The Flight School Association of North America (FSANA) is conducting a survey on pricing for FAA practical tests around the country.
The 2020 survey of FAA practical test pricing follows a similar survey in 2018. In fact, the 2020 survey includes the exact same questions as the 2018 survey, FSANA officials said.
“So, if you remember doing this two years ago, please do it again,” they ask.
“We ask that all flight training providers, instructors, and students complete this survey and relate recent experience with respect to the pricing of tests. When you complete the survey, please answer with pricing you are aware of or have personally experienced within the past two years.”
FSANA officials note that there have been some changes in the FAA practical testing process, so the association is repeating the survey to see what, if any, impacts those changes have had on the pricing of practical tests.
Click here to complete the 2020 DPE Pricing Survey.
How many are aware that the FAA went out on a competitive bid to get a single provider?
When discussing this with an FAA person, they seemingly do not understand that letting the bid to a single winner creates a monopoly. They were insistent that they held a competitive bid.
So, here is what I’ve found since this has happened. And this is my experience in the Indy area. About 3 years ago I was able to schedule a late afternoon or Sunday time to take any of the written exams.
The last I checked (this past summer in 2019), I could not get a test time where I did not have to take time off work. I did as the vendor asked and contacted one after another test location, and there were NO weekend days they were open unless it was a university. Then you had to be enrolled as a student at that school.
But, I follow the 10 commandments, which requires a Saturday sabbath. And there is, other than a school, no place I could find within 100nm of Indy to take the test.
Due to my situation at work during the summer of 2019, I had no time that I could take to cover for the half-day I would need to take a 3 hour test. So that has to be added to the cost of the test, which meant I could not take the CPL written in 2019 — the loss of pay made the test cost prohibitive.
Oh, and I’ve written PSI, and the FAA about this and crickets from PSI and the FAA’s person just doesn’t get it, that you can talk to PSI’s people until you are blue in the face, but they can’t be bothered to help one find a place to take the test.
Forget it! The FAA was established in ’58 for several reasons including some well founded suspicions. Being concerned about the amount of your money they’ll receive is secondary, the more important thing is protecting yourself from their ill thought-out rules and recommendations. I am still healthy and alive today because I refused to endanger my passengers and myself by conforming to their ill-conceived demands. My career was spent, including the five times I was fired at the airline (at FAA request) and found correct in my actions by the subsequent hearings which resulted in changes to the FARs & policies. Too any of my friends paid with their lives for unquestioning compliance.
And that solves my problem how? BTW — I’m too old to be an FO part 121. But I still want and need my CPL. And that requires taking the written CPL exam (which I personally find the HSI questions to be out there — I’ve never set up an HSI as they have and yes, I’ve flown with them. I prefer them to glass panels!!
BTW I understand but to my intense embarrassment I must admit that I have no idea what CPL or HSI stand for, nor am I an admirer of glass panels. What I credit most for my many decades of aviation safety and success are windows.
CPL = Commercial Pilot License. HSI = Horizontal Situation Indicator (combo of Directional Gyro — Heading indicator, “VOR” w/ Glideslope).
In this case Google, or Duckduckgo.com are your friends.
Thanks WW; I’m no longer a friend of Google but am enamored of Duckduck! I came into the world the same month as the Disney Duck I was named after.
For what ever reason the link in this message said I had already taken the survey. When I navigated to the Flight School Association of North America and selected the first news article that contained what appeared to be the exact same link, I could take the survey. Go figure.
I’m sure they have increased, as has aircraft rental and flight instruction.
And bread and milk, and gas, and….everything else.
True… but with all those things you receive something of value for your time and money; whereas the FAA practical testing is just an aggravating waste of both!
unless you consider, as most here do, the FAA certificates to be of significant value.
Exactly! My ATP#1212754, SEL/MEL, CFI Land, Sea & Glider, B-707, B-720, B-747, B-757, B-767 & L-1011 is of no value whatsoever to me. My 33,000 hrs. in 70 years of flying is, however, by far the most significant part of my life! Only my eight children have more of my heart and memory.