One of the top questions I get asked is how to become a DPE. It is a role that is often sought after for career pilots and flight instructors as either a part time or retirement role. With so many DPE related issues being prominent in the news and a topic of conversation, I figured I would describe the process that I went through to become a DPE, as well as describe the current process for those interested in this career path. First and foremost, almost everything has changed in the past decade. Designees are now managed, chosen, and trained on a national level by AFS-640, also known as the De ..read more

I often get asked the question by prospective flight school students on the best places to go for flight school. There are so many options and so many different paths to obtaining a career in aviation, and it’s often hard to determine the best course of action. However, one of the most common questions I get asked is whether or not to go part 61 (informal instruction) or part 141 (formal and highly regulated). I will preface this with the fact that there are many part 61 flight schools that operate like 141 schools but without issuing a graduation certificate at the end. For example, ATP and A ..read more

It’s an unfortunate story I hear all too often as a DPE. A flight instructor missed renewing by their expiration date. Perhaps it was a technical issue and it wasn’t processed like it should have been in IACRA. Perhaps they forgot the exact month due to the month of the year changing at some point in their long tenure as a CFI. Now you’re stuck and trying to figure out how to get it back… so what are the options? While I have heard of either local (FSDO) or national (Airmen Certification Branch) stepping in to help, it is very rare. The only way to resolve this would be if there was some sort ..read more

I am often asked what areas applicants struggle the most on, and where most failures occur. While the answer to this question ranges dramatically from the type of exam to the student, it usually begins with a threat that leads to an error, and eventually an undesired aircraft state and/or exceedance from the ACS or PTS standard. While the concept of Threat and Error Management is somewhat foreign to the new private pilot, it applies very well to our daily operations and I see it in action on a regular basis as a designated pilot examiner. I will start by discussing the definitions: Threats ar ..read more

When I begin my briefings with applicants, I often begin with stating that the ACS is the standard. Sometimes I have students and flight schools asking me how I want to see certain maneuvers, and I always point them to FAA published materials to answer their question. There is no certain “way” that I want to see a maneuver – if the maneuver is compliant with the ACS and the applicant demonstrates proficiency, risk management, and good judgement – then it is satisfactory. However, there are times where the ACS does leave a lot to the discretion of the applicant and/or examiner, so I figured I ..read more

I often get asked on what areas do I see people struggle the most. While performance can vary greatly from geographic region to flight schools to airplanes, I do see some common themes that make the exams more challenging for the applicants, and have even resulted in notices of disapproval. I am creating a blog to highlight some “hot spots” where applicants struggle. The #1 issue that I see comes from EFBs. Most of my applicants use an EFB. They often flight plan their cross country on it, and use it for the oral exam when I ask questions. However, while most of them can navigate to a point ..read more

I recently did some research for an upcoming aviation safety presentation on the top 10 causes of aviation insurance claims. I had the opportunity to sit down with a major carrier’s claims and underwriting departments to get some answers. Insurance carriers insure risks across the spectrum – anything from single engine planes used for pleasure all the way up to airline and space. When a loss occurs in space, for example, it affects everyone’s rates. We went from a soft to a hard market, and the market correction has been challenging for everyone. Over the past few years we have been continuin ..read more

I have seen a lot of posts on social media recently about people looking to get into ferry flying. I did a video on this several years ago where I talked about how I got into it, and while the industry has changed, many things have still stayed the same. I do believe in mentoring and helping the aviation community and the people coming into the industry now, and hope that we continue to mentor our young instead of trying to eat them alive! If you are trying to get jobs, these are some things to think about: You need experience to get experience. This seems impossible, but there are ways to ge ..read more

Supply and Demand and the Falling Value of Pilots Pilot Wanted: $10/hour! I was recently perusing some aviation related groups on social media to find that a particular screenshot of a job opportunity had been making rounds. The screenshot detailed a job posting for a helicopter pilot to work part time for $10/hour. Throughout many groups, people both mocked the low pay, chastised those considering it, and many even offered their thoughts on how their career progression involved working for pennies putting their “dues in” toward a lucrative career. It was a stark contrast to the good times th ..read more

Every time I hear “Whatever It Takes” by Imagine Dragons, I can’t help but to think of where I was where I first heard that song.  It was a cold March in 2018 and I had just finished ferrying a Cessna 210 across the ocean to the Netherlands. It was my very first winter crossing, which started in February 2018 with my assistant chief pilot at the time whom I was training, Marcus Narcisse. Unfortunately, along the way we spent 4 days in the arctic with a mechanical issue in Iqualuit due to a mechanic’s error. Due to the delay, the weather had turned and there wasn’t going to be another wind ..read more