Why Memorizing FOIs Won't Help You on Your CFI Checkride
The FAA wants examiners to use scenario-based evaluation. Learn how a well-designed scenario lets CFI applicants demonstrate judgment, communication, and instructional skill—not just rote recall of the Aviation Instructor's Handbook.
Read Article →Checkride Insights — 4-Part DPE Interview Series
Four designated pilot examiners share what they see on checkrides: documentation pitfalls, the military briefing method, logbook auditing, aircraft airworthiness prep, and how to show up ready. Featuring Tom Guillebeau, Adam Boyd, Nick Adcock, and Jeremy Lashbrook.
Start with Ep. 1 →The History and Importance of Holding Out
The concept of “holding out” goes back centuries to common law ferry operations. Here’s a look at where the principle comes from, how the FAA adopted it, and why understanding the “why” matters for commercial pilots.
Read Article →Operational Control: Where Legal Flights Cross the Line
Operational control—not holding out—is the real cornerstone of commercial flying. Walk through detailed scenarios covering Part 91 flight departments, gray-area compensation, Part 135 dispatch pitfalls, and what to do when your employer asks you to cross the line.
Read Article →What Pilots Get Wrong About Private Carriage and Part 91 Ops
Private Carriage sounds like “private flying,” but it’s actually a certificated operation. Here’s what you can and can’t do as a commercial pilot under Part 91, and why the word “carriage” always means you need an operator certificate.
Read Article →How to Effectively Teach Aeronautical Decision Making in Flight Training
Teaching ADM goes beyond rote memorization and maneuver precision. Learn how to move past “learning circus tricks” and incorporate scenario-based training, progressive decision-making, and real-world experience into your instruction.
Read Article →Understanding Engine Failure Modes
The prop doesn’t stop. The cockpit doesn’t go quiet. The gauges don’t zero out. Why real engine failures look nothing like what you’ve practiced, and how that confusion has led to fatal stall/spin accidents.
Read Article →The Reality of Being a DPE: Challenges, Misconceptions, and Solutions
No contract, no union, no bill of rights. A look at the tenuous nature of the DPE appointment, the math behind the examiner shortage, pilot overproduction, and incremental solutions to fix the system.
Read Article →Instrument Pilot Checkride Study Guide: Deep Dive into the ACS
A three-part series dissecting AOO I of the Instrument ACS — Pilot Qualifications, Weather Information, and Cross-Country Flight Planning — with every element broken down and scenario-based learning examples.
Read Article →Decoding the Private Pilot ACS — 5-Part Video Series
A DPE goes element-by-element through the Private Pilot ACS with scenario-based examples, ForeFlight demonstrations, and the VSL ACE Guide. Covers Tasks A through E: Pilot Qualifications, Airworthiness, Weather, Cross-Country Planning, and Airspace.
Start with Part 1 →Demystifying DPE Checkride Fees: A Personal and Financial Perspective
“Why does my exam cost so much?” A detailed financial breakdown of what it actually takes to work as a DPE, the market forces behind rising fees, and the personal trade-offs of choosing this career over the airlines.
Read Article →Checkride Wait Times – A DPE’s Perspective
Six proposed solutions to the checkride backlog: centralized scheduling, better applicant screening, FAA oversight reform, splitting oral and flight exams, and why DPEs need a Bill of Rights.
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