FAA Checkride Preparation
Meet at the pre-agreed time via Zoom or other video-conferencing software (by arrangement).
Prior to beginning the mock checkride, we collect the remaining portion of the exam fee, if not paid in full at booking.
The goal is for your mock checkride to be as realistic as possible. You’ll need to do a bit of work beforehand and collect your documents; here’s what to bring.
Before we begin testing, we qualify you for the exam in the same way an FAA DPE does. Items checked for Private include:
If an applicant is found to not qualify based on a problem with one or more of the above items, it is noted but the mock checkride continues. IMPORTANT: if an applicant fails to qualify during an actual checkride appointment, the checkride will not start (and thus will not be logged as either a pass or failure). Most DPEs will charge a substantial fee (sometimes their entire fee) to cover their time spent meeting with an unqualified applicant. That’s an expensive mistake!
Once you are qualified, the test begins with a briefing. The briefing explains how the test will take place, the grading criteria, and the possible outcomes.
After the test begins, we follow a Plan of Action, using the scenario provided to you as a guide for our discussion of the FAA ACS (or PTS, for some tests). The ACS (or PTS) is the guiding document for every FAA checkride, and we use it this way, too. Be familiar with the ACS! Many of the items that we see missed on checkrides are covered on our Common Deficiencies page.
We cover the items you missed on their written test. In most cases, these items are covered during the scenario-based discussion.
Our aim is to make our checkrides more challenging and more comprehensive than an average FAA checkride. Typically, our oral exams for Private and Sport last 2.5 to 3 hours (not including debrief), whereas the average checkride oral with a DPE is around 1.5 to 2 hours.
Commercial exams take just over 3 hours on average. CFI and CFI-Sport exams cover the most, so take around 3.5 hours of exam time (not including debrief).
When the oral exam concludes, the outcome of the test is stated (pass/fail) and the debrief begins.
During the debrief, we discuss areas of strengths and weaknesses, as well as strategies for improvement prior to your checkride date. The debrief usually takes 15-30 minutes.
Overall, plan for 3.5 hours from start to finish for Private and Sport. Commercial takes 3.75 hours, and CFI and CFI-Sport Initials take about 4 hours.
When you successfully complete a mock checkride with us, you’ll be able to take your actual FAA checkride with confidence.
If you have any questions in the days leading up to your checkride, don’t hesitate to ask. We are happy to be a resource.
We conduct mock checkrides under a ground instructor certificate, so we are not required to provide a logbook entry. However, we’d be glad to send you one if you’d like it for your records. Just let us know during the mock checkride or by email afterward.