DPEs Report Workforce Shortage as Symposium Approaches

The FSANA event offers resources for pilots interested in becoming designated pilot examiners.

Thursday, September 01, 2022 at 01:47 PM ET

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FLYING contributor Jason Blair, a DPE who attended the symposium last year in Tennessee, says he's curious to hear from the FAA about the number of DPEs that are providing check rides on a regular basis. [Courtesy: Jason Blair]

Key Takeaways:

A significant shortage of Designated Pilot Examiners (DPEs) is creating challenges for pilot applicants, with most DPEs working part-time and many approaching retirement age.
This DPE scarcity leads to long wait times for practical tests, further exacerbated by the high demand from flight schools addressing a broader pilot shortage.
The annual Designated Pilot Examiners Symposium, hosted by FSANA, aims to improve the pilot testing process, develop best practices with the FAA, and encourage more qualified individuals to become DPEs.

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If you’ve taken a check ride in the past three years, you probably noticed that getting the appointment with a designated pilot examiner was a bit of a challenge. There aren’t that many to go around—especially when flight schools are churning out applicants to meet the demand of the pilot shortage. If you would like to be a DPE, check out the Designated Pilot Examiners Symposium in Phoenix, Arizona, on October 11 and 12.

DPEs test candidates from the private pilot level all the way up to airline transport pilot, and their services are very much in demand.