How much can a DPE charge?

IslandFlyer

IslandFlyer

Well-Known Member
Okay, I think I already know the answer to my own question which is "whatever they want".

Thing is, there are quite a few DPE's that serve the school I train at and it's unbelievable the range in prices these guys charge...anywhere from $300-$450 any given day for a checkride, and the price each individual charges seems to fluxuate a bit (maybe dependent upon their mood?).

Now I'm not one to complain much (okay yeah I am), but shouldn't these guys have some sort of limit on the amount they can charge to do a checkride?

I mean it seems there is a regulation written for everything else in Aviation, is there something regulating the amount these guys charge?

Seems kind of ironic that they pull out the PTS and are suppose to uphold you to this 'standardization' when to me, it doesn't seem like there is much standardization amongst the examiners.

Guess I could always schedue with the FSDO and stop complaining huh?:D

No, just curious is all, wondering if there is anything I should know about this that someone could fill me in on (did a search and came up with nada).
 
IslandFlyer said:
Okay, I think I already know the answer to my own question which is "whatever they want".

Thing is, there are quite a few DPE's that serve the school I train at and it's unbelievable the range in prices these guys charge...anywhere from $300-$450 any given day for a checkride, and the price each individual charges seems to fluxuate a bit (maybe dependent upon their mood?).

Now I'm not one to complain much (okay yeah I am), but shouldn't these guys have some sort of limit on the amount they can charge to do a checkride?

I mean it seems there is a regulation written for everything else in Aviation, is there something regulating the amount these guys charge?

Seems kind of ironic that they pull out the PTS and are suppose to uphold you to this 'standardization' when to me, it doesn't seem like there is much standardization amongst the examiners.

Guess I could always schedue with the FSDO and stop complaining huh?:D

No, just curious is all, wondering if there is anything I should know about this that someone could fill me in on (did a search and came up with nada).
Click to expand...

Why in the world should the government regulate what people are paid??? Good grief, are they going to regulate what all pilots are paid??? Ohhh... never mind. They are going to regulate what my wife is permitted to charge/earn.
 
IslandFlyer said:
Seems kind of ironic that they pull out the PTS and are suppose to uphold you to this 'standardization' when to me, it doesn't seem like there is much standardization amongst the examiners.

Guess I could always schedue with the FSDO and stop complaining huh?
Click to expand...

What kind of screening process is this?

The FAA is doing an absolutely horrendous job at making sure checkride applicants meet the practical test standards.

DPEs have no incentive to fail an applicant because in some instances the flight school will let them know they will not be receiving as many checkrides in the future.

So if someone doesn't want to take a checkride at a FSDO, which is completely normal because some of the people that work in FSDOs act like they are from another planet, then the applicant basically pays to have an easier checkride.

I did a CFII-MEI add-on course at one academy and my training was 100% geared towards the particular checkride that I was going to take. The instructors would often start their sentences with "['Bill'] will have you do . . . "

What a shame.

Anyway, my answer to your question is probably the same as the rest you'll get. They can charge whatever they want to charge.

A few things will influence how many checkrides they do each year, just like an AME doing medicals:
- Their fee
- Their reputation (easy, or so hard to pass it's not worth the effort even if it's convenient to try)
- Their reach (NYC vs. out in the sticks in Montana)
- Their connections. If they do checkrides, for say, ATP, they can charge an insane amount of money because they have a steady stream of applicants and the whole setup is a conflict of interest for them to fail anyone.
 
Blackhawk said:
Why in the world should the government regulate what people are paid??? Good grief, are they going to regulate what all pilots are paid??? Ohhh... never mind. They are going to regulate what my wife is permitted to charge/earn.
Click to expand...

Comin from the military, I'm used to the government regulating pay...still adjusting I suppose. ;)

From a logical standpoint, I would assume (yeah I know don't do that) that since the examiners are designated by the FAA (government agency)that a checkride fee should be just that...a set fee.
 
Nick said:
What kind of screening process is this?

The FAA is doing an absolutely horrendous job at making sure checkride applicants meet the practical test standards.

DPEs have no incentive to fail an applicant because in some instances the flight school will let them know they will not be receiving as many checkrides in the future.

So if someone doesn't want to take a checkride at a FSDO, which is completely normal because some of the people that work in FSDOs act like they are from another planet, then the applicant basically pays to have an easier checkride.

I did a CFII-MEI add-on course at one academy and my training was 100% geared towards the particular checkride that I was going to take. The instructors would often start their sentences with "['Bill'] will have you do . . . "

What a shame.

Anyway, my answer to your question is probably the same as the rest you'll get. They can charge whatever they want to charge.

A few things will influence how many checkrides they do each year, just like an AME doing medicals:
- Their fee
- Their reputation (easy, or so hard to pass it's not worth the effort even if it's convenient to try)
- Their reach (NYC vs. out in the sticks in Montana)
- Their connections. If they do checkrides, for say, ATP, they can charge an insane amount of money because they have a steady stream of applicants and the whole setup is a conflict of interest for them to fail anyone.
Click to expand...

Hmmm, seems exactly like a course that I just went through. Weird!

Thanks for the informative post.

Okay since I'm sure I'm going to get the same sort of response 10x over, do you all think that it should be a set fee, or should these guys be allowed to charge whatever they want?
 
IslandFlyer said:
Hmmm, seems exactly like a course that I just went through. Weird!

Thanks for the informative post.

Okay since I'm sure I'm going to get the same sort of response 10x over, do you all think that it should be a set fee, or should these guys be allowed to charge whatever they want?
Click to expand...

The entire system needs to be poop-canned and started from scratch, including the entire concept of DPEs.
 
It is a joke in its current form. If the FAA wanted it done right the applicant would submit the paperwork and fee to the FAA. The FAA would assign the examiner and pay him/her for each checkride given. The FAA would assume the responsibility of maintaining a standardized performace level ( no Santas and no Satans ).
 
IslandFlyer said:
Comin from the military, I'm used to the government regulating pay...still adjusting I suppose. ;)

From a logical standpoint, I would assume (yeah I know don't do that) that since the examiners are designated by the FAA (government agency)that a checkride fee should be just that...a set fee.
Click to expand...

DPEs are instructed to charge within the "area average" for a checkride. If everyone in the area is charging between 350-450, you're out of luck. If your guy's cost of 650 is way above what others charge, you can complain to the FSDO, though frankly it's easier to just talk with your wallet and go with another DPE. Probably wouldn't want to do a ride with someone right after they got a talking to from the FSDO thanks to you, anyway...
 
All the DPE in my area meet, and discuss what their charges will be. That way no one DPE is giving a better deal and getting all the rides. Like the original poster said, you can always schedule with the FSDO, but you had better be 100 percent on your game. They do not feel bad for failing somebody. One problem with the FSDO is that they can be so booked up that you will wait a while, or they might tell you to just go take it with a DPE anyway.
 
IslandFlyer said:
I mean it seems there is a regulation written for everything else in Aviation, is there something regulating the amount these guys charge?
Click to expand...
The FAA doesn't have to regulate what DPE's charge because what they charge is already regulated. Google supply and demand and you'll learn all about how the regulation works. Not coincidentially, it is the very same regulation which governs the payscale of professional pilots. At least the non-union ones although to a lessor extent, the union pilots end up being effected by it as well I suppose.

The trick is to position yourself on the right side of the supply and demand curve. DPE's seem to have mastered this trick.
 
IslandFlyer said:
Okay, I think I already know the answer to my own question which is "whatever they want".

Thing is, there are quite a few DPE's that serve the school I train at and it's unbelievable the range in prices these guys charge...anywhere from $300-$450 any given day for a checkride, and the price each individual charges seems to fluxuate a bit (maybe dependent upon their mood?).

Now I'm not one to complain much (okay yeah I am), but shouldn't these guys have some sort of limit on the amount they can charge to do a checkride?

I mean it seems there is a regulation written for everything else in Aviation, is there something regulating the amount these guys charge?

Seems kind of ironic that they pull out the PTS and are suppose to uphold you to this 'standardization' when to me, it doesn't seem like there is much standardization amongst the examiners.

Guess I could always schedue with the FSDO and stop complaining huh?:D

No, just curious is all, wondering if there is anything I should know about this that someone could fill me in on (did a search and came up with nada).
Click to expand...

I would gladly pay the DPE over taking another ride with the FSDO! But all checkrides at the two places I have worked at hooks were $400. That is five differerent examiners, and it made no difference what the chekride was.
 
By setting up the program, the Feds have tacitly stated they don't want to do the job, don't have time to do the job and would rather others do it for them. And as part of the incentive they allow the DPEs to charge a market rate. Becoming a DPE is not a walk in the park and staying one isn't either.

In today's ATL paper, there is a similar screed about doctor's and their compensation. Cynthia Tucker, resident whiner, says that while many doctors want only the best for their patients, some actually want to PROFIT.

I guess the concurrent theme is we all should be working for min wages.
 
Re: How much is a student willing to pay?

fixed the title for you... ;):D
 
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