The pilot shortage sweeping through the regional airline industry has also been partially responsible for a shortage of available flight instructors. Buried inside the data on that shortage is the realization that we’re also short of designated pilot examiners, mostly the local CFIs given the nod by the FAA to deliver checkrides on behalf of the agency. Like the rest of the pilot population, DPE’s are aging. Not long ago, the DPE ranks hovered at about 1,500. Today that number is hovering closer to 850 to cover the 78,000 checkrides given each year. That works out to about 95 checkrides per year each, but of course that’s only an average. Not all DPEs are handling 95 checkrides per year.
Timely Scheduling of Checkrides is Still a Problem in Some Locations
Key Takeaways:
- The U.S. is experiencing a severe shortage of Designated Pilot Examiners (DPEs), with their numbers significantly declining (from ~1,500 to ~850), leading to checkride scheduling delays of up to 4-6 months in some regions.
- This DPE shortage is significantly hindering the pilot training pipeline, forcing students to travel long distances for checkrides and is exacerbated by an aging DPE population and increased demand for new pilots.
- Causes for the shortage are debated, with some attributing it to internal FAA disagreements and inconsistent local FSDO interpretations, while others blame flight schools' scheduling practices or the FAA's slow pace in backfilling open DPE positions.
- Industry organizations like FSANA are actively working with the FAA to address the issue, advocating for quicker checkride scheduling and establishing direct communication channels for industry feedback due to widespread anxiety over potential reprisal.
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