Alaskan DPE pulled, 140 check rides up for a re-test

[ahw01]

Hope it works out for you. Nothing could be more different than SES skills and ILS skills.

Glassy water approach?

 

[ahw01]

Well, fingers crossed, because I’m certainly not too interested in finding a clapped out float plane to do an instrument check ride with a Fed just to be able to go to work flying a 737.

Technically, although it would be a dumb idea, when I passed my ASES with Don I am now authorized to teach instrument flying in a SE sea plane. I’m not interested in demonstrating that ability.

Same for multi. Such a fun ability. Sad that they're so scarce though.

 

[rframe]

Same for multi. Such a fun ability. Sad that they're so scarce though.

I’ve got a friend with a Beech 18 on floats at COE who is providing MES ratings. Hoping to do mine but might be another year due to other priorities.

 

[ahw01]

I’ve got a friend with a Beech 18 on floats at COE who is providing MES ratings. Hoping to do mine but might be another year due to other priorities.

That's way cool. I did mine on a Widgeon but you can use an Aircam.

 

[Fly_Unity]

Calling @Fly_Unity

It was maybe a year ago I wrote on here that the FAA is starting to clean house. Since then, three DPE's in my region got the axe for inappropriate conduct.

We also had one die in a plane crash, and two more surrender their authorizations which leaves me as only one of two DPE's in my state, and the only one that can do CFI rides (I only do it part time as I have a full time job).

My POI says they just are not getting quality applicants applying to become DPEs. Out of the 12 that applied last year in my region, 9 of them did not even meet the requirements. The ones that finally make it through the process, many of them determine that its just not the luxurious job they envisioned and let their currency lapse or never finish their training.

On my days off, I can go fly a shiny jet as a contract pilot at a daily rate of $1,500, or I can schedule a checkride for $700 with an unprepared applicant, in a beat up airplane that is barely airworthy, and their is a 39% chance it will get canceled due to weather, maintenance, sick, not ready, etc.
Personally I have a passion and satisfaction of helping new pilots, so I continue doing check rides, but you can see why their is a shortage of examiners.

Also note that flight schools are pumping out an unprecedent amount of students right now which causes the backlog. I think it will settle down in the next year or so.

 

[Inverted25]

It was maybe a year ago I wrote on here that the FAA is starting to clean house. Since then, three DPE's in my region got the axe for inappropriate conduct.

We also had one die in a plane crash, and two more surrender their authorizations which leaves me as only one of two DPE's in my state, and the only one that can do CFI rides (I only do it part time as I have a full time job).

My POI says they just are not getting quality applicants applying to become DPEs. Out of the 12 that applied last year in my region, 9 of them did not even meet the requirements. The ones that finally make it through the process, many of them determine that its just not the luxurious job they envisioned and let their currency lapse or never finish their training.

On my days off, I can go fly a shiny jet as a contract pilot at a daily rate of $1,500, or I can schedule a checkride for $700 with an unprepared applicant, in a beat up airplane that is barely airworthy, and their is a 39% chance it will get canceled due to weather, maintenance, sick, not ready, etc.
Personally I have a passion and satisfaction of helping new pilots, so I continue doing check rides, but you can see why their is a shortage of examiners.

Also note that flight schools are pumping out an unprecedent amount of students right now which causes the backlog. I think it will settle down in the next year or so.

Your area is different then where I live. Here it’s still impossible to get selected even when you meet the standards. I need to move where you are


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[CFI A&P]

It was maybe a year ago I wrote on here that the FAA is starting to clean house. Since then, three DPE's in my region got the axe for inappropriate conduct.

We also had one die in a plane crash, and two more surrender their authorizations which leaves me as only one of two DPE's in my state, and the only one that can do CFI rides (I only do it part time as I have a full time job).

My POI says they just are not getting quality applicants applying to become DPEs. Out of the 12 that applied last year in my region, 9 of them did not even meet the requirements. The ones that finally make it through the process, many of them determine that its just not the luxurious job they envisioned and let their currency lapse or never finish their training.

On my days off, I can go fly a shiny jet as a contract pilot at a daily rate of $1,500, or I can schedule a checkride for $700 with an unprepared applicant, in a beat up airplane that is barely airworthy, and their is a 39% chance it will get canceled due to weather, maintenance, sick, not ready, etc.
Personally I have a passion and satisfaction of helping new pilots, so I continue doing check rides, but you can see why their is a shortage of examiners.

Also note that flight schools are pumping out an unprecedent amount of students right now which causes the backlog. I think it will settle down in the next year or so.

Which state or FSDO covers your region?

 

[killbilly]

I've been laboring under the impression that DPEs weren't really constrained by any sorts of Geo-FSDO boundaries.

 

[drunkenbeagle]

My POI says they just are not getting quality applicants applying to become DPEs. Out of the 12 that applied last year in my region, 9 of them did not even meet the requirements. The ones that finally make it through the process, many of them determine that its just not the luxurious job they envisioned and let their currency lapse or never finish their training.

The 800.95B eligibility requirements make it less than attractive as well. For instance, in gliders, I would need 100 hours dual given in the last three years that led to a certificate or rating issuance. Glider training flights don't tend to be that long - typically 0.1 hours each. And it is pretty common to jump between instructors, so there is some non-trivial record keeping to keep up with. Or you could be a 121 check airman for the last 12 months. Which is great and all, but when exactly do you have time to be doing checkrides then?

Sure, it would be easier to meet qualifications in airplanes. But even then, 150 hours of ATP/Commercial dual given isn't that easy to come by with the types of students I work with.

 

[rframe]

I've been laboring under the impression that DPEs weren't really constrained by any sorts of Geo-FSDO boundaries.

There's one who lives (at least part time) in our area and provides check rides here but is authorized under a different FSDO, but I suspect he's "based" in their area. A local operator also have to fly a DPE in from out of state to perform MES check rides and I know their efforts to get another local DPE who has a ton of experience with seaplanes authorized has met heavy resistance and administrative burdens. Just the FAA being the FAA I guess...

 

[ahw01]

I've been laboring under the impression that DPEs weren't really constrained by any sorts of Geo-FSDO boundaries.

For their role yes, for initial appointment no.

 

[ahw01]

There's one who lives (at least part time) in our area and provides check rides here but is authorized under a different FSDO, but I suspect he's "based" in their area. A local operator also have to fly a DPE in from out of state to perform MES check rides and I know their efforts to get another local DPE who has a ton of experience with seaplanes authorized has met heavy resistance and administrative burdens. Just the FAA being the FAA I guess...

Surprised Burke Mees isn't a DPE tbf