Browse DPEs

Ken Shepherd runs scenario-based orals and likes to make small talk first to settle your nerves. He once counted how many times a CFI applicant said "runway incursion" during a lesson, and he spun a quarter on the table to teach gyroscopic rigidity. He helped one private applicant pull the plane into the sun to melt ice before the flight.

Greg Madriaga is a calm A&P examiner who treats the oral like a real conversation about flying. He digs deep on maintenance logs, AV1ATE compliance, and weight and balance, and he loves a good scenario with an inop item buried inside. He once owned an Aztec, so on twin rides he knows the systems cold.

Jay Brentzel checks your aircraft logbooks himself, so let him work and stay quiet. He runs the oral line by line from the PTS, loves a tabbed FAR/AIM, and on CFI rides he plays a 10 to 15 hour student you must teach. He cares about COVID precautions on some rides, asking applicants to wear a mask and skip the handshake.

John Hardy builds his instrument oral around a real cross-country plan from KMYF to KONT with KVCV as your alternate. He wants you to round performance numbers up for safety, prove climb compliance against the ODP, and verify altitude and DME at the final approach fix. On the flight he watches quietly, so fly the airplane first and keep your talking short.

Dave Leonard is an aviation attorney, so he hands you the FARs and asks you to read and interpret them on the spot. He guides you toward answers instead of grading memorization, but he expects real professionalism and clean paperwork. He failed one CFI applicant over a weight and balance error the applicant refused to stop and check.

Pat Hill is an old-school examiner who loves paper charts and real-world scenarios. He plans your cross-country to push you over gross, then watches how you handle it. He asks questions different ways until he gets the answer he wants, so know your systems cold.

Alex Silva runs an open-book oral that feels like a conversation, and he likes when the student leads. He cares about the big picture over tiny details, so he wants to hear how you handle an engine fire on start or a power loss on climbout. Take your time, pull out your checklists, and show him what you know.

Julie Keane builds her checkride around a real cross country, often from Montgomery Field, then points to spots on the chart and asks what airspace, weather, and comms apply. She rewards decision making that puts safety first, like flying greater than minimum fuel reserves and stating personal minimums before she asks. Know every symbol on your sectional and approach charts, because her airspace questions lean hard on the chart legend.

Mark Boss wants a conversation, not a lecture, so keep him engaged through the oral. He digs hard into SoCal airspace, Vmc factors, and wind correction, and he likes to move at a quick pace. Five reports across PPL, CMEL, and CFI show what he emphasizes and where pilots have stumbled.

Michelle Patrina runs the most by-the-book checkride you will ever take, and she follows the ACS or PTS line by line. She brings good snacks, asks if you want breaks, and tells you to drink water during the flight. She rewards preparation and organization, but she can flip a switch fast if you show up unready or do not know your oil.

Bernie Consol runs the CFII oral like a conversation, often doing most of the talking, but he expects you to know your approach plates cold. He digs deep on VDP calculation, enroute chart symbols, and the difference between LNAV, LNAV/VNAV, and LPV. Expect a published hold at KAVC, partial panel work, and an unusual attitude you both give and receive.

Quinton Smith flies out of MYF and CRQ and runs a scenario based oral built around the cross country plan you bring. He favors direct, concise answers and discourages outside notes, so stick to ForeFlight, your tabbed FAR/AIM, and your checklist. Expect him to dig into your weight and balance, climb performance, and how you qualify both yourself and the plane to fly.

Steve Campbell takes cash only and runs deep scenario orals out of KDXR. He loves real weight and balance math, density altitude recalculations, and weather go/no-go decisions across all ratings. He often runs late, sometimes very late, and looks hard at your logbook endorsements before you ever touch the plane.

Eric Cook is a stern, hard-to-read examiner who keeps the room relaxed but leaves no stone unturned. He is a huge stickler for aircraft paperwork, down to logbook entries for every STC and the 12-month battery capacity test for G5s. His oral follows the ACS verbatim, and one applicant failed on Lost Comms before passing the retest.

Ernie Pitts flies out of Santa Maria and runs his oral inside his hangar. He values professionalism, candidness, and a healthy respect for safety in a single engine airplane. Expect a careful logbook review, questions pulled straight from your written, and a relaxed conversation over coffee.

Julie Paasch runs a calm, scenario-based exam and tells you up front she's there to pass a safe pilot. She digs deep on logbooks and aircraft maintenance records, and she's known to catch an overflown AD that an applicant missed. Expect her to build the whole oral around a cross-country she has you plan, often with a fun twist like flying Taylor Swift to a concert.

Orion Kingman runs a scenario-based oral built around your cross-country plan, and he keeps it practical instead of quizzing memory items. He likes you organized, with logbooks tabbed and endorsements squared away before you start. On the flight he often knocks out landings first, then steers toward Lake Henshaw and Warner Springs for the maneuvers he knows well.

Carl Joseph Johnson wants to see your work on flight planning, so know the math behind your numbers. Across four reports, the examiner leans hard into systems, weather, partial panel, and weight and balance. Each rating brings its own flavor, from command authority on the CFI to business scenarios on the commercial.

Gail Sue Lapook digs into systems and scenarios, from blocked static ports to what you do when ATC clears you to circle and the airport never shows. She likes real-time weather walkthroughs on ForeFlight, lost communication procedures, and squawk codes. Expect VOR work, holding entries, and a frank talk about when regulations and good judgment pull in different directions.

James Duvall cares more about your understanding than your procedure, and he won't dig deeper if you know your material cold. He's methodical and story-driven, and he watches your coordination in maneuvers while a NOTAMs question trips up CFI applicants. Four reports across CFII, CPL, and CFI rides spell out where he focuses.

Scott Worthington spent decades with the FAA before becoming a San Diego DPE, and he steps applicants through aircraft documents and weather products in real depth. He likes a paper chart he can point at, and he rewards calculations you can show on paper. He is flexible on timing and works around fog, but he expects you to know your inspection intervals and your weight and balance cold.

Bruce builds his entire CFI oral around the FOIs, so know human needs, defense mechanisms, and assessments cold. He likes to open with a short video and ask how it connects to teaching, then drops you into scenarios to see how you react. The flight stays straightforward, but he expects you to instruct out loud while you fly.

Mr. Brandt may seem intimidating at first, but that fades once you start talking. He likes safety tangents, so point something out related to runway incursions and he gets happy. Expect a quick checkin, a four hour oral with breaks, and a watchful preflight.

James Reid runs a thorough oral and watches your VOR tracking closely on the flight. One private applicant earned a disapproval after losing the course during navigation. Across the private, commercial, and CFI rides on file, he digs into airspace, systems, and real teaching.

Jordan Bartel runs a relaxed checkride, and one IFR applicant said he seemed to want you to pass. He gives hints when you get confused, and he leans on real instrument currency math. Across three reports he keeps the focus on traffic avoidance, regulations, and clear thinking under pressure.

Mary Schu digs deep into the maintenance binder and wants you to point out every inspection date yourself. She loves scenarios, like flying a tail dragger your buddy offers or reading a weather brief together for hidden hazards. Both reports on file come from CFI applicants, so expect heavy regulation and teaching questions.

Norman Robinson runs a by the book CFI ride out of Apple Valley, PTS printout in hand, checking off each element as you teach. Expect a long oral near four and three quarter hours, plenty of his own storytelling, and a focus on the Fundamentals of Instruction. He wants you teaching to him like he is a CFI applicant, so come ready to present.

Patrick Nicholas Arnzen digs deep into aircraft systems and values solid fundamentals over a flawless performance. Expect a surprise combination landing back at home base on the private ride. Three reports are on file, and they paint a picture of a fair examiner worth preparing for.

Vincent Wittig acts like a real student during your presentations, so keep him engaged and teach him well. He runs focused orals and rewards anyone who arrives prepared, with documents laid out and IACRA ready to fly through. His website spells out exactly what he wants, including the three presentations and his weight for calculations.

Barry Brocato runs a relaxed, conversational CFII ground that leans hard into the pitot static system, weather hazards, and icing. He likes scenario thinking, asks you to teach him both a precision and non-precision approach, and quizzes chart symbology. On the flight he hands you a sticky note over the attitude indicator and lets you fly partial panel.

Brandon Ayers runs a scenario-based oral that feels like a conversation, not an interrogation. He talks through each ACS task, shares his own flying experience, and pushes you to justify your route choices. The single IFR report on file shows he knows real-world ATC routes and will test how you think.

Brandon Kuchmecki runs a thorough IFR check, and one applicant logged an eight hour day with two hours on the logbook alone. He is detail-oriented and called other examiners while reviewing paperwork, since he became a DPE fairly recently. He briefs the approach early and expects you to fly exactly what he assigned.

Brian Knauss builds his checkrides around a scenario and ties every question back to the ACS. He wants you to give him a reason to check the boxes off, and he will give you multiple chances to reach the right answer before he stops. Two applicants flew with him at KSDL, one PPL and one instrument, and both walked away calm about how he runs things.

Carol Zerbe runs a relaxed PPL ride built around mini scenarios with several questions tucked inside each one. One applicant called her fun, personable, and easy to talk to, and another noted she even skips the hard surprise questions. Know your oral exam guide and your nav log cold, and the rest gets easier.

Darryl Grace runs a closed-book oral and means it. One CFI applicant opened a binder to review the laws of learning, and Darryl told him to close it right away. He works from his laptop and iPad, asking for definitions and examples on every fundamentals of instruction topic he raises.

Dawn Zurcher loves VOR work, and she will hammer you with it through the oral and the flight. She drew a wind cone and runway, asked about a coyote on the runway, and dug into CG shifts as fuel burns off. Her checkrides reward solid planning, clear logic, and a thorough nav log.

Denny Green rewards sound judgment over textbook perfection, and the two reports on file say so plainly. The oral runs thorough, and one applicant flagged a weather briefing distinction worth knowing cold. Read what these pilots actually faced before you sit across the table.

Dwayne Alan Hoss is an Iowa DPE who digs into the niche corners of the rules. Expect tough questions on service volumes and holding procedures, plus surprise power-off work in the airplane. Show up with deep knowledge of regulations and systems or you will struggle.

Francesco Gozzo digs into the details that trip people up, like the difference between true course and true heading. He expects you to read a TAF one line at a time without interpolating, and he wants real numbers off the performance charts. The two reports on file include a PPL ride with a hazy dead reckoning leg and a CFI ride that raised safety concerns.

Greg Porter expects you to know fundamentals cold, especially Bravo entry clearance language and your fuel system. On the CFI side he plays the role of a returning student, so adjust your teaching to past lessons. He wants clean lesson plans with only the information that matters.

Jacob Hansen runs an IFR ride with solid oral coverage and real-world scenarios. Two pilots describe a supportive examiner who pushes on lost comm procedures and wants to see confident personal minimums. The first-hand write-ups fill in how the oral and flight actually played out.

Jay Lawrence likes to talk, and that talk runs deep through systems and your weak spots. Expect detailed fuel system drawings on the oral and gusty pattern work to close out the flight. Plan for a full day with this examiner.

Jen Watson runs a supportive checkride, but the basics get no slack. Expect meticulous checklist use and a steady focus on safety over a flawless performance. Skip the clearing turns and you will hear about it.

John Day Jeffers brings an FAA background in instrument procedures, so he scrutinizes technical knowledge closely. Expect sharp VOR and approach questions, plus a hard look at your tabbed documents and professionalism. Two reports are on file, one PPL and one CPL, and both point to a precise, detail-driven examiner.

Jose Moreno is a fair examiner who wants safe, knowledgeable pilots, not perfect robots. He digs into aerodynamics, systems, airspace, and your aircraft limitations, then springs a surprise engine fire on your cross-country leg. Go around when a landing looks off, and he will love it.

Joe Kinzer opens with a calm tone and compares the checkride to bowling, saying you can knock down 8 pins and come back for the rest. He digs into cross country planning, with real focus on flying around Chicago Bravo and the delta airspace near KARR and KDPA. His questions get specific on course, wind correction, magnetic variation, and Bravo shelf altitudes.

Juan Rivera is quirky, opinionated, and full of instructing stories from decades in the cockpit. He lectures hard and sometimes sounds like he disagrees with you, but he rewards applicants who know their memory aids cold. He flies out of KGPM and leans on mnemonics like AAVIATE, ATOMATOFLAMES, and AVIATES.

Kathryn Stanley runs a PPL checkride built around a clear ground sweep and a standard set of flight maneuvers. The one report on file describes a tidy checklist of topics, but it stays light on exact questions and the reasoning behind them. Read the gouge to see how the day breaks down before you fly with her.

Ken Spivey runs a checkride built on fundamentals, not gotchas. The reports show an examiner who wants you to know your regs cold and fly clean approaches. His private oral leans into teaching, and his diversion procedure gets its own attention.

Kevin Rothfus wants to see original materials and creative teaching on the CFI ride. He leans on FAA resources and real flight scenarios, so come ready to show how you actually instruct. The instrument applicant faced specific oral topics and approach procedures worth knowing before you fly.

Margaret Watt digs deep on the oral and tests your fundamentals before you ever start the engine. Her flight can throw multiple go-arounds and unconventional maneuvers at you, so come ready to adapt. Two pilots have flown with her and shared what to expect.

Mark Rebholz examines out of Wickenburg, and the two reports on file tell very different stories. On the CPL side, he pushes pilotage and real decision-making frameworks past simple rule-following. The CFII report tells a harder tale, so read both before you fly.

Michael Phillips tests straight by the ACS with no weird tricks, and he really wants you to pass. He briefs his stalls clearly, marks first indication versus full break, and hands you scenarios he expects you to act on right away. Expect a cute pin when you walk away with the certificate.

Mike Traud examines with a teaching mindset, blending scenario questions with real-world flying insight. The CFI ride leans on teaching methods and instructional thinking, while the MEI ride digs into multi-engine aerodynamics and endorsements. Two reports sit on file, and both show an examiner who wants you to think out loud.

Nicholas John Gregory runs a deep, theory-heavy oral, especially on the CFI side. Expect him to push hard on the Fundamentals of Instruction, from Maslow's needs to defense mechanisms and learning theories. He wants you to name the ACS by heart when the topic turns to learner self-critique.

Robby Turner runs a CFI checkride that digs into endorsement scenarios and the maneuvers you will teach every day. Expect to show real depth on the focus areas that matter for instructing, not just textbook answers. One report is on file, and it points to the topics worth your prep time.

Shawn Crump runs a thorough commercial checkride, from privileges all the way to emergency descents. Expect creative scenarios and detailed oral questions on systems and planning. The examiner watches the small things too, so know your aircraft lights cold.

Taylor Deley has flown since he was a kid at AJO, and he now flies the 737 for American out of LAX. He works through the ACS line by line and digs deep on your logbook, so your cross country PIC time better be solid. One applicant called him a great guy who makes you feel at ease and wants to see you pass.

Tony Gallegos showed up early for a 7:00AM instrument oral, which surprised the applicant who heard he runs late. His oral runs about two hours and leans hard on currency, equipment requirements, and real planning math. One applicant found his weight and balance scenario forced a fuel stop and a hard choice about leaving the bags behind.

Travis Alkire runs an IFR ride that rewards quick thinking and adaptability. Expect a focus on lost comms procedures, fuel planning rules, and holding that shifts with the weather. He moves fast on the oral and grades the ACS with some flexibility.

Tristan Gibbs runs a checkride that feels like a lesson, not a trap. Expect a deep flight plan talk, gear systems, and V1 scenarios, with practical judgment valued over memorized facts. Two pilots have shared what the oral and flight actually covered.

Wally Pitts runs his checkrides out of Arlington (GKY) and he tells you up front he wants you to pass. One CFII applicant called him one of his favorite DPEs, with a 1.5 hour ground that felt like a teaching session. He turns regs like 91.103 into learning moments instead of traps.

William McDonald keeps the checkride relaxed and follows the ACS instead of quizzing you on FAA acronyms. He travels from Vegas to examiners in California, and one CFI noted he flew to San Diego after a weather discontinuance with no extra charge. He focuses hard on weather and aerodynamics, and he wants you to look things up when you are unsure.

Adam Chistopher Adrian runs a thorough oral with a wide topic list, then keeps the flight portion relaxed. The one catch from the air: hold your altitudes and don't bust them. One IFR applicant has filed a report so far.

Allen Dale Harper leans hard into regulations during the PPL oral. Expect a fuel gauge scenario that walks you through special flight permits, MEL versus a required equipment list, and who actually uses an MEL. He also points at airports out the window and asks you to name the airspace, so know your VFR minimums cold.

Andrew Reischauer runs a commercial checkride built around real-world judgment. Expect emergencies and weather calls woven into practical scenarios, not isolated quiz questions. One applicant has filed a report so far, and the details are worth a read before you fly.

Anthony Hentges runs a friendly checkride with a fair, relaxed feel. The one commercial pilot on file found him easy to fly with but short on the specifics you can study from ahead of time. You will want to read the full account before your ride.

Debany runs a teaching-style CFI oral, so expect to grab a marker and present at the board. He digs into runway incursions, the four turning tendencies, and the regulation scenarios for ratings and endorsements. He keeps prying during maneuvers to learn why you do something, not just that you can.

Aram Basmadjian runs a thorough PPL checkride that starts with a sharp eye on your preflight. One applicant nearly washed out over a critical preflight mistake before the flight even began. The oral and flight cover the standard ground, but the details on this one are worth reading first.

Ashley Snider runs a comprehensive IFR oral that leans on real-world scenarios, not just rote recall. The one report on file points to three practical approaches in the flight portion. Expect a checkride that doubles as a clear study roadmap.

Ben York runs a CFII checkride that leans more on style than trick questions. The one report on file says he digs deep into IACRA, so know your way around that paperwork before you sit down. The applicant came away with a clear read on how he works.

Bill Conley runs an IFR checkride built around real-world decision-making, not memorized textbook answers. Expect curveballs that test how you actually think in the system. One pilot's report is on file, and it sets the tone for what to study.

Blake Thomas Segoria runs a Fundamentals of Instruction heavy oral for the CFI checkride. Expect a tricky runway incursion teaching scenario and a deep look at your endorsements. One applicant flew with this examiner and lived to tell about it.

Bob Drapal runs a thorough CFI oral that starts at square one: what a brand new student needs to begin training. He digs into endorsements, the regs behind them, and walks you through AV1ATES and ARROW on the whiteboard. As of now, only one report sits on file for him, so any new gouge adds to the picture.

Brandon Kuhn flies the line as a United 737 pilot, and he brings that mindset to the CPL checkride. He runs a scenario-focused oral and wants to see you reason through problems, not recite memorized answers. The one report on file shows an examiner who plays fair and rewards clear thinking.

Brian Kilcullen has one PPL report on file so far, and it sketches the checkride at a high level. The write-up lists the topics covered but stays light on how questions got asked or what answers earned a pass. If you fly with Brian next, your notes would help fill in the gaps.

Brian Sheatz wants you to teach like an instructor, not just answer like a student. He leans on the technical concepts behind instrument flying, and he watches for smooth, steady control throughout. The one CFII report on file shows what that looks like in practice.

Brian Trapp digs deep into aerodynamics on the CFI oral, so come ready to teach the why behind each concept. He also has a specific way he wants 8s-on-pylons flown, and one applicant captured that technique in detail. The single report on file shows an examiner who tests how well you can explain, not just perform.

Bruce Allen opens with country music in the background and a friendly ask to prove your airplane is airworthy. He leans on regulations you can find in the FAR, currency rules, and knowing your way around a paper FAR/AIM. One PPL applicant flew the 172 with him and left useful notes on his oral style.

Brunno Winnubst runs an IFR checkride that leans hard on lost comm scenarios and a careful read of your nav log. One pilot flew a route built around multiple approaches, so come ready to fly more than one type. Expect Brunno to question how you planned the trip, not just whether you can fly it.

Byron Roland Leguisamo studies your logbook hard, so tally every hour and endorsement before you sit down. He digs deep into the altimeter, magnetic compass errors, and the regulations behind required equipment. One PPL applicant saw a solid 2.0 hour oral before weather cut the checkride short.

Casey Rice runs a PPL oral built on straightforward questions, not traps. Expect preventative maintenance, navlog planning, adverse yaw, POH lookups, weight and balance, and basic weather. The pilot called the examiner personable and fair, so come ready to think out loud.

Charles Lilly is a thorough examiner who wants your paperwork perfect before you fly. He leans hard on weight and balance and performance charts, so know your numbers cold. One CMEL pilot has shared notes on what to expect.

Charles Sheridan Brown ran an instrument oral that lasted only about an hour at KMLB. He picks one item per ACS section and builds his questions around your chosen cross country route. He even complimented a well-worn, tabbed ACS over one still fresh in the plastic.

Chris Kreske ties the IFR oral straight to your written test misses, so know your weak areas cold. The examiner won't make you fly holds you already entered correctly in the avionics, but expects you to recover from below-minimums excursions with power. Expect a WAAS loss scenario that forces you to adjust your minimums on the fly.

Christian Eyring runs a lot of commercial checkrides at one local school, and he is as fair as it gets. He flies very much by the book, so you have to meet standards on basically everything. Wind shear and microbursts come up enough that they stand out, and that is just the start of his oral.

Christopher Horton runs a fair checkride, but he digs deep into your book knowledge until he finds the soft spots. The pilot who flew with him for a PPL helicopter add-on said he pushes you, then helps you understand the gaps. His flight came straight from the ACS with no surprises.

Christopher Robert Kaplan starts by checking that your aircraft is legal, and he reads the fine print on inspection labels. He moves fast once you prove you know your stuff, but he digs deep when you hesitate. He follows the ACS to the letter, especially on pilotage and manual flight planning.

Christopher Williams runs an IFR ride that rewards real understanding over memorized bullet points. The one report on file makes clear that scattered study notes cover the basics but fall short of acing this checkride. Read what the applicant actually flew before you sit down with him.

Cliff Shuman runs a fair instrument oral and moves on fast once you give a solid answer. He knows some questions matter more than others, like NOTAM classifications, and he will toss you a bone if you stumble. One pilot recalls the foggles, the unusual attitudes, and a hold at DEGNE on the ILS Y RWY 32 into KRIV.

Cody Reynolds digs into chart symbology during the oral, so know what each marking means. The flight brought a real surprise: an unexpected cloud encounter that tested practical judgment. One pilot's write-up is on file, and it covers both the deep dives and the in-air decisions.

Cole Daum runs a conversational commercial oral that lasts about 1.5 to 2 hours. He starts with privileges and limitations, then pulls common carriage straight from your nav log scenario. Expect the rocket ship airspace game, a real weather brief, and follow-up questions if your answers run thin.

Cole Robert Norton is a young examiner in his thirties who runs his instrument oral his own way. The one report on file shows he wants answers backed by documents, and he phrases questions in ways that can throw you. One applicant did not pass the oral and felt the flow was loose.

Corey Kirkwood runs a three-strike rule on the checkride, so small misses add up before they end your day. The examiner rewards big-picture thinking over rote memory and wants to see you reason through problems. One PPL report is on file, and it lays out what the oral and flight really test.

Craig Sossi ran a six hour IFR oral that one applicant called grueling. He asks you to find every answer in the regulations, then tells you that you looked up too many. He also digs into odd corners like using circling minimums to work around a NOTAM.

Daniel Emin works out of PDK and loves to talk about runway incursions, guard lights, and hotspots. He wants straight, to-the-point answers, and he notices when you dress professionally. One CFI applicant called him the smoothest checkride he ever had, with a two hour oral and a flight up to Pickens County.

Darrel Dilley flies like the grandfather of Greeley, swapping stories about his airline career and pilot friends. He cares about safety above all, and he believes your slow flight reveals what kind of pilot you are. Call out your deviations, ask before every maneuver, and you will likely earn his grace.

Dave Burton runs a PPL checkride that pairs a solid oral with a busy flight. Expect a diversion, an engine-out landing, and several field maneuvers in one sequence. One pilot wrote up the day, and the details are worth a read before you fly.

Donovan Burns runs a scenario-based checkride and listens hard for the right keywords. He cares about proficiency over perfection, but he holds a firm line on knowing your POH. One applicant learned that POH lesson the direct way.

Dustin Don Suchor zeroes in on lost comms procedures during the IFR oral, so know them cold. He likes a trick-phrased question about where you will always get a clearance void time, which leans on untowered airport operations. The one report on file also flags task saturation during the approaches.

Ed Verville runs a thorough CFI oral that leans hard on how you teach, not just what you know. Expect to walk through lessons out loud and show real teaching strategy, plus solid prep on one key maneuver. One CFI report is on file, and it lays out the topic coverage and his quirks in detail.

Eddy Sosa runs a short oral, around 40 minutes with no more than 20 questions, and he really wants to hand you a license. He gives you room to fly, letting a student pilot work through a real 500 to 600 RPM engine loss without jumping on the controls. He is adamant about one thing above all: use your checklist for every phase of flight.

Edward Joseph Brink wants to see real aeronautical decision making on the IFR checkride. He leans hard on manual flight planning and reading performance charts by hand. Come ready to show your work, not just the numbers your app spits out.

Elliot Crawford runs a thorough CFI checkride that digs into your ability to teach, not just fly. The one report on file points to clear expectations on the oral and a fair eye on the flight maneuvers. Read the full write-up before you sit down with this examiner.

Ethan Malavolti likes to test how well you really know your maintenance privileges, so expect a few trick questions there. He also runs a live weather deep-dive, so bring your laptop ready to go. One report is on file, and it points to a sharp, detail-minded examiner.

Frank Brooks Black runs a thorough CFI checkride that leans hard on the fundamentals of instruction. Expect deep systems questions and precision maneuvers flown across more than one airport. One CFI applicant put their experience on file, and the details are worth a read.

Glen Don Klakring runs a friendly but thorough CFI checkride that covers the oral, the maneuvers, and your teaching ability. The one report on file describes an examiner who keeps things calm while still digging into the details. Read the full account to see what topics carried the most weight.

Glen Smith keeps the checkride relaxed, but expect a close look at the questions you missed on the written test. The examiner leans on core knowledge areas and wants to see real proficiency with a paper E6B. One pilot shared a clear read on the style and testing methods so far.

Gregory Collins runs a calm PPL checkride and cares a lot about energy management. He does not expect perfection, so he wants you to call out corrections and talk through your decisions. He lets you choose landings or cross country first, and even pick your short field point.

Gudrun Davis runs a conversational oral with no trick questions, and she works from a paper checklist so she hits every topic. Her three favorite areas are airspace and cloud clearances, light gun signals, and runway and taxiway signs and markings. One applicant flew with her at Crystal River for a commercial checkride and walked through her full topic list.

Guenter Trautmann runs a thorough PPL oral and cares about where your numbers come from. He wants POH and manufacturer sources for speeds, not rules of thumb. On the flight he asks for continuous steep turns and a specific power-off stall setup, so know his style before you go.

Hayden runs a thorough commercial oral that leans hard into regulations. Expect deep questions on commercial privileges, part 119 exceptions, common carriage, and when a 135 operation applies. The applicant who flew this checkride also worked through basic med limits, INOP equipment procedures, and a full weather brief.

Jake Fielstra likes to test how you handle the unexpected. The pilot who flew with him faced unusual attitudes and an engine failure on approach. Come in ready for surprises during the flight portion.

James Briggs brings a CFI mindset to the checkride and wants more pilots in the sky. He keeps things friendly, walks you through IACRA fixes step by step, and tells you exactly what the ACS covers before you start. His flight portion packs in engine failures and lets you order the maneuvers your way.

Jeff Counter runs a quick CFII ride with one tricky question about alternate requirements. The pilot also got a useful tip: dial back the CFI chatter and answer the question asked. One report is on file so far.

Jeremy Auslander runs a methodical CFI checkride with a focus on big-picture flying. The one report on file calls him fair, thorough, and tuned to how you teach rather than how you recite. Expect real flight maneuvers and a clear examiner philosophy behind every question.

John Brent McLaughlin drew a positive review from the one CFI applicant who reported back. The note stays light on specifics, with no standout oral questions or technical deep dives recorded. As of now, only one report sits on file, so the picture is still forming.

John Charalambous runs a straightforward instrument ride out of the Long Island area. He leans hard on lost comms procedures and asks tough questions about logging simulator approaches and neglected parts of the approach plates. He also likes the RNAV 15 at Brookhaven, and he will hold you to feeder route altitude rules.

John Gordy wants your paperwork airtight before you ever touch the airplane. The pilot who flew the IFR ride said he leans hard on documentation and clean ground logs. Get your logbook and records in order and you start on solid footing.

John Beck holds you to ACS standards with no second chances and no tolerance for exceeding limits. He makes you upload every document to his website before booking, then show and explain each one on the oral. He even keeps a list of aircraft he refuses to fly, so check it before you pick your plane.

John Lee Donaldson runs an IFR checkride with a supportive style that keeps the pressure low. The one report on file covers the oral and flight tasks at a fair pace, but light on the fine print. Read it to see how the day actually flowed.

Jw Lynn runs a thorough PPL ride that starts with a cross country from LEX to a Detroit area airport of your choosing. He hands you weights for the sim, then has you work the actual weight and balance with him before you fly. One applicant called him a great DPE who covers systems, airspace, and ForeFlight overlays in real detail.

Karl Bearnarth runs a deep oral that leans hard on systems knowledge and weather reading. He digs into magneto behavior during run-up, spark plug carbon buildup, and how your Garmin GI275 backup battery actually works. Expect plenty of hypotheticals about delayed arrivals, fuel burn, and electrical failures in flight.

Ken Cobb runs scenario-based checkrides at O22, and he leans into the why behind your answers. Expect a thorough oral on weather, fuel planning, lost comms, and multi-engine topics like VMC factors and the critical engine. One detailed report on file covers both the IFR and multi-engine rides with him.

Ken Ramos digs deep into the fundamentals of instructing, from defense mechanisms and human needs to the FOI barriers to communication. Expect a heavy oral on aerodynamics, with questions on Bernoulli, Newton, adverse yaw, and whether a slip or skid is more dangerous. The single CFI report on file shows an examiner who wants you to name the four areas before endorsing a student for a checkride.

Kyle Pack runs a CFI checkride that leans hard on your ability to teach, not just recite. The one report on file walks through oral topics, teaching demonstrations, and honest flying feedback from the debrief. Read it before you sit down with him.

Lauren Scott runs a thorough private pilot oral that hits regulations, systems, and weather hard before you ever fly. Expect specific expectations on the documents you bring and the practical tasks you demonstrate. One pilot wrote up the full ride, and the details show what to study first.

Leo Bell runs a fair IFR checkride that covers the full ground from VOR checks to unusual attitudes. The pilot who flew with Leo called the exam practical and specific enough to prepare seriously. One report is on file, and Leo's emphasis comes through clearly in it.

Lisa Dahl runs a fair Commercial ASEL ride built around confident, logical ADM and CRM. She hands you spreadsheets for your background hours and aircraft maintenance data before the flight, and she wants proof you actually read your logs and POH. Her flight mixes a cross country diversion with failed avionics and the full slate of commercial maneuvers.

Marina Petkova Dimitrova examines at busy FRG, where airspace awareness and precise runway operations carry real weight. One applicant called the examiner fair, but warned that loose airspace work or sloppy runway handling can lead to a failure. The single report on file points to where you should sharpen your prep.

Mark Favolise runs a thorough commercial oral that leans hard on documents, regulations, and real weather reading. Expect to defend your altitude choice, explain pressurization, and talk through carbon monoxide and emergency checklist use. One applicant logged a detailed walk through these areas, and it shows where his attention goes.

Mark Cook runs an instrument oral that leans hard on real planning logic, from 6HITS and ICEFLAGS to whether you truly need a Bravo clearance under IFR. He gave one applicant a route to LSE through the Bravo and asked them to defend their weather source choice. Expect questions that test how you think, not just what you memorized.

Mark Montague keeps his focus on the basics that matter, and he runs this as a referral ride. Expect him to dig into your control surfaces, weather acronyms, and how you work with ATC. The pilot who flew with him left notes worth reading before you go.

Matt Harlin runs an IFR checkride built around a realistic flight scenario and a solid set of oral questions. The single report on file points to a clear focus on instrument planning and procedures. See what one applicant flagged before you sit down with this examiner.

Max Gurgew runs a scenario-based PPL oral and will rephrase a question if you stumble, but he won't hand you the answer. Expect performance charts, real flight planning, and a flight that includes a diversion to KFYM and an emergency descent. One pilot's account is on file, and your write-up would help the next applicant.

Michael Brown lives and breathes weather, and he treats most other oral topics almost as a formality. He likes a clean paper weight and balance, and he is understanding when your POH has thin performance charts. He will play around on the sectional and ask about everything from frequencies to nav light colors.

Michael Copeland runs a scenario-based checkride that puts your decision-making front and center. The pilot who reported back said perfection is not the goal, but solid fundamentals are. Study the basics well and you will see why this examiner cares more about how you think.

Mike Ford runs an instrument oral that digs deep into how your nav systems actually work. Expect to draw and explain the localizer and glide slope, walk through DME slant range, and defend the temperature where icing starts. He flies out of KHKS and gives you a simple clearance to fly during the practical.

Michael Gwinn treats the checkride like a lesson, not just a test. He cares about your written score, and he loves an applicant who can explain every colored arc on the airspeed indicator. He is used to Liberty students on the G1000, so knowing your six pack cold will impress him.

Mike Healey wants the reasoning behind every answer, not just the textbook line. Expect a flight portion built around real-world diversion scenarios that put your decision-making as PIC to the test. One applicant called him fair, and the single report on file lays out how he runs the day.

Neel Chopra runs a relaxed checkride and rewards solid preparation. Follow the ACS, know your standards, and you won't get grilled. One PPL applicant shared how this examiner keeps the pressure low while still holding the line.

Patrick Oconnell brings an encouraging personality to the PPL checkride, and one applicant came away feeling supported throughout. The single report on file leans toward broad study topics rather than a detailed list of oral questions or maneuver notes. If you fly with Oconnell soon, the first-hand write-up fills in the picture.

Paul Palmisciano walks through every code you missed on the knowledge test, so bring them printed and ready. His CFI oral runs deep on special emphasis areas, regulations, and teaching concepts like the law of primacy. The flight stacks maneuvers together, including a chandelle into a power on stall to the horn.

Paul Seiter wants you to know the maintenance binder cold and prove every inspection is current. He likes scenario questions about flying tail draggers, retractable gear, high performance, and twin engine planes. He digs deep into weather, from freezing levels and AIRMETs to convective SIGMETs and mountain obscuration.

Pete Reddan brings an Air Force examiner's mindset to the IFR checkride. He runs an efficiency-focused ride that rewards perfect preparation and respect. Expect real scenarios over scripted questions, and show up ready to fly the situation he hands you.

Peter Kim puts you at ease fast and makes it clear he wants you to pass. On the CFII oral, he wants you teaching every task in the Instrument ACS, not reciting facts. Bring structured lesson plans, especially for holding procedures, and be ready to instruct.

Randall Williams keeps a close eye on ELT knowledge and how well you handle ForeFlight in the cockpit. The pilot who flew with this examiner also pointed to solid short-field skills as a real focus. Come in attentive and ready to show your tools work.

Richard Allen Greene wants clean coordination and confident answers on the CPL ride. The pilot who flew with Greene flagged a clear pet peeve: keep the ball centered and quit riding the brakes on landing. The flight runs the full sequence, including short field work and power-off 180s.

Robert Alan Clausen wants to see real decisions, not memorized scripts. The single report on file shows an examiner who leans into airspace traps and passenger judgment, then watches your maneuvers closely. Read the full account before you fly with him.

Bruce Hollen comes across as genuinely nice and efficient. As of this writing, only one report is on file, and it describes a brisk oral built around a few accident case studies and multi-engine aerodynamics. The pilot found the flight straightforward, though a couple of his habits in the airplane caught the pilot off guard.

Roger Wazniak runs a relaxed CFI ride and lets you pick which topic to start with. He keeps the FOI questions short but expects you to have them memorized, so come ready. One applicant called him very cool and walked out with a clear picture of his style.

Ron Cox runs an IFR checkride grounded in real-world flying, not textbook trivia. The one report on file points to practical focus areas and hands-on flight experience over memorized scripts. Read the gouge to see how this examiner frames the test.

Ronald Horton sends you something called "The Book" the day you get your ride date. It tells you almost everything you will talk about on the oral, which is a big advantage. He runs a fair checkride, but he gets firm on carriage operations, performance charts, weight and balance, and advanced systems.

Ronnie Greathouse runs a thorough CMEL checkride that leans hard on systems knowledge and V-speeds. Expect a realistic flight profile with engine failures dropped on you at the worst moments. The one report on file lays out exactly how the ride flows.

Rory Dupont runs the commercial oral with a quick-hit topic list, and the deal is simple: you pick two subjects, he picks two. The reported areas cover commercial privileges, weather, and aircraft systems. One pilot has shared a report so far, and it gives a clear look at how this examiner splits the oral.

Rosemary Stidham runs a CFI checkride with a clear plan: a real oral Q&A followed by a detailed flight sequence. The one report on file lays out the exact questions asked and the order of maneuvers flown. Read it before you sit down with her.

Russell Calverley leans hard on weather, so know your METARs, TAFs, AIRMETs, SIGMETs, and the symbols on a Surface Analysis chart. He tells a story, then asks questions from it, and he'll tie in things you covered earlier. One PPL applicant at KPOC passed the oral with compliments, so read on to see what he actually asked.

Russ comes in with a comprehensive oral study list, so you know the topics ahead of time. He tests real understanding, then walks you through a flight that unfolds in clear order. The single report on file lays out exactly what he asked and how the day went.

Ryan Brown runs the Commercial Multi oral in two parts, so come ready for a thorough sit-down before you fly. The single report on file points to clear emphasis on engine failure protocols and multi-engine procedures. Read the details before your checkride.

Ryan Roberts runs a CMEL ride that leans hard on engine-out work and distraction management. Expect the oral to dig into critical engine, the fuel system, VMC, and pitot-static, plus checklist discipline that includes flap handling on the runway. One report is on file, and it spells out the examiner's distraction tactics in detail.

Sara Bey is nice and professional, but she expects real Commercial-level knowledge. On the KYIP Commercial single-engine ride, she dug deep into weather theory and the electrical system. The one report on file lays out her routing call, her go/no-go expectations, and the exact preflight items she asked about.

Scott Alan Eslinger runs a fast-paced PPL checkride with the ACS as his guide. The one pilot on file flagged MEF calculations, METAR remarks, and a few sneaky gotchas. Know your details cold, because this examiner does not slow down for vague answers.

Sean Capper runs a commercial single-engine ride that leans hard on lease rules and real-world scenarios. Expect dry lease versus wet lease questions, a 5am departure with an inop landing light, and a killed engine at 2000 feet. He wants you to draw the fuel system and know the airplane's horsepower cold.

Sery Crosby wants to know how you think, not what you memorized. Expect to walk through your reasoning on weather and airspace, and be ready to back up every answer. One pilot who flew this checkride shared what that looks like in practice.

Stephen Graham flies out of Kentucky Flight Training Center, and one commercial applicant called him the only examiner he would use in Kentucky. He wants you fast, confident, and accurate on the oral, and he cares more about knowing how to find an answer than reciting it from memory. He will fail you for skipping a landing or taxi checklist, so the gouge gets specific about how to prepare.

Steve Anderson runs a CFI ride that leans hard into solo endorsements and the logic behind them. One applicant walked away with a clear flowchart for endorsing a student pilot. If you want the real oral topics and maneuver details before your ride, the report has them.

Steve Buckenroth runs a thorough aerodynamics oral, from the two theories of lift to spin stages and recovery. Expect questions on density altitude, anti-servo tabs, and your DA-20 or DA-40 V-speeds. One CFI applicant logged the details, and the topics show what to study.

Steve Martin runs a thorough oral at KPVG, and he goes deep on aircraft systems and how a plane actually works. He checks your logbook closely, so every flight must be logged and signed before you walk in. Expect him to make you read the whole sectional and explain SFRA procedures down to lost comms.

Steven Brimmer digs into pitot-static failures and pushes you on personal minimums during the IFR oral. Expect follow-up questions on icing, OROCA, and alternate fuel planning until you show real understanding. One pilot's report covers the oral in solid detail, with the flight portion left open.

Stewart Douglas Stewart runs an IFR checkride that rewards real understanding over memorized scripts. The examiner stays fair and calm, but expects you to know your aircraft and explain your reasoning. One pilot wrote up how the day went, and the details are worth reading before you fly.

Thomas Hamm digs into airworthiness at KLGB, and he wants you to read inspection due dates straight off the maintenance logs. He builds real scenarios, like showing up for a Saturday flight and finding the plane gone and his car still parked. One CPL report is on file, and it shows an examiner who tests judgment, not just memory.

Only one report is on file for Thomas Tam, and it raises a hard flag. The applicant described unprofessional conduct during the CMEL ride rather than useful checkride guidance. Read the full account before you schedule.

Toby Randall Blanton runs a systems-heavy CFII oral that starts from your written test deficiencies. He wants deep detail on the G5s, the pitot static system, and the exact limits of the alternate static source. Expect him to steer you toward WAAS and away from RAIM, and to draw a line on how much you say about the JPI engine display.

Tom Guthrie runs a thorough commercial oral and follows it with a full practical sequence that includes real diversion scenarios. Expect deep-dives on the ground and a fly-it-for-real approach in the air. One commercial report is on file, and it lays out what to study before you sit down.

Travis Mark Baker runs an IFR checkride out of the Pacific Northwest with a focus on real planning and approaches. The single report on file walks through specific oral topics and the gotchas that catch applicants. Read the gouge before you fly with this examiner.

Travis Scott Major is a former American Airlines chief pilot who flew for PSA and runs many kinds of exams. He treats the multi-engine oral like a two hour teaching session, not a grilling. He is cautious on the VMC demo and walks you through securing the engine step by step.

Victor Erik Wilson digs deep on regs and flight planning during the IFR oral. The one report on file shows a thorough ground portion, though the flight got rescheduled and the maneuver details stayed thin. Come ready to talk rules and plan a real trip.

Wanda Collins likes the why behind your choices, from fuel load to alternate selection to why VORs still exist. She digs into icing rules, instrument currency timelines, and reading the IFR low chart by name. Expect a DME arc, a timed hold, an LPV, and one unusual attitude on the flight.

Bill Ziesenitz sends you a detailed plan of action before your CFI checkride, and he covers nearly every topic on it. He's old fashioned in a good way, so he likes paper weight and balance, a paper cross country, and a physical E6B over any app. He even shows up in a couple of YouTube videos with checkride tips worth a look.

William Devereaux runs a fast, scenario-based oral and expects you to apply what you know, not recite it. He says up front that he is not chasing perfection, but drifting outside standards more than once can end in a disapproval. The pilot on file describes a fair examiner who circles back to any answer you got shaky on.

William Gregory Hill keeps the IFR oral grounded in things you fly with every day: SPARROW documents, ILS critical areas, and spatial disorientation. He even passes along a book recommendation of his own during the ride. One pilot has written up this examiner so far.