From the Examiner's Chair
Articles for pilots and instructors on FAA practical tests, aeronautical decision-making, risk management, and scenario-based training, drawn from real observations in the examiner’s chair.
The Inoperative Equipment That Isn’t
An “INOP” placard should describe the airplane, not the applicant’s comfort zone. An FAA Designated Pilot Examiner explains why equipment that suddenly stops working on checkride day raises more questions than it answers.
A Mistake Is Not Automatically a Failure
One wrong answer or momentary deviation is not necessarily an automatic practical-test failure. An FAA Designated Pilot Examiner explains why the nature of an error, the applicant’s response, and the ACS standard for the Task matter more than simply counting mistakes.
The Practical Test Shouldn't Be Your First Time
The practical test should evaluate training, not provide first exposure. An FAA Designated Pilot Examiner explains why applicants need real experience with radio communication, towered and non-towered airports, and VFR flight plans before checkride day.
Test as You Fly. Fly as You Test.
The practical test should evaluate the pilot you intend to be after the examiner gets out of the airplane. Learn why realistic flight planning, accurate EFB data, sound performance assumptions, and meaningful backup plans matter more than performing a special “checkride-only” routine.
I Don’t Know. You Are PIC.
On a practical test, the examiner is there to evaluate your decisions—not make them for you. An FAA Designated Pilot Examiner explains why acting as PIC means taking ownership of judgment, risk, and what happens next.
The Anatomy of a Scenario
A good aviation scenario isn't a guided path toward a predetermined answer. It gives the pilot decisions to make and allows the consequences of those decisions to determine what happens next. An FAA Designated Pilot Examiner explains what truly makes scenario-based training and testing effective.
The Hardest Part of the Practical Test
A pilot may be fully prepared for the oral and flight portions of a practical test and still be unable to begin. This article explains why applicant eligibility, accurate records, proper endorsements, and aircraft airworthiness must be verified before the checkride.
Your Personal Minimums Only Matter If They're Personal
What separates experienced pilots from merely legal pilots?
It's not memorizing regulations.
It's developing personal minimums that honestly reflect your proficiency, your experience, and the mission you're about to fly.
Scenario-Based Testing: Knowing the Answer Isn't Enough
Why memorizing regulations is only the first step. Learn how the FAA evaluates judgment, risk management, and real-world decision-making during a practical test.
"I Don't Know" Is Better Than Guessing
One of the strongest answers during a practical test may be, "I don't know—but I know where to find it." Here's why.