CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 14 Issue 1 - 24

CHECkRIDE CHECkLIST
CHECKRIDE CHECKLIST
DPE ANSWERS FOR STUDENTS AND CFIS BY ASI STAFF
EDITOR'S NOTE:
The following is a compilation of questions from CFIs, students, and checkride applicants answered by designated pilot examiners. This forum intends to
provide a healthy and helpful discussion platform for CFIs and applicants who are preparing for their checkrides' oral and practical test portions. It may also
serve to help enhance the applicants' checkride experiences and promote continued learning. Email cfinewsletter@aopa.org to share your questions.
Q
A
SHOULD I BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN AIRPLANE LOGS?
Explaining aircraft logbooks and demonstrating the aircraft's
airworthiness is commonly a weak point on practical tests. Often, an
applicant just saw the logbooks the day before the checkride to know where
the tabbed inspections are that the " DPE will want to see " to ensure the
aircraft is legal. But an applicant's knowledge needs to go beyond this level.
On most practical tests, they should be able to identify that the aircraft is
compliant with airworthiness requirements; and in some tests, they should
be able to answer how they would handle any discrepancies.
A common weak point is understanding airworthiness directives'
applicability. An applicant should be able to determine if an aircraft has
remained within valid time or hour periods for recurrent ADs and show when
they need to be addressed again to ensure they don't " overfly " any ADs.
We take this knowledge even further when it comes to commercial certificate
level tests because the pilot might be asked to maintain an aircraft in compliance
for an owner for whom they have been hired to fly. They need to make sure that
the aircraft has the inspections for the day of the test, but also that they can
demonstrate a knowledge of how to evaluate if the aircraft remains airworthy
over time and what might make airworthiness no longer in compliance.
Q
A
ON AN IFR CHECKRIDE, HOW MUCH AUTOMATION
DO YOU ALLOW ON APPROACHES, AND HOW DO YOU
SIMULATE PARTIAL PANEL?
Digital panels have really changed the testing game. As DPEs, we
have to know the systems and what failures we need to simulate
during practical tests. Now, the goal isn't to introduce cascading failures
to the point that the applicant will die no matter what they do. We can
play that scenario in simulators during training to task saturate a
student and help them understand what that is like, but that's not done
on a practical test. We introduce single-point systems failures and ask
the applicants to demonstrate verbally and/or through action how they
would manage that failure.
In a glass panel, we commonly simulate a " panel failure " such as a loss of or
failure of the magnetometer, heading reference system, or attitude reference
system where a reversionary mode might be used to a backup screen. These
are things that an applicant for an instrument practical test should be ready
to handle. In some cases, the backup systems are such that no real data is
lost (e.g., dual ADAHRS systems); in others, the backup system might be an
independent backup device such as an Aspen panel next to the G1000 panel.
continued on next page

CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 14 Issue 1

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 14 Issue 1