Matthew
Touchdown! Greaser!
As far as DPE schedules: is there a high season? Off season?
It's a challenging problem - there aren't enough ASIs to supervise an increased roster of designees.
The DPEs I work with charge the same rate for every "half-day" checkride: Private, Instrument, Commercial, CFII, Multi, MEIso about $500 to $900 for a PPL initial ride
sidebar question - what's the going rate for PPL add ons or other rides
seaplane add on?add on for something like a gyroplane rotorcraft?Instrument rating?multi add on?or upgrade to commercial?etc...
When did that change? I did my private oral when we absolutely knew we wouldn't be going that day.A parallel issue I've discussed with DPEs is that they can't use "bad weather" days to do the oral portion of a checkride. There's no starting the checkride unless the weather forecast is good enough to allow it to be completed. We've squinted real hard at weather forecasts to support a go decision, but several days of IFR/LIFR, and even some MVFR, forces a reschedule to later in an already-packed calendar.
I'd really like to use the existing Discontinuance process to allow the ground portion of checkrides when the weather is poor, and use the good days for the flying portion. We would get an increase in test capacity from a simple tweak to the policy. I understand the concerns to changing the current approach, but the DPEs that I have a good working relationship with aren't the type to abuse this level of flexibility. (I feel the same can be said about many of the other DPEs that I've met in the past, too.)
Some time ago. Our DPE is under the same protocol. Back when I did my Private, they could complete the oral if the flight portion wasn’t doable, now if it’s not reasonably assured that both can be completed, the check ride can’t be started. Kind of dumb I agree.When did that change? I did my private oral when we absolutely knew we wouldn't be going that day.
Similar here...We presumed that the practical portion was a no go prior to starting the oral exam. By the end of the exam an unexpected weather window opened up and off we went.When did that change? I did my private oral when we absolutely knew we wouldn't be going that day.
The intent of the designee must be to complete the entire practical test in one day. Designees must not schedule the test to be planned as a multiple-day event.
Some time ago. Our DPE is under the same protocol. Back when I did my Private, they could complete the oral if the flight portion wasn’t doable, now if it’s not reasonably assured that both can be completed, the check ride can’t be started. Kind of dumb I agree.
It's been the rule as long as I've known; Order 8900.2C, Chapter 7, Section 2, Subsection 15, Paragraph (a):
The intent of the designee must be to complete the entire practical test in one day. Designees must not schedule the test to be planned as a multiple-day event.
Huh.A parallel issue I've discussed with DPEs is that they can't use "bad weather" days to do the oral portion of a checkride. There's no starting the checkride unless the weather forecast is good enough to allow it to be completed.