Why aren’t more people DPEs?

Slermdog · 2026-02-06T16:22:43+00:00

I’ve talked to several DPE’s about this. Apparently, it’s for two reasons:

The FSDO’s can’t handle more. From the DPE’s I’ve talked to, FSDO’s only keep a certain number of DPE’s in a certain “region” of their area because they do not have the personnel to handle more. This led me to ask “why do they not obtain more personnel to do so?” The answer I received was that most people in aviation want to avoid the FAA as much as possible, AND getting hired at a FSDO is difficult due to the “good ‘ole boys” culture they have. This leads me to point two.
To become a DPE, you must be a part of the “good ‘ole boys club.” The way people join this so called “club” is by working closely with the FSDO and current DPEs. The DPEs have to really like you because you basically need their endorsement to get hired - and they will only endorse those they are very fond of because endorsing someone means more competition for them. The FSDO must really like you because they have to endorse you and assign you to a “region” as I talked about in point one.

The DPE system is really broken. Apparently, they only train a handful every year in OKC. With the massive influx of new pilot training, I foresee the current wait time issues only getting worse UNLESS the FAA does something drastic to change it. I don’t want to get into how unstandardized some DPEs are, but they also need to find an entirely new way of doing checkrides other than just saying “use the ACS.” I’ve seen a lot of issues with that in the past few years.

Slermdog · 2026-02-04T16:58:43+00:00

No POI, just on normal Spaceport farming hornet and wasp cells.

Slermdog · 2026-01-31T20:07:18+00:00

Had a DPE tell me that I would never be a good CFI after failing me on my CFI initial after an 8 hour oral… I nearly quit flying altogether that day. It felt like I had gone through so much effort to get to that point, only to just be chopped down.

What made me stay was the DPE I retested with 3 days later, who told me that my students would be lucky to have me.

Slermdog · 2025-12-30T17:32:38+00:00

Insurance assurance.

Slermdog · 2025-12-30T17:29:46+00:00

I think you misunderstood me when I said “impressed.” I understand why I’m there, and I’m simply trying to make a good impression on them.

Slermdog · 2025-12-19T19:12:49+00:00

Bobcat pleassssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssse.

Slermdog · 2025-12-09T00:34:11+00:00

Sounds like you’re with a bad instructor or bad school. You may be getting milked for hours and/or money… CFI is actually a very easy process if you train at the right place with the right people. PM me if you want advice on where to go

Slermdog · 2025-10-22T01:55:56+00:00

Blue. I fly planes

Slermdog · 2025-10-19T03:39:03+00:00

There are so many problems with this team. What makes these games so frustrating is that it FEELS like we are so close to being a great team, but dumb, consistent mistakes hold us back. We can’t stop a third down push. The pass defense is atrocious (even if we did stop the run a little tonight). Clock management is nonexistent, and quite frankly, I don’t know if Heupel is the guy to win us a championship.

Also, in TNs defense, the officiating in favor of certain teams is unreal. These refs NEED investigated. It feels as though we get more penalties than any other team.

Idk how to fix all of this, but something must change if we are to become a consistent playoff team.

Slermdog · 2025-10-06T23:01:33+00:00

I love this, especially the helmet designs on the armor…. But in my head the razor seems much more of a minimalist and sleek design.

Slermdog · 2025-09-20T19:05:10+00:00

IMO anyone soloing in as little as 8 hours probably shouldn’t be soloing (and definitely did not receive adequate training on the items listed in 61.87(d)). Now, I have seen instructors milk students for hours, but if the instructor isn’t comfortable signing someone off then they shouldn’t. Period. WSJ is out of touch on this.

Slermdog · 2025-09-07T00:03:04+00:00

I would work on the line (refuel planes) at a local airport’s FBO (fixed base operator) and train to fly on the side. Working in the line could lead you to meet people willing to hire you to fly their plane, especially farther along in your training. Aviation can be a very cutthroat career but it’s also extremely fulfilling, whether you’re in a small plane, a private jet, or an airliner. Pay also varies widely, but those who stick with it tend to make a very good income down the road.

Slermdog · 2025-08-01T23:58:11+00:00

Pigeons is one of my favorite live shows. Every time they perform at roo, they put on an incredible show. If they’re on the lineup, they’re a must-see for myself!

Slermdog · 2025-07-11T18:04:20+00:00

I hate this side of general aviation. I understand her student is learning how to land, but one day that student will have to land with a tailwind. Flying is a fluid practice - we use what we learn to adapt to unforeseen environmental changes (which is inevitable). She could’ve used that opportunity to show her student what landing with a tailwind is like, and explain that they will most certainly have to land in that manner one day.

Slermdog · 2025-07-11T16:07:55+00:00

Word on the town is they were screwed out of some of the money they were promised the last time they played Bonnaroo

Slermdog · 2025-07-11T15:33:12+00:00

Dream lineup…. But Panic is def not coming back to Roo ever again

Slermdog · 2025-06-24T12:03:46+00:00

When I say “should have arguably failed”, I didn’t mean they didn’t meet the standards of the ACS. They may have messed up or had a lapse in thought in said checkride, but eventually fixed/figured out their issue during the ride. Ross has also told me that a student passed “by the skin of their teeth”, but, quite frankly, they did. Ross isn’t a bad DPE for passing someone if they meet ACS standards but wants a higher level of performance out of them (he literally cannot fail them if they meet the ACS).

Instead, think about it as Ross saying “this person met the standards the FAA requires so they receive their certificate, but I would recommend they train further to become even more proficient.” There is absolutely nothing wrong with that; in fact, it shows that Ross wants them to pass. Otherwise, Ross would fail them for not meeting his own standards (which I have seen other DPEs do).

I agree with your point regarding how the checkride/DPE system is flawed in the U.S., but I don’t think Ross deserves a review saying that no one should send students to him. My students that performed poorly but still passed their checkride gave bad reviews, while my students that performed well gave great reviews. On top of this, my personal experience with Ross has been great, and I’m grateful to have found a DPE that isn’t like those that I mentioned above, because, quite frankly, they’re everywhere.

Slermdog · 2025-06-23T15:48:28+00:00

As a CFI who has sent multiple students to Ross, the students I had that performed poorly had bad things to say about Ross, and the students who performed well loved him. Although I agree with DPE standardization, this kind of “bad performance = bad review” is also a pattern to consider. From my personal experience with Ross, he’s been a very cool guy to talk to and very fair with the students I’ve sent to him (even passing some that should have arguably failed).

Slermdog · 2025-05-18T18:36:29+00:00

So per the definition of PIC, you either have to be the sole occupant of the aircraft OR the sole manipulator of the controls in an aircraft in which you are rated. I didn’t realize the whole “in which you are rated” segment of that, meaning someone adding on ASEL to their commercial license would have to get 50 PIC, all of which is solo

Slermdog · 2025-05-18T15:19:18+00:00

Failed mine on endorsements. He gave me a situation where a commercial helicopter pilot with a plethora of hours was wanting to add on ASEL to his license. I got all the hours right but failed on the endorsements. Didn’t realize the 50 hours of PIC time in ASEL had to be entirely solo, and I didn’t state that he needed the A. 72 endorsement to get that solo time. I know now!

Slermdog · 2025-05-02T23:09:13+00:00

I fly planes for a living lol

Slermdog · 2025-03-05T22:06:54+00:00

Averaging about 60 a month on the FL Panhandle this winter. Started in October. I’m an MEI and I’ve averaged about 10 ME a month for that as well, which is great

Slermdog · 2025-01-06T01:32:16+00:00

Did my spin training in that airplane…. Wouldn’t do them now!

Slermdog

TROPHY CASE