Well, folks, I arrived in OKC last night, and today completed the first day of my DPE training. 22 students and 6 instructors (pretty good ratio).
Attachments
DPE_resized2.jpg (72.34 KiB) Viewed 1138686 times
The opinions posted are those of one CFI, and do not necessarily represent the FAA or its lawyers.
Prof H Paul Shuch
PhD CFII DPE LSRM-A/GL/WS/PPC iRMT
AvSport LLC, KLHV [email protected]
AvSport.org
facebook.com/SportFlying
SportPilotExaminer.US
No, this class is all DPE candidates. As it happens, I am the only student wanting to do SP exclusively. Two more will do SP if called upon, but mainly want to do PP, CP, Instrument, and Multi. The rest flat out don't want to do SP. (No wonder the LSA movement is suffering!)
Extrapolating from this experience, it appears only about 10% of all DPEs will be willing to give SP checkrides.
The opinions posted are those of one CFI, and do not necessarily represent the FAA or its lawyers.
Prof H Paul Shuch
PhD CFII DPE LSRM-A/GL/WS/PPC iRMT
AvSport LLC, KLHV [email protected]
AvSport.org
facebook.com/SportFlying
SportPilotExaminer.US
Here I am in DPE class, giving a practice oral exam to a classmate. (Spoiler alert: he passed!)
practice.jpg (55.6 KiB) Viewed 1138564 times
The opinions posted are those of one CFI, and do not necessarily represent the FAA or its lawyers.
Prof H Paul Shuch
PhD CFII DPE LSRM-A/GL/WS/PPC iRMT
AvSport LLC, KLHV [email protected]
AvSport.org
facebook.com/SportFlying
SportPilotExaminer.US
I just did a search of FAA records, to ascertain just how widespread the SP DPE shortage really is. For my data sample, I used the FAA Eastern region (which encompasses the coastal and near-coastal states from South Carolina to Maine). There are a total of 33 SP DPEs in the Region, spread among 19 Districts. There are 6 Districts which each have zero SP DPEs, 3 that each have 1 examiner, 2 that have 2 SP DPEs each, 4 Districts that each have 3 examiners, and 4 that have 4. In the Eastern region, the average number of SP examiners per FSDO is 1.73.
I'm pretty sure the Eastern region is typical.
Houston, I think we have a problem.
The opinions posted are those of one CFI, and do not necessarily represent the FAA or its lawyers.
Prof H Paul Shuch
PhD CFII DPE LSRM-A/GL/WS/PPC iRMT
AvSport LLC, KLHV [email protected]
AvSport.org
facebook.com/SportFlying
SportPilotExaminer.US
Oh, there's quite a bit more to go, Tom. When I get home, I still have to take the online final exam (and pay for it). Then, I have to send my training certificates to the local FSDO, who then has to request me. Finally, an FAA inspector has to observe me giving a checkride, before I can be appointed. After that, I have to attend a FSDO meeting every year, and a renewal course every two years. This in addition to the usual FIRCs and flight reviews. (It's no wonder DPEs charge as much as they do!)
The opinions posted are those of one CFI, and do not necessarily represent the FAA or its lawyers.
Prof H Paul Shuch
PhD CFII DPE LSRM-A/GL/WS/PPC iRMT
AvSport LLC, KLHV [email protected]
AvSport.org
facebook.com/SportFlying
SportPilotExaminer.US
I'm pleased to report that, as of today, I am now an official DPE - in celebration of which, all Sport Pilot checkrides booked on April First will be free!
Happy Easter Fool's Day.
The opinions posted are those of one CFI, and do not necessarily represent the FAA or its lawyers.
Prof H Paul Shuch
PhD CFII DPE LSRM-A/GL/WS/PPC iRMT
AvSport LLC, KLHV [email protected]
AvSport.org
facebook.com/SportFlying
SportPilotExaminer.US
Well, folks, today I passed my Initial DPE Course final exam, and received this Certificate of Training:
certif_of_training.jpg (45.41 KiB) Viewed 1138361 times
Which means I've now jumped through all the hoops I can navigate on my own. The ball's presently in my FSDO's court. I'll let you know what the next steps are, just as soon as I figure them out.
The opinions posted are those of one CFI, and do not necessarily represent the FAA or its lawyers.
Prof H Paul Shuch
PhD CFII DPE LSRM-A/GL/WS/PPC iRMT
AvSport LLC, KLHV [email protected]
AvSport.org
facebook.com/SportFlying
SportPilotExaminer.US