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:
- A severe and worsening shortage of Designated Pilot Examiners (DPEs) has drastically reduced their numbers (from ~1,500 to ~850), creating significant bottlenecks in pilot checkride scheduling.
- This shortage causes substantial delays, with some pilot applicants waiting 4 to 6 months for checkrides, particularly in high-demand areas like California and Florida.
- While blame is debated (aging DPEs, FAA recruitment issues, or flight school practices), industry groups like FSANA are pressing the FAA to accelerate DPE backfilling and improve checkride scheduling times, with industry members often unwilling to speak on record due to fear of reprisal.
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