Brandon Kuchmecki DPE Checkride Gouges

As of this writing, only one report sits on file for Brandon Kuchmecki, and it covers an IFR ride. The applicant called him a nice guy who is detail-oriented and thorough. He became a DPE relatively recently, so he came across as a bit unsure at times. He phoned other examiners while reviewing the logbook and asked them questions. The whole day ran about eight hours, with two hours spent on the logbook before the ride started.

Before the ride, expect close work on your logbook, aircraft documents, and IACRA. Know where each document lives and how to explain it, and keep the operating limitations in the rear seat. He reads the POH closely, so know your systems cold. He was checking whether the POH called for switching fuel tanks on approach, and forgetting that step could have ended the ride.

The oral followed the ACS closely. He covered when an IFR rating is needed, currency versus proficiency, and currency scenarios. Expect medical validity, ARROW airworthiness, required inspections, and VOR checks including VOTs and the 180 to or 360 from numbers. He went into altimeter and pitot static systems, NWKRAFT preflight, the 1, 2, 3 alternate rule, and fuel requirements. He also asked about lost comms, AVEF, MEA, and starting an approach with or without an EFC.

Weather ran deep. He covered METARs, TAFs, winds aloft, and GFA charts. He asked about high and low pressure, fronts, isobars, lapse rate, and standard atmosphere. He also went into SIGMETs, AIRMETs, convective SIGMETs, thunderstorms, icing types, and anti-ice versus de-ice, including TKS as anti-ice.

On the flight, he briefs the approach type early and holds you to it. The applicant failed for crossing the VOR on a GPS approach with the unit still in VLOC. He owned that as a fair fail he earned.