In September 2024, six federal lawmakers wrote to then FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker about the challenges the FAA’s Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) was facing. This isn’t a new issue.
But there could be solution, as reported by Russ Niles, writing at AvBrief.com:
“An FAA internal memo has surfaced showing the agency plans to smooth out the DPE shortage and resulting check ride backlog by getting more flight schools to run the tests themselves.”
Reading that someone at the FAA has at least proposed a solution for the backlog of pilot check rides is wonderful to read.
A great find Russ.
One one hand, this would help with the manpower needed to get prospectors on track and advance their training. On the other hand, I see a lot of incompetence being pumped out of mills.
The only way this will work without scandal or other controversies would be for the student flyer to be involved with at least two different flight schools (and/or independent/freelance CFIs from different regions. One would be the DPE (or at least be able to provide one while the other/s would do the actual teachings via ground school and actual flight training; it can’t be under one roof so to speak.
If that ain’t the fox guarding the hen house. I believe the standards are too low now. But at least there is an independent review of applicants.
Been there, doomed from the beginning. Back in the 70s there were flight schools authorized to conduct the check rides. It became a “certificate mill” to the extent that EASA refused to recognize US certificates issued by these schools. The most egregious one was in FL, name escapes me, which was eventually forced to close because of the scandal. I can easily see the same thing happening here.
Another bump in the road for part-time freelancer CFI such as I. It’s hard enough to generate interest in learning to fly from a generally apathetic public; now Designated Examiners will be “designated” to flight school students.
Steve, I don’t believe that view is correct. The idea is for the flight schools to earn the ability to test their own students. If successful, area DPEs will have more time for non-flight school applicants.
Kind of sounds like the one week A&P “Crash” course with “Examiner on staff” where they teach you the test, then the “examiner” administers a 30 minute practical where every applicant passes. Hopefully the FAA sets up better guardrails if they implement this program.
Many Part 141 schools have self test capability. I’m assuming this would be an extension of that, including Part 61 schools?