The Practical Test
The checkride is the milestone every student pilot works toward. Gomez Aviation helps you arrive organized, prepared, and confident for the oral evaluation and flight test.
What to Expect
For every student pilot, the checkride is the moment you have been working toward since your first flight lesson. It is exciting, nerve-wracking, and rewarding all at once.
A checkride, or practical test, is administered by a Designated Pilot Examiner, also known as a DPE. It consists of an oral ground evaluation and a flight test. The DPE bases the checkride on the Airman Certification Standards, which define the standards for maneuvers, ground knowledge, and decision-making required to become a licensed pilot.
Arrive Prepared
A good checkride starts with arriving prepared. Organize your paperwork ahead of time. Nothing calms nerves like knowing everything is in order, and it shows the DPE that you decided to prepare ahead of time.
- Your student pilot certificate and photo ID.
- A valid medical certificate.
- Your logbook with instructor endorsements.
- Your written exam results.
- A well-prepared aircraft that is airworthy, inspected, fueled, and ready to go.
Oral Ground Evaluation
The oral exam usually lasts 1-2 hours and happens before you step into the airplane. The examiner wants to see that you can find answers, explain decisions, and apply what you know.
You do not have to memorize everything. Bringing your charts, FAR/AIM, and aircraft manuals is not just allowed, it is encouraged.
- Flight planning and navigation.
- Weather interpretation.
- Airspace rules.
- Aircraft systems.
- Aeromedical factors and decision-making.
Flight Test
The flight exam usually runs between 1-2 hours of flight time. You will be expected to demonstrate what you have learned over the course of training to the applicable standard.
- Preflight inspection, showing you can spot safety issues before takeoff.
- Takeoffs and landings, including short-field and soft-field techniques.
- Navigation, including a planned cross-country and diversions.
- Maneuvers such as stalls, slow flight, steep turns, and ground reference maneuvers.
- Emergency procedures with calm, smart decision-making.
- Instrument work while maintaining control using only your instruments.
Possible Outcomes
There are three outcomes of a practical test. The most common is satisfactory, where you demonstrate the ability to meet the ACS and make safe decisions as Pilot in Command.
A discontinuance is not a fail. It happens when the checkride cannot continue for reasons other than unsatisfactory performance, such as weather, aircraft maintenance, illness, or another valid reason.
An unsatisfactory result means you either did not perform your best that day or need more training to reach checkride standards. Many great pilots did not pass their first checkride. If that happens, you train more and try again.
DPE Scheduling and Cost
Examiners set their own availability and pricing. In the Southern California area, a checkride typically costs between $800 and $1,500.
Gomez Aviation has connections with multiple DPEs in the area and schedules checkrides ahead of time to minimize waiting.
After you pass your checkride, you will be among the ranks of pilots with the privilege of flight.
Ready to plan it?
Reach out with your current certificate, goals, timeline, and questions. Gomez Aviation can help map the next flight block.