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Flight Instructor Applicant Information

Prepping for the CFI Checkride

The Initial Flight Instructor checkride is usually the most challenging that a pilot will undertake in their career, as it tests not only just flying skills, but flight instructing skills while still safely operating the aircraft. The responsibility bestowed upon a CFI demands a high standard, as once that CFI certificate is issued, that individual not only is responsible for allowing other to operate an aircraft solo, but will certify to the Designated Examiner or FAA Inspector that the applicant has been trained in accordance with the regulation and can do all operations safety. As an Examiner, we only get a few hours to spend with an applicant to ensure that they meet the standard. The CFI will spend many hours with the applicant, and will have a much more in depth understanding of the applicants capabilities.

Basic Information

There a three phases to a practical test:

Qualification Phase
This is where all of your training documents are checked (logbook or training record), Aircraft logbooks and documents, and we establish that you have met all the requirements to begin the test.
Oral Exam
This is where we go over the items in the ACS that will be tested orally and your knowledge will be evaluated to ensure you have an adequate working knowledge to function safety as a Private Pilot. The Oral Exam must be successfully completed in order to advance to the Flight Portion.
Flight Exam
This is where the remaining items not tested orally or test in conjunction with the oral segments are evaluated. Most well prepared applicants can complete the flight in about 1.5 hours, depending on location and traffic.

There are three possible outcomes once you being the practical test:

Temporary Airmen Certificate Issued
You have successfully completed all required items and found qualified to act as a Private Pilot.
Notice of Disapproval
You have failed to meet the standard on one or more tasks. At this point, you must return to your instructor and get remedial training. When your instructor finds you competent on the items that you have failed on, they will re endorse you for a retake exam. The Notice of Disapproval will also give you credit for the items that you have successfully completed, and at the examiners discretion, you will not be required to repeat the items that you have already passed. This Notice is good for 60 days. If you do not take the retest within those 60 days, you will be required to take the entire practical test over again. In order to take the retest, you will have to complete another application, and there will be a retest fee that will have to be paid to the examiner.
Letter of Discontinuance
This letter states that you could not complete the entire exam due to circumstances beyond your control. (Illness, Weather, Mechanical). It will give you credit for the items you have completed successfully. You have 60 days from the beginning of the exam to complete all items. This is not a fail, and will not require another endorsement or application to continue the test. There is no extra fee for a discontinuance.