7 Ways to Control Your Check Ride Destiny

If it feels like the many requirements for your check ride aren't lining up, you are not alone.

Tuesday, August 15, 2023 at 11:29 AM ET

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Learners who get very attached to their instructors might be willing to wait for that CFI to become more available. In doing so, however, they risk putting their training on hold. [Credit: Daryl LaBello/Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University]

Key Takeaways:

Securing a pilot check ride is a complex process with numerous factors (e.g., applicant, aircraft, examiner, weather, paperwork) that must align, often leading to significant delays and frustration.
To overcome these challenges, pilots should remain flexible by not relying solely on a particular CFI or aircraft, and be prepared to seek alternative instructors, flight schools, or even travel for "finish-up" programs.
Thorough preparation of both the pilot (proficiency, logbooks, IACRA) and the aircraft (maintenance logs, airworthiness) is critical to avoid check ride postponements and additional fees.
Pilots should expect and persist through frustration, be wary of exploitative practices, and ensure proper documentation to successfully complete their certification journey.

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Are you familiar with the Swiss cheese model for accidents? It teaches us that when all the risk factors—the holes—line up, accidents happen.

The model can also be applied to check rides, except instead of the holes being risks, they are requirements for the check ride to happen. Sometimes it can feel like the holes will never line up, and you may feel like you’ve wasted hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars. If you have ever felt this way, you are not alone.