Bernie Consol DPE Checkride Gouges

Bernie examines CFII applicants out of KIXA, often with the KAVC approaches and the local RNAV procedures. The oral starts with paperwork and the documents that allow you to be at the checkride, then moves into weather. He wants your official weather sources, your go or no-go decision, and your personal minimums for yourself and a student. Know the difference between AIRMETs, SIGMETs, and Convective SIGMETs, plus the times they are valid. He asks about icing types and how they affect the aircraft, with freezing layers a recurring point.

Plan to read the low enroute chart symbol by symbol. He points to MEA, MOCA, MCA flags, GPS MEA, NDB, MSA, and center frequency boxes. Underlined frequencies mean no communication, and he asks how to contact FSS on a specific VOR. Approach plates get the same treatment. He has you brief a plate, then quizzes you on TDZE versus airport elevation, expanded circling minimums, the sequenced flashing rabbit, PAPI, HIRL, and declared distances. He is very big on VDP: its purpose, how to calculate it, and why you should be at or near MDA crossing it.

Other oral topics include takeoff minimums in 91.175, standard and non-standard alternate minimums, the alternate 1-2-3 rule, fuel requirements, and CRAFT. He covers lost comms with AVEF and 91.185, plus light gun signals. Know IPC and currency in 61.57(d) and the back of the IFR ACS, and the difference between WAAS, RAIM, and DME.

The flight is three approaches with a hold, a missed, a circle, and a full stop. Expect unusual attitudes where Bernie gives you one and you give him one. A common sequence is LOC 01 at KAVC with a published hold at WUKMU, a partial panel RNAV at KIXA circling to 02, then an LPV to a full stop you vector yourself onto. Keep teaching out loud the whole time.