Blake Thomas Segoria DPE Checkride Gouges

Oral Emphasis

The oral exam is heavily weighted toward Fundamentals of Instruction (FOI). Expect to spend significant time on learning theory, teaching methods, and how you'd apply FOI concepts in real instructional scenarios. Endorsements are another major focus area — pilots reported needing to know specific endorsement requirements thoroughly, not just have a general familiarity.

Common Questions

• Scenario-based questions that test how you'd handle real-world teaching situations, rather than straightforward rote recall.
• A runway incursion teaching scenario was presented — be ready to explain how you would teach a student to recognize and avoid runway incursions.
• Endorsement-related questions that require you to know the specific requirements, applicability, and proper documentation — not just reference where to find them.

Examiner Style

Segoria appears to favor a scenario-driven approach over simple Q&A. He'll put you in the instructor's seat and ask how you'd teach or handle specific situations. This means you need to think like a CFI, not just recite answers. The scenarios can feel tricky if you haven't practiced applying FOI concepts to realistic teaching situations.

What Surprised Pilots

• The depth of the FOI questioning — this wasn't a surface-level review. Pilots noted it was a heavier FOI focus than they expected.
• The runway incursion teaching scenario caught at least one applicant off guard. It's not a topic every CFI applicant drills on, but Segoria clearly thinks it's important instructional material.