DPEs in Los Angeles area for PPL checkride

[FlyingMonkey]

Looking for recommendations for a DPE with a fairly flexible schedule in the Los Angeles area. I'd be most appreciative if anyone can PM me some contact info for good DPEs as I am scheduling my PPL check ride.

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[schmookeeg]

Out of which airport? I know them all in the IE area, and only one to avoid in the LAX area

 

[stratobee]

I like Pat Carey. He's demanding, but very fair (and I say this as someone who he's failed!). A gentleman. And his orals are like a conversation, with war stories and real world examples thrown in that make you apply your knowledge. You learn more during one of his orals than in all groundschool combined. Plus he helped design the LA airspace, so there is nothing he doesn't know.

You can reach him at his flight school, Beach Cities Aviation at KHHR. He's an in demand DPE, so not sure how flexible his schedule is.

 

[schmookeeg]

I like Pat Carey. He's demanding, but very fair (and I say this as someone who he's failed!). A gentleman. And his orals are like a conversation, with war stories and real world examples thrown in that make you apply your knowledge. You learn more during one of his orals than in all groundschool combined. Plus he helped design the LA airspace, so there is nothing he doesn't know.

You can reach him at his flight school, Beach Cities Aviation at KHHR. He's an in demand DPE, so not sure how flexible his schedule is.

Hey, look, we know the same DPE in the LAX Area

The one student I ran through him would take a violent disagreement with his checkride style, but there was a personality mismatch from the get-go. Apparently sneakily pulling an engine as the applicant was approaching a stall demonstration was not well received by my student, even though we had practiced it -- the student thought it was "off limits and dangerous" and it threw off his game for the rest of the ride. It was an 8-hour day all-in for a Commercial ME add-on to single. 5 hours of oral.

He passed in the end. I learned a lot. The student has an enemy for life, and would probably kick Pat in the shin if he saw him in line at Starbucks. While I admire the trial-by-fire style, and I liked Pat as a person, it's hard to recommend him to others, since I don't want to get a referrer's share of any hatred after.

But, pass his ride and you're a good ME pilot, no question. If it's your twin, consider some sort of upholstery protection for the pilot seat, and expect tricks. You know, for that time in real life when you're at Vmc-10 and carrying power, decelerating, and you lose an engine...

 

[jordane93]

Does your CFI have a DPE that he uses?

 

[stratobee]

Hey, look, we know the same DPE in the LAX Area

The one student I ran through him would take a violent disagreement with his checkride style, but there was a personality mismatch from the get-go. Apparently sneakily pulling an engine as the applicant was approaching a stall demonstration was not well received by my student, even though we had practiced it -- the student thought it was "off limits and dangerous" and it threw off his game for the rest of the ride. It was an 8-hour day all-in for a Commercial ME add-on to single. 5 hours of oral.

He passed in the end. I learned a lot. The student has an enemy for life, and would probably kick Pat in the shin if he saw him in line at Starbucks. While I admire the trial-by-fire style, and I liked Pat as a person, it's hard to recommend him to others, since I don't want to get a referrer's share of any hatred after.

But, pass his ride and you're a good ME pilot, no question. If it's your twin, consider some sort of upholstery protection for the pilot seat, and expect tricks. You know, for that time in real life when you're at Vmc-10 and carrying power, decelerating, and you lose an engine...

Ha.

Well, yes, his orals are long, but they're 80% taken up by his stories and conversations. He's very good at getting the info he needs for the PTS out of you by you just having what feels like a casual chat. It relaxes the applicant. I've always found him very non-intimidating in the oral.

Haven't had him pull tricks on me in the air, or fuses or anything like that, but he can overload you to see how you work under pressure. You can count on the single engine approach happening when you're at your weakest. He will also ask questions in the air in a way so as to make you feel like you're making a mistake and questioning yourself. But I think all that is fair. I've written about my failed IFR checkride with him on here before and although it was totally deflating at the time, he did the right thing. I was not performing well.

After the fact, he's really good with encouraging you to get back into the saddle and getting it done as soon as possible. He wants you to pass and he went out of his way to get me rescheduled for another ride despite being fully booked.

 

[FlyingMonkey]

I'm flying out of Whiteman. CFI's recommendation so far hasn't meshed with my schedule. Just trying to see if I can get it done earlier with another DPE.