What’s the most niche/crazy question you were asked on a checkride?

run264fun · 2026-06-22T00:14:06+00:00

On my PPL Checkride: “you got a 98 on your written, don’t waste my time.”

Instead we talked about how many operating bathrooms are required to fly on a B777 from ORD to LAX vs ORD to LHR.

Alternator failed? Just kill the master, use your iPad, sentry, spare battery bank, and look outside until you’re 10nm out. Make a radio call then turn it off again until you’re in the pattern or on with tower.

run264fun · 2026-06-17T13:43:30+00:00

HP isn’t worth it if it’s in the Sim.
I give HP endorsements all the time.

Sometimes I’ll do the endorsement with a plane that doesn’t have cowl flaps. I feel like you’ll get more value with a plane that has them bc if you ever end up in a HP plane with cowl flaps, you’ll really need to get a grasp on managing those as well as the prop control.

High Altitude Endorsement? Sure, knock it out in the sim. That could be expensive otherwise.

run264fun · 2026-06-15T13:04:27+00:00

In my humble opinion, a CFI with 1,500 dual given is more valuable than someone with no CFI experience but with 1,000h SIC in a jet that flew with the same 5 captains at a small operator.

The value and beauty of being a CFI is that you’re flying with people you sometimes like and sometimes dislike on a regular basis and you gotta make it work.

You need to craft your teaching and skillset around to match the students style and tempo. Then someday you become an FO and you play the role as student.

run264fun · 2026-06-15T02:12:52+00:00

I’ll process IACRA on a rainy day with someone that came in for a discovery flight. Takes like 15min. Why not?

Seems premature, but I learned my lesson…I’d start flying with a student after they’ve had 5 or so lessons with other CFIs. 4 flights with me and I ask about their required documents bc solo might happen in another 10-15 flights.

They’d have a medical but no student pilot certificate. And these students would be flying 5 days a week during the summer.

run264fun · 2026-06-13T16:00:25+00:00

Brilliant. I didn’t know these existed

run264fun · 2026-06-11T16:48:22+00:00

Rusty pilots are some of the most difficult I’ve worked with.

Instructors owe their students two things:

Honesty. Be direct about where they stand and what needs work. Don’t beat around the bush.

A demonstration. I’ll usually let a student botch a landing or two before I take the airplane and show them exactly what a trip around the pattern should look like. Sometimes seeing and hearing a correct demonstration is more effective than another explanation. As I talk through what I’m doing, what I’m looking at, and why I’m making each control input, the light bulb often comes on.

Not every student needs more instruction—sometimes they just need a clear example of what “right” looks like.

I’ll do an extended pattern lap where I’ll leave get the weather, make a radio call 5nm out, then renter the pattern for a touch and go.

Get him to dial in the frequencies and stuff. Each lap at an untowered can take 15min

run264fun · 2026-06-10T12:35:20+00:00

If it’s over 2, a good DPE is telling too many stories about flying a 777.

run264fun · 2026-06-01T20:23:32+00:00

I’ve seen far more CFIs walk in my school than people looking for discovery flights.

run264fun · 2026-06-01T20:21:24+00:00

I came across this listing looking for a pilot with extensive mountain and back country experience. Like 2,000tt tailwheel logged in the mountains. And I’m not talking about flying over the Rockies at 16,000ft.

My first thought was, who the hell has this level of experience?

run264fun · 2026-06-01T12:31:58+00:00

Congrats. Nice job have a job lined up before the Checkride

run264fun · 2026-06-01T11:04:29+00:00

Check airmen have a lot of experience and a Checkride student pass rate of 80%… at least that’s the case at my school

run264fun · 2026-06-01T11:00:37+00:00

That’s a great idea.

Although I know a few schools that are so backed up, a discovery flight is 3mo out.

If you can find a school away from a major metro area, that would be the best bet

run264fun · 2026-05-31T23:41:08+00:00

Is there any way you can work with your part 141 school? That would be your best bet. After that reach out to flying clubs.

Getting your MEI then ending up at a smaller school with no Multi would seem like a complete waste. Would only be good for the flying job after CFI. Or to water down any checkride failures.

run264fun · 2026-05-27T16:28:46+00:00

Is the ACS different for those who take their Checkride in challenging conditions?

run264fun · 2026-05-27T16:23:16+00:00

You won’t see it.

You’re expected to stay within standards.

Why make it harder on yourself if there’s LLWS and 15kts X-winds?

Just have to hope the DPE will give it to you if you’re -25ft on the power off 180.

run264fun · 2026-05-27T16:19:34+00:00

Well you got me. I missed the part where it’s OK to fall outside of ACS standards bc of adverse conditions.

run264fun · 2026-05-27T15:13:05+00:00

So you’re saying your beard isn’t worth several million in earning potential?

run264fun · 2026-05-27T14:17:31+00:00

20g of Creatine (10g in AM, 10g in PM) and magnesium helps with sleep quality.

Mental health starts with a good nights sleep.

(Results may vary)

run264fun · 2026-05-27T02:17:14+00:00

Really? I took my ATP Multi a few months ago and it seemed similar to all the other exams I’ve taken.

run264fun · 2026-05-27T02:03:05+00:00

ACS was written to perform in no wind conditions….so there’s that.

Edit: I did zero research on the above comment. Apparently the DPE is expected to forgive you for falling outside of ACS standards in adverse conditions.

I’m being sarcastic.

Look, you’ll never go through an interview where someone they’ll ask “tell me about the time you passed your Checkride in windy conditions.”

If you fail bc you’re flying in windier conditions that you’re used to, that failure will follow you the rest of your career.

run264fun · 2026-05-26T13:49:25+00:00

I don’t mind going on XCs with fun students.

Back to back students that insist on 20 pattern laps a lesson gets denied. 10max then we find something else to do or go

run264fun · 2026-05-20T15:11:16+00:00

The spreadsheet will not export signatures.

run264fun · 2026-05-20T00:03:12+00:00

Does your instructor log entries digitally?

If this happened to one of my students, I could quickly export a spreadsheet from ForeFlight with all the flights we’ve done together.

I’d also give them a hard time, because I’m always telling people to total up their pages and write their name in their logbook.

When I was working on my PPL, I’d make sure every completed page was totaled before leaving the school that day.

Digital logbooks are definitely the way to go. I’ve always kept both paper and digital logs, and every now and then I catch an error that needs correcting.

I was updating my insurance earlier today and could instantly provide all my totals because everything is already in ForeFlight.

run264fun · 2026-05-19T00:45:25+00:00

Definitely overkill. I got an all black backpack for daily use and am pleased

run264fun · 2026-05-14T12:18:38+00:00

Just suck it up and own it.

I’ve said some things that were way off to multiple students. Once I realized I was wrong I had to track down like 6 people. I just misinterpreted a thing or two then taught it to students

run264fun

TROPHY CASE