The Mock Check Ride: Find Your Weak Spots

A practice check ride before you meet your examiner could help you pass.

Tuesday, July 05, 2022 at 08:22 AM ET

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Before you sit with a designated pilot examiner, a mock check ride can work out a lot of bugs. [File photo: Adobe Stock]

Key Takeaways:

Mock check rides are crucial for pilot applicants, especially when conducted by an outside instructor, to identify and address "soft spots" in knowledge or skills that might be overlooked during primary training.
These mock rides comprehensively prepare applicants by testing all aspects of the FAA Airman Certification Standards (ACS), including detailed flight planning, logbook review, FARs, and correcting misconceptions using official FAA resources.
A key benefit is the emphasis on practical decision-making, emergency procedures, and real-world application of knowledge, which provides applicants with a clear understanding of expectations and a roadmap for improvement, boosting their confidence for the actual check ride.

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I want to preface this piece by saying I am not a designated pilot examiner (DPE). I have been a CFI since July 23, 2003, at 4:48 p.m.—it was like giving birth, I remember it vividly—and I have racked up thousands of hours as an instructor, but I am not a DPE. I’d rather be teaching someone than evaluating them at the end. Sometimes, I get to do both when I perform a mock check ride to help prepare an applicant for a test. It is important that they know what to expect.

Recently, I encountered a private pilot applicant who was angry after failing the oral portion of the check ride. He felt that his instructor did not properly prepare him, and he had no idea how unprepared he was until he found himself across the table from the DPE—who was allegedly getting so frustrated he was raising his voice and interrupting the applicant as he attempted to answer the questions. The applicant was confused, asking if that was how a check ride was supposed to go.