Welcome Guest. Sign in or Signup

5 Answers

DPE never signed my Private or CFII ride

Asked by: 1845 views FAA Regulations, Flight Instructor, General Aviation, Private Pilot

Hello everyone,

I was going through my logbook and noticed that my DPE never signed my Private check ride logbook entry. Later on in my logbook I noticed that the DPE who did my CFI-I check ride never signed my logbook entry either. These were two different DPE’s. If two different DPE’s did the same thing by not signing, I assume this is okay? The weird part is the DPE’s who did my Instrument, Commercial, CFI, and Multiengine check rides DID sign my logbook entries. Is the a preference thing? Is it required for them to sign it? The DPE who did my Private Check ride passed away a few years ago, so obviously I wouldn’t be able to contact him anyways and get him to sign it now. 

The main reason I ask is because I have a logbook review with an airline coming up and I wanted to make sure I’m in the clear. I obviously have the permanent hard copy certificates that shows I am certified and did pass that check ride.

Ace Any FAA Written Test!
Actual FAA Questions / Free Lifetime Updates
The best explanations in the business
Fast, efficient study.
Pass Your Checkride With Confidence!
FAA Practical Test prep that reflects actual checkrides.
Any checkride: Airplane, Helicopter, Glider, etc.
Written and maintained by actual pilot examiners and master CFIs.
The World's Most Trusted eLogbook
Be Organized, Current, Professional, and Safe.
Highly customizable - for student pilots through pros.
Free Transition Service for users of other eLogs.
Our sincere thanks to pilots such as yourself who support AskACFI while helping themselves by using the awesome PC, Mac, iPhone/iPad, and Android aviation apps of our sponsors.

5 Answers



  1. John D Collins on Aug 18, 2022

    The DPE is not providing instruction and you are PIC on the check ride, so I don’t see a requirement for your log book to be signed by the DPE. I just checked my logbooks and the DPE never signed my private or commercial check ride log book entry. The instrument check ride and my instructor check ride were signed.

    +2 Votes Thumb up 2 Votes Thumb down 0 Votes



  2. Bryan on Aug 18, 2022

    Every check ride I ever had, the DPE asked if I wanted them to sign my logbook and explained that it is not required but they’re willing to do it. I had them do it for my CFI ride, the rest I didn’t worry about it.

    +1 Votes Thumb up 1 Votes Thumb down 0 Votes



  3. Luv2Fly13 on Aug 19, 2022

    Not required

    0 Votes Thumb up 0 Votes Thumb down 0 Votes



  4. Mark Kolber on Aug 21, 2022

    A DPE signing the logbook for a checkride is a matter of custom, not regulation. Some do, some don’t.

    0 Votes Thumb up 0 Votes Thumb down 0 Votes



  5. Jeff Baum on Aug 21, 2022

    I give the applicant the option. Some want me to sign, some don’t, some are so excited that they’re too busy with their phone letting everyone know that they passed that I don’t think that they hear me.

    The airline interviewers will not care either way.

    +1 Votes Thumb up 1 Votes Thumb down 0 Votes


The following terms have been auto-detected the question above and any answers or discussion provided. Click on a term to see its definition from the Dauntless Aviation JargonBuster Glossary.

Answer Question

Our sincere thanks to all who contribute constructively to this forum in answering flight training questions. If you are a flight instructor or represent a flight school / FBO offering flight instruction, you are welcome to include links to your site and related contact information as it pertains to offering local flight instruction in a specific geographic area. Additionally, direct links to FAA and related official government sources of information are welcome. However we thank you for your understanding that links to other sites or text that may be construed as explicit or implicit advertising of other business, sites, or goods/services are not permitted even if such links nominally are relevant to the question asked.