My last 2 checkrides each took 6 months from scheduling to day of. I even went on a DPE's standby list and was ready to take any cancelled slot at the last minute. Really great system thanks FAA! :)
#6- I had DPEs tell me that students are scheduling day one with one, then day two checkride with another etc… that way if the student isn’t ready, cancels on last min for checkride one to move to checkride 2. Not cool. Don’t do this.
Thanks Dan! You have had some terrific DPE chats on In The Hangar, looking forward to more of those next season! I am sure you will have that silver play button by then..Thanks for all the great content!👏
The point about waiting till you're ready to schedule is causing me to ponder a bit. I can see why the DPE would prefer that, but my friends around here have recommended scheduling at least a month or two out because you'll never get an appointment earlier than that. If you wait till you're ready then you'll just be waiting around for a month or two, burning gas. I guess there's probably a balance in there somewhere. Great video
It is a fair point. The 'norm' in many places is to get a date 2 months out. But applicant readiness, wx, mx, seem to be an issue... and more people cancel than should. I get to chat with more than the usual DPEs, and the amount of cancellations that they get, a lot of the time within a week's notice, they could probably fill the slot with someone who is ready right away or within a couple of days. From the DPE side, I imagine it must be tough to schedule with all these conditions that may or may not happen. It is a balance like you said.. thanks for watching!
I guess I’ve been very lucky… Both of my rides (private and instrument) were scheduled within a week. Still all valid points, even if there wasn’t a shortage!
#9: The problem with the shortage is DPE's are booked out 3+ months in advanced sometimes. As a student you dont want to be "ready" and waiting for 3 months. You want to be ready relatively close to checkride day. If you're ready 3 months out, you have to be flying regularly to keep those skills sharp, and to be in compliance with any recent instruction requirements. It can get pretty costly to just maintain checkride skills at that point. My PPL checkride was scheduled 2 months out, and then 3 days later the DPE asked if I could do one in 4 days. Thankfully I was ready, enough, to do it, but I had to fly and study every single day leading up to it. DPE's need to book out 2-3 weeks in advanced and ALWAYS stick to that timeline if they want students to be ready when they reach out.
Useful tips! 1) I never considered scheduling a checkride with multiple DPEs 2) So far it's been my experience that it's hard to get communication from the DPE. I assume because they're crazy busy. But, of course, I've only scheduled 3 checkrides, and only taken 2 of them. So maybe sample size issue. My favorite DPE scheduling was one that used a website with a form that asked everything he wanted, and also showed me his availability. That was great.
Good stuff here well done man! Amazing to me that people would be so often rude or demanding of DPE's - or communicate badly. That said - while trying not to be grumpy middle aged guy -- this perhaps is where we are in our culture more and more.
My last 2 checkrides each took 6 months from scheduling to day of. I even went on a DPE's standby list and was ready to take any cancelled slot at the last minute. Really great system thanks FAA! :)
Great tips! Thanks Nathan.
It is so damn tricky to find a DPE for an IFR checkride in Los Angeles right now. I'm stuck!
#6- I had DPEs tell me that students are scheduling day one with one, then day two checkride with another etc… that way if the student isn’t ready, cancels on last min for checkride one to move to checkride 2. Not cool. Don’t do this.
Thanks Dan! You have had some terrific DPE chats on In The Hangar, looking forward to more of those next season! I am sure you will have that silver play button by then..Thanks for all the great content!👏
This channel is going far. I love this video style.
Thanks for all the support, very much appreciated!
The point about waiting till you're ready to schedule is causing me to ponder a bit. I can see why the DPE would prefer that, but my friends around here have recommended scheduling at least a month or two out because you'll never get an appointment earlier than that. If you wait till you're ready then you'll just be waiting around for a month or two, burning gas. I guess there's probably a balance in there somewhere.
Great video
It is a fair point. The 'norm' in many places is to get a date 2 months out. But applicant readiness, wx, mx, seem to be an issue... and more people cancel than should. I get to chat with more than the usual DPEs, and the amount of cancellations that they get, a lot of the time within a week's notice, they could probably fill the slot with someone who is ready right away or within a couple of days. From the DPE side, I imagine it must be tough to schedule with all these conditions that may or may not happen. It is a balance like you said.. thanks for watching!
Another great video! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for the support! Let's hit the skies, this weather is terrific!
I guess I’ve been very lucky… Both of my rides (private and instrument) were scheduled within a week. Still all valid points, even if there wasn’t a shortage!
#9: The problem with the shortage is DPE's are booked out 3+ months in advanced sometimes. As a student you dont want to be "ready" and waiting for 3 months. You want to be ready relatively close to checkride day. If you're ready 3 months out, you have to be flying regularly to keep those skills sharp, and to be in compliance with any recent instruction requirements. It can get pretty costly to just maintain checkride skills at that point. My PPL checkride was scheduled 2 months out, and then 3 days later the DPE asked if I could do one in 4 days. Thankfully I was ready, enough, to do it, but I had to fly and study every single day leading up to it.
DPE's need to book out 2-3 weeks in advanced and ALWAYS stick to that timeline if they want students to be ready when they reach out.
SPOT on. This process is especially hard on the applicant just trying to get a ride, and be prepared for it, and not drain the bank. Agreed💯
Useful tips!
1) I never considered scheduling a checkride with multiple DPEs
2) So far it's been my experience that it's hard to get communication from the DPE. I assume because they're crazy busy. But, of course, I've only scheduled 3 checkrides, and only taken 2 of them. So maybe sample size issue.
My favorite DPE scheduling was one that used a website with a form that asked everything he wanted, and also showed me his availability. That was great.
Good stuff here well done man! Amazing to me that people would be so often rude or demanding of DPE's - or communicate badly. That said - while trying not to be grumpy middle aged guy -- this perhaps is where we are in our culture more and more.
I need a checkride = N123AB VFR req