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Don’t Learn or Teach Flying the Hard Way

Instructors and examiners must ensure they protect themselves in many aspects.

An instructor and a student preflight a Cessna 152 before a lesson. [Credit: Richard Steiger]
An instructor and a student preflight a Cessna 152 before a lesson. [Credit: Richard Steiger]
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • The process of pilot certification has become overly complex and plagued by "incredible delays" due to a severe shortage and quality issues with Designated Pilot Examiners (DPEs), a stark contrast to the simpler system of the past.
  • Bureaucratic inefficiencies in the FAA's management of DPE programs contribute to widespread industry frustration and significant bottlenecks in pilot and instructor certifications.
  • Flight instructors, particularly independent contractors, must diligently understand their employment status, tax responsibilities, and ensure comprehensive insurance coverage in today's increasingly litigious aviation landscape.
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This is not the kind of column I enjoy writing, but it’s important information, so struggle through it with me.

 Life was ever so much simpler in the old days. 

Martha Lunken

Martha Lunken is a lifelong pilot, former FAA inspector and defrocked pilot examiner. She flies a Cessna 180 and anything with a tailwheel, from Cubs to DC-3s.

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