Designated Examiner Fees

germb747

germb747

Well-Known Member
When did the DPE fees get to $400+? I seem to remember a checkride costing in the neighborhood of $150-$250 when I started learning to fly.

Looks like a great way to make lots of $$$. :D Give a couple checkrides a day at $400 a pop / $800 per day in addition to whatever 'real' job I have. Cha ching!

:bandit:
 
germb747 said:
When did the DPE fees get to $400+? I seem to remember a checkride costing in the neighborhood of $150-$250 when I started learning to fly.

Looks like a great way to make lots of $$$. :D Give a couple checkrides a day at $400 a pop / $800 per day in addition to whatever 'real' job I have. Cha ching!

:bandit:
Click to expand...
They hit that mark about two years ago.

We did the math in the office one time and guesstimated that one local DPE made about $110k per year. Thats a nice way to spend retirement.
 
I know a guy that charges 400+$50 if he has to drive to your airport...which is still the "local metro area".

It is a lot of money but I think it is worth it.
Most of the guys around here are still 250.
 
FYI, go to the FSDO for your checkride and it is free. I did three checkrides that route and from my experience they were no more difficult than a DPE.
 
Does anybody know for sure if some of these guys take the cash (its always cash) off
the side? I have suspected it, but neither know nor can prove it.

Maybe they charge 4 bills for a ride to the student and report 2 bills to the FAA?

Cordially,

b
 
subpilot said:
FYI, go to the FSDO for your checkride and it is free. I did three checkrides that route and from my experience they were no more difficult than a DPE.
Click to expand...

I got to take one free checkride with the feds. They seemed to only be willing to do CFI initials though.


beasly said:
Does anybody know for sure if some of these guys take the cash (its always cash) off
the side? I have suspected it, but neither know nor can prove it.

Maybe they charge 4 bills for a ride to the student and report 2 bills to the FAA?

Cordially,

b
Click to expand...

I'm not sure why the FAA would care how much a DPE charges. The IRS, on the other hand, would be another story.
 
I paid for my private ride with a check, and the examiner had me make it out to a liquor store.
 
N18040 said:
I paid for my private ride with a check, and the examiner had me make it out to a liquor store.
Click to expand...

:rotfl:

Actually, I've traditionally paid for my checkrides using checks as well. Only the last one ($400) was payable by cash only. I guess that's because it's so damn expensive that there's somewhat of an incentive to 'stop payment' if the result isn't favorable, hence many DPEs don't accept checks anymore (along with most other places these days).
 
While scheduling a student's Private practical the DPE emphasized to me that this was a "cash ride" not a "checkride".

All DPE's in Houston are active Airline Captains. Very lucrative side job if you can break into the DPE fraternity.
 
N18040 said:
I paid for my private ride with a check, and the examiner had me make it out to a liquor store.
Click to expand...

I paid for my Private with a check. I think it was $150

Of course that was in 1992

IFR was $400 in 2007 (strictly cash)

Comm was $400 (busted) $400 re-test with a new examiner (in 2009)

Multi add on was $400

CFI was free with the FSDO although I've heard some DPE's charge $600 for that
 
My DPE charges $250 no matter what. If you bust the ride the second time is free. I met him at the airport 4 times before I got my instrument ticket, I didn't bust it, the weather just wouldn't cooperate for us.

He is an ex U.S. Airways 767 capt and now flies a King Air 350/ DPE's.
 
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