CFI Checkride question

G

gulfstreampiper

Well-Known Member
I have been looking in the regulations but can't find it anywhere, but I keep being told that the CFI initial checkride has to be with an FAA Inspector and not just a DPE. Is this true?
 
It's not a regulation, but most, if not all, FSDO regions want to do the initial CFI checkride for an applicant if they are able. If they don't have the inspectors or time available to do it, then they allow the applicant to go to a DPE. Here in NW Ohio, I needed to call Cleveland FSDO when my CFI applicants were ready. Within a day or two they would call me back, and let me know who would be doing the ride. All of my students ended up getting sent to a DPE, but the FSDO still designated which one (there were only two DPEs in the area that did CFI, and they tried to divide the applicants evenly between the two examiners).
 
Not a regulation, but I highly recommend doing it with the FSDO if you can do it that way.

#1 reason is there is no charge. Your taxes have already paid your checkride fee.

The Air Safety Inspectors from the FSDO also tend to be the type to look for the purpose of the regulations & PTS when evaluating you and not simply the black & white.

They also enjoy the opportunity to get away from their desk and do some flying whenever they get the chance.

If I sound biased, I am. I took my initial CFI checkride with the FSDO yesterday (passed) and it was a fantastic experience. I'll do a write-up in a separate thread
 
Mike H said:
Not a regulation, but I highly recommend doing it with the FSDO if you can do it that way.

#1 reason is there is no charge. Your taxes have already paid your checkride fee.

The Air Safety Inspectors from the FSDO also tend to be the type to look for the purpose of the regulations & PTS when evaluating you and not simply the black & white.

They also enjoy the opportunity to get away from their desk and do some flying whenever they get the chance.

If I sound biased, I am. I took my initial CFI checkride with the FSDO yesterday (passed) and it was a fantastic experience. I'll do a write-up in a separate thread
Click to expand...


I couldn't agree with you more. I was dreading the whole FSDO experience, but my CFI initial was the least stressful checkride experience I've ever had. It was tough, thorough, but fair. The examiner I had was a true professional and a real interesting guy.

The CFI checkride isn't as hard as you might think. The horror stories you hear tend to come from know-it-all's who tried to push some BS answer across the table instead of saying "I don't know" after being asked something. If you don't know the answer to a question, that's fine - just know where the answer is. If you BS an answer to the examiner, what would stop you from BSing one of your students?

As for the whole theory that the FSDO's try to bust X% of the applicants - Don't buy into it. The examiner doesn't want to see you again (they don't want their future plans ruined, nor do they want to drive half way across town wasting half of their day so you can show them a chandelle).

Just study hard, be confident, be yourself, and you will do great!

Best of luck.
 
Only certain qualified DPE's can perform a CFI initial checkout.

the Dupage FSDO (in chicago) was a pain the ass to schedule with, I had to reschedule alot for weather (9 times) and everytime the FSDO would reschedule me in every 2 weeks...I got fed up and requested a DPE and it was approved... so I went to the DPE payed my $400 bones and I got it done, BTW it was supposedly easier, but who knows.

GL!
 
element94 said:
Right now it isn't a requirement, but it's FAA policy in order to "have a closer connection with the flight instructor community."

Here's everything you could ever want to know about a CFI checkride: http://fsims.faa.gov/wdocs/8900.1/v05 airman cert/chapter 02/05_002_011rev1.htm

Interestingly, In 2008, DPE's passed 2.3% more initial CFI applicants than DPE's. (Link: http://www.faa.gov/data_research/av...vil_airmen_statistics/2008/media/08-air19.xls)

Some food for thought :beer:
Click to expand...

That is interesting. :D
 
I can't seem to remember what I as smoking last night...it must have been good. :bandit:

That's what I meant to say, ASI's...

Even though it does have the lowest pass rate of any practical test, it's really not much worse than an initial private...
 
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