Pass/Fail rate question

ajf005

Well-Known Member
I took a student who had previously failed his practical test oral and after some additional training sent him back. Well he failed again on forward slips so we did some more work and he passed the 3rd time. My chief said im 0/1 since he didnt pass the first time I signed him off. So my question is since I signed him off for a retest does this still go on my record?? And if so then why wouldn't I be 1/2 since I signed off for 2 retests?
 
My chief said im 0/1 since he didnt pass the first time I signed him off.

You chief sounds like a prick.

I had a perfect pass record, but then came along a student that I knew wouldnt do very well in a test situation (socially). If my pass/fail rate actually mattered in the grand scheme of my life I would have passed him off to someone else. But it dosent, the quality of an instructor isnt quantified by a number. This student of mine was so nervous he had to goto the bathroom 5 times during the oral, and in the plane he completly lost his situational awareness. The second time around he wasnt so nervous, and the DE learned to work with his quirks, and he passed. As far as I'm concerned, I was a total success with that student, and I'd like someone like your chief to tell me to my face I failed.

In otherwords, who cares about your pass/fail rate, instead I'd be more proud of: "every student who starts training with me has earned their licences...I haven't ever given up on or passed anyone off to another instructor"
 
My understanding is that when you sign someone off for a retake it does not count against your record. I have signed off about 3 or 4 people for a retake because their CFI was not around to do it. The only failures that count against your record are the first time sign offs. And lately the FAA has been cracking down on CFI's that have more than a 30% fail rate. At least in the region where I am. Dunno why that is. The only thing I can think of is that they made some changes to the CFI PTS and they are making it tougher.
 
IMO, the student in this situation doesn't count for anything. I don't count students towards my pass/fail rate unless they are taking their initial checkride. If it's a retest, like your case, it's like they never existed.

The main reason I care about a good pass/fail rate is because I'd like to get the "80% pass on an initial checkride" statistic that automatically renews my CFI ticket. Signing off people for retests has nothing to do with that program, so I don't care much about pass/fail rates for retests.

Also, like Andrew's already said, pass/fail rates don't necessarily indicate the quality of instructor. I knew an absolutely great instructor who had a pass rate of only 50% on initial tests. I also knew a lousy instructor who somehow had a pass rate of about 90%.

But to sum up this case...I'd say you're still batting 0 out of 0.
 
Thanks for the replys, and to clarify I was just asking because im looking to move in a couple months and I want to give a correct answer if im asked what my pass rate is. I know the pass/fail rate could be used by some to determine the quality of an instructor but it does not affect me. I think im a decent instructor, not the best by any means, but not the worst either. Maybe what I said about my chief was taken the wrong way, he really is a super nice guy and an awesome boss I think he was just reminding me that I need to shoot to stay above 80% when we talked about the failure. Thanks again for the replys.
 
I have signed off about 3 or 4 people for a retake because their CFI was not around to do it.

You mean you gave them additional training and found them competent to pass a checkride them signed them off? Right off hand I dont think you can just sign another student off for a checkride like you would sign another instructors student off for a cross country. Just wondering.
 
I've done that twice. I've taken two students from other instructors to their multi checkrides and after they failed I gave them a quick 61.49 training flight and re-signed them off, had them re-check and pass the same day.
 
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