FAA Notifies Dozens of Pilots That They Must Be Reexamined for Certain Ratings

Agency questions ‘competency’ of certain pilots examined by Donald Lee.

Thursday, December 22, 2022 at 05:43 PM ET

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Ski flying is one of the specialties of instructor Don Lee and his Alaska Floats & Skis operation in Talkeetna, Alaska. [Courtesy: Alaska Floats & Skis]

Key Takeaways:

The FAA is requiring approximately 140 pilots to retake certain instrument and instructor check rides following an investigation.
The reexaminations are for pilots who received their certifications from former Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) Donald R. Lee in Alaska.
An FAA investigation into Lee's activities raised doubts about the competency of airmen he examined between July 2018 and May 2022, necessitating reexaminations for safety.
Affected pilots must contact the Anchorage FSDO within 10 business days of notification to schedule their reexamination.

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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.”