View actual Private/Commercial Pilot Oral Exam - 1 hour 31 min.

[UndauntedFlyer]

Not that it really matters, but was this, in fact, staged? I don't mean scripted, but simply a DPE and a pilot who decided to get together and film a mock oral exam.

The video was created for training purposes. There are no edits. The applicant was selected as one who would probably do well the first time through.

Personally I think this video is helpful toward giving students who are about to take their test a sense of what to expect.

I have known some CFI's who have given a copy of this video to their student the night before their test. Invariably the student will call to cancel the test and reschedule for next week.

Purpose served. Come to the test prepared to answer questions as the young man in the video did. Why be less prepared when the answers are given or can be explained by their CFI?

In my opinion, this video is a CFI's best friend.

 

[siucavflight]

My private DE wore a plaid felt fedora (not kidding you).

After watching this, I see that this is a guy! If you send in an applicant any less prepared than this guy will not pass them.

 

[Alamanach]

Personally I think this video is helpful toward giving students who are about to take their test a sense of what to expect.

I agree, and I'm glad the people involved took the time to put it together.

After watching this, I see that this is this guy! If you send in an applicant any less prepared than this guy will not pass them.

Then that flight school I went to must have done something right!

 

[siucavflight]

Then that flight school I went to must have done something right!

I think that was WCF, and this was not a real check ride, these people both put out videos of their checkrides to better prepare applicants for their rides. The tail number on the MX sheet puts the airplane as N64040, which is on lease back to WCF. But Alamanach if you did pass a ride first try with this guy, congrats, he is one of the toughest around! And be sure and thank your instructor for doing a great job, this guy holds his private applicants to CAX standards.

 

[Metro752]

Her videos are outstanding. If you are taking a ride with her, make sure you watch one if you haven't taken one with her before. Most of hers are on DvD. She has Private-Commercial, Multi-MEI, and a few others, Instrument. I can't remember.

 

[Alamanach]

But Alamanach if you did pass a ride first try with Al, congrats, he is one of the toughest around!

Thanks! And if I can ever scrape the money together for an instrument rating, I intend to give him another call. My impression is that he is as fair as he is tough.

 

[siucavflight]

Thanks! And if I can ever scrape the money together for an instrument rating, I intend to give him another call. My impression is that he is as fair as he is tough.

He is the toughest there is, I have used him before, and sat through two of them, he is more tough than fair, but if you passed first try then congrats, and you are one of the few.

 

[Alamanach]

Al holds his private applicants to CAX standards.

What does CAX stand for? I can't find it anywhere.

 

[siucavflight]

What does CAX stand for? I can't find it anywhere.

Sorry, commercial CAX is the FAA abbriviation, dont know why though.

 

[UndauntedFlyer]

Communication is the Key to a Successful Checkride!

Siucavflight:

Evidently you took two check rides with me from your posts. And it appears that you did not pass one of them from what you have written. I'm sorry to hear that but these things do happen from time to time.

Were you treated fairly? Were you given every opportunity to show that you could do the job for the certificate you were applying for? Did think you should have passed? Would you like to explain here?

I ask this because in the thousands of check rides I have given I do not know of a single person than felt they were not given every opportunity to show that they could do what was expected of a pilot applying for the certificate they were seeking. If they can do these things then they pass, if not then they are required to receive more training and then they pass the next time.

Also, regarding the video, yes the applicant was well prepared as he should have been for this oral and for a training video. But the question is, do the questions represent what should be expected on a Private Pilot or a Commercial oral exam? Do these questions test whether a person can perform safely in the system? If so then the oral does what it should do and the video does what it should, help to students prepare for their tests and it helps CFI's prepare their students.

This video was put on line at FI to help people because that is my job as a DPE: To see that 100% of the applicants are prepared through better communication with the public. Communication between the FAA and the CFI/applicant is the key to a successful checkride.

Could you please comment further on this situation?

UndauntedFlyer

 

[Alamanach]

(T)he question is, do the questions represent what should be expected on a Private Pilot or a Commercial oral exam? Do these questions test whether a person can perform safely in the system?

That's a really hard question to answer (but then, I have minimal pilot experience post-checkride). Do you have reason to believe there is some shortcoming in those questions? Presumably, your oral exam covers everything the FAA directs you to cover, so is there something in the FAA standards that you see as problematic?

 

[UndauntedFlyer]

Do you have reason to believe there is some shortcoming in those questions? Presumably, your oral exam covers everything the FAA directs you to cover, so is there something in the FAA standards that you see as problematic?

Alamanach: I believe the questions are what the FAA is looking for on an oral test: Questions relating to the practical aspect of being a Private Pilot or a Commercial Pilot. I have asked for comments in this regard because Siucavflight seems to be taking exception with this examiner's evaluation of him from some event in the past.

Thank you for your reply.