It’s the day that every pilot awaits; the transition from student pilot to certificated private pilot. For most, the FAA Practical Test or “checkride” is viewed as a terrifying but necessary right of passage. A Designated Pilot Examiners (DPE) must test each student thoroughly on their aviation knowledge, control and mastery of the aircraft, and risk awareness and judgment. Even if the student has been perfectly prepared by their instructor, the checkride is still the unknown and a point of concern. Let’s change that. With a guided look in the FAA’s Airman Certification Standards document, any student pilot can better understand what standards they will be held to and how to ace their checkride.
San Carlos Flight Center invites local DPE Jim Higgins to help applicants understand what can be expected during a practical test and learn what they can do to be prepared and confident on their big day. In this seminar, Jim will relay what pilots need to know before the checkride, and share tips from his previous experiences from other checkrides to make sure the same issues don’t arise on your checkride. We have also asked him to review the different maneuvers and procedures that a DPE can request from a student pilot during the checkride so they can be ready to tackle anything.
If you are a pilot that wants to be prepared, confident, and know what to expect on your checkride; you don’t want to miss this unique seminar.
Jim Higguns is a DPE in the San Jose FSDO District and an active CFI.
