Abstract
In recent years primary flight training in the United States has experienced a significant bottleneck in the form of long waits to schedule check rides with Designated Pilot Examiners. This challenge has been significant enough to warrant Congressional attention, with reforms mandated in the past two FAA Re-authorization Acts.
In 2022 a first national survey of flight schools and DPE’s was conducted to determine their perceptions of the DPE system, including feedback on the recommendations from the then recently concluded DPE Reforms Working Group. Given the anecdotal evidence of continuing long waits for check rides, a second survey was conducted in the summer of 2025.
As with the original study, both DPE and flight school perceptions of the DPE system including wait times for check rides, costs of check rides, and the extent to which both applicants and DPE’s travel for the conduct of check rides were examined. Additionally, perceptions of the effectiveness of the measures taken by the FAA in the last three years including the move to a national oversight model for DPE’s and the allowance for BasicMed for DPE’s were evaluated. Other improvements which were recommended by the DPE Reforms Working Group but which have not been implemented were also revisited. Finally, participant feedback on their perception of the Airman Certification Organization Designation Authorization order and the Part 141 modernization effort was sought.
Overall, the study results showed the DPE problem has become more severe over the last 3 years, with a 5 week average check ride wait reported by flight schools and 91% of schools responding that check ride availability is an issue for their operation. There continues to be support for an applicant confidential survey system regarding DPE performance, for the ability to start the ground portion of a check ride even if weather will likely not allow the conduct of the flight portion on the same day, agreement that the ability of DPE’s to use BasicMed as appropriate is beneficial, and that the current DPE Locator website should be modernized.
Scholarly Commons Citation
Gref, M.,
&
Beckman, W.
().
Designated Pilot Examiner System Study - 2025.
International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace,
13(2).
DOI: https://doi.org/10.58940/2374-6793.2079
