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FSDO’s and Checkride Assignment

Asked by: 3828 views Flight Instructor, General Aviation, Helicopter, Student Pilot

If I submitted paperwork to a FSDO in one state and got a DPE assigned to me, can I still submit in another state for the same check ride?  Reason being is this examiner has about a 30% pass rate, and he's impossible to get a hold of to setup a time and date for the examination. Waste of my time, efforts, and money. Can I cancel my check ride here in this state and try and get another examiner in a different state is my main question

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1 Answers



  1. Kris Kortokrax on Jun 23, 2016

    The short answer is that you are not locked into taking the practical test with that DPE. You may take the test anywhere in the country.

    Having said that, have you considered that the reason why the DPE has a 70% failure rate is that 70% of the applicants show up ill prepared for the test? It is highly unlikely that the DPE has a mindset that he is purposely going to fail 7 out of 10 applicants. He wants people to pass. It is bad for business for an examiner to have a high failure rate. How did you come by the statistic for his failure rate? I’m sure that the FAA does not provide this information and I am equally sure that the DPE would not advertise it. If your information comes from your flight school, then they should have knowledge of their own students pass/fail rate, but not the rest of the world. If you school has a high failure rate, it says more about the school, than the examiner.

    Another problem you might encounter by going to another state is helicopter rental. Unless the other state is close enough to fly your school’s helicopter to the test, you will have a difficult time renting a helicopter for the flight check.

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