Recent checkride reviews

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.

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.

Relaxed environment and lets you teach. FOI was conversational (Maslow, laws of learning, transfer of learning). Runway-incursion avoidance as a full scenario-based lesson. He talks a lot — let him lead.

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.

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.

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