A number of pilots could spend the holidays arranging to retake their check rides for certain instrument and instructor ratings following a notice from the FAA.
“The FAA is requiring certain pilots who received check rides from a former designated pilot examiner in Alaska to contact their local Flight Standards District Office,” the agency said in a statement separate from the notice, adding that “approximately 140 check rides are involved.”
In its notice, the agency named Donald R. Lee, the longtime instructor, DPE, and bush and mountain pilot, as the examiner under scrutiny.
“As a result of an investigation by the FAA of the certification activities of Mr. Lee, the Administrator [of the FAA] determined that there is reason to believe that the competency of the airmen examined by Mr. Lee from the period of July 2018 through May 2022 is in doubt,” the agency said.
“As a result of the evidence obtained during the investigation,” the FAA said, the airmen in question will have to be reexamined “to ensure safety in air commerce.” The FAA also said the reexaminations “will be limited to instrument ratings and flight instructor instrument exams.”
Mr. Lee has not responded to requests for comment. The FAA notice does not reveal the findings of its investigation in detail nor does it address exactly what Mr. Lee might have done, or failed to do, in order to bring on the investigation.
Affected pilots will have to contact the Anchorage FSDO within 10 business days of receiving notification from the FAA to schedule a reexamination.
