsibility regarding newly installed avionics, including how you would seek instruction or use software simulators before flying. 2. Aircraft Airworthiness & Inspections Memorize all required aircraft documentation using standard regulatory acronyms like ARROW, which covers certificates, registration limitations, and weight and balance data. Be ready to recall all mandatory aircraft inspection timelines, including annual, VOR, 100-hour, altimeter/static, transponder, and emergency locator transmitter (ELT) parameters. Understand how to classify Airworthiness Directives (ADs) into one-time, recurring, and emergency categories. For inoperative equipment, you must know how to apply regulatory flows to pull, collar, and placard switches, understand preventative maintenance limits, and identify fuel types by color and smell. 3. Weather & Cross-Country Planning Alex uses real-world scenario-based questions to evaluate your planning, such as calculating exact weight and balance numbers for legal minimums alongside your own personal safety buffers. Have your navlog and know how to calculate TAS, CAS, WCA, and magnetic variation You must know how to analyze various weather products using official sources like 1800wxbrief and Aviationweather.gov. Be ready to explain weather theory, including how low-pressure systems move and what isobar spacing indicates about wind velocity. Finally, ensure you can clearly distinguish between the operational hazards listed in different AIRMETs, SIGMETs, and Convective SIGMETs. 4. Airspace & Chart Knowledge Memorize airspace cloud clearance and visibility requirements. You are required to know the legal airspace speed limits inside Bravo, underlying Bravo, and within Delta airspace. You must also be able to decode standard chart symbology on a sectional or TAC, such as non-standard Echo floors, glider activity symbols, and information found in the airport diagrams. 5. Emergency Procedures & Systems You must explain the aerodynamics of a spin as an uncoordinated stall and recite the exact memory items for recovery. Be prepared to discuss system failures, such as an alternator malfunction indicated by a full ammeter deflection, and your subsequent electrical load-shedding steps. You will need to justify why diverting to a towered airport is preferred during a total radio failure and demonstrate a complete understanding of light gun signals. Lastly, expect to explain a system in depth and how to identify/remedy issues in-flight. The flight portion is everything listed in the ACS: Flight Plan (Pilotage and Dead Reckoning), VOR tracking, Steep Turn, Slow Flight, Power off Stall, Power on Stall turning, Instruments (Turns, ascents, descents, unusual attitudes), Diversion with GPS failure (time, distance, fuel), Takeoff and Landings (Normal, Short, Soft).

Started off with general paperwork and logbook review for the aircraft. No issues there, it took about 30 minutes. Then we went right into the ride, he asked me several questions related to seaplane flying, chart symbology, aircraft systems. Once we got through that, we walked out to the airplane and then I pre-flighted it while he was there. He didn't ask much during the preflight. We pulled the airplane out and then got mounted up. I made sure to offer a briefing on usage of the life vests. We got in and started up. Once we were airborne, it was a quick flight to the area he wanted to have me do my landings, which was on the north short of Lake Pend Oreille near Fisherman's Island. It was really windy out so we had to work to find the type of water to conduct the various takeoffs and landings, including Rough, Confined, Glassy. Let me tall you the rough was not an issue, it was bumpy as all get out. We then proceeded to taxi into the cay type area toward a mooring buoy. He wanted me to show him mooring, which I was able to do. I shut the aircraft down before getting to the mooring buoy and nailed it perfectly. Restarting was not an issue luckily and we then did a couple more takeoffs and landings before returning for a normal landing. All in all, SUPER awesome examiner, I would totally use him (I'm also an instructor).

Russ evaluates on safety, proficiency, ADM, and depth of knowledge on flight planning.

Although he may have an initially serious and/or rugged demeanor, John is more than fair. Knowing your stuff during the oral will have him rooting for you during the ride. John is very straight to the point during the oral and flight and quickly guides you through the checkride. Big emphasis on V-speeds, all performance charts and understanding Vmc.

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.

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.

Describes the CFI ride as a "how test" — can you teach a concept, not just recite it. Wants endorsements derived from 14 CFR Part 61, not read from the AC. Long, thorough oral (5+ hours). Flight to the Ramona practice area with emergency work over Lake Wolford.

Same teaching-first philosophy for the CFII. Expect to actually instruct him through instrument concepts and approaches. Very knowledgeable, patient, and consistent.

Starts from the aircraft logs — prove the airplane is IFR-legal and how you know. Detailed flight-planning discussion (file above the MEA, DP routing from MZB), lost-com specifics, chart symbology. Fair but exacting.