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In the debut episode of Checkride Insights, I sit down with fellow Arkansas DPE Tom Guillebeau to talk about what he’s seeing on checkrides — from incomplete documentation and nervous applicants to the balance between giving concise answers and demonstrating PIC-level knowledge.

Key Takeaways

• Incomplete documentation is the #1 problem. Missing signatures, missing names/numbers on endorsements, outdated logbooks, and endorsements that don’t specify which practical test. Use AC 61-65J to get endorsements right.
• Don’t start talking the instant a question is asked. Nervous applicants often blurt out wrong information and then keep digging. Take a breath. If you don’t understand the question, ask the examiner to repeat or clarify it.
• Answer at a PIC level, not a student pilot level. Don’t just define a system — explain how you’d handle it if it failed. If you can describe the failure modes and your backup plan, you’ve covered knowledge and risk management in one answer.
• Know your avionics. If your airplane has a G1000 or AHRS, know how it works beyond the first page of the manual. If you tell the examiner AHRS is “operated by GPS,” expect a lot more questions.
• It’s OK to look things up on the ground. The examiner is fine with you referencing a document during the oral — you’re demonstrating resourcefulness. But you can’t look up cloud clearance requirements while you’re flying toward them.
• Study the skills section of the ACS. If you prepare for every skill element, you’ll naturally be ready for the knowledge and risk management questions that go with them.