Cody Reynolds DPE Checkride Gouges
Designated Pilot Examiner • (Cody Patrick Reynolds)
Preparing for an FAA checkride with Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) Cody Reynolds? GougeHub has a first-hand Cody Reynolds checkride gouge report from a pilot who tested. Read oral exam questions, flight test patterns, and examiner insights.
↓ View 1 available gouge reportAs of this writing, only one report sits on file for Cody Reynolds. It comes from a private pilot checkride. The write-up covers both the oral and the flight, with real detail on what got tested. Use it to prep, then add your own after you fly.
The oral leaned into chart symbology. The pilot reported deep dives into what the markings on the chart actually mean. Know your symbols cold and be ready to read them out loud. This was a clear emphasis area, not a quick glance over.
The flight held a surprise. The pilot ran into an unexpected cloud encounter during the ride. That moment tested practical judgment and how to handle conditions that change on you. Be ready to make a decision and fly the airplane through it.
The mix here is worth your attention. The oral asked for solid book knowledge on chart reading. The flight asked for real-world judgment when the air did not cooperate. Both sides matter with this examiner, so do not neglect one for the other.
One report cannot tell the whole story, so treat this as a starting point. Study your chart symbology, brush up on weather and cloud clearances, and plan how you would respond in the air. Then come back and share what your ride looked like. More gouges make the next pilot sharper.
Examiner Patterns
Preliminary insight — based on 1 report
- Oral style: 1 pilot reported the examiner kept the oral conversational
- Density altitude: 1 pilot reported the examiner required a density altitude calculation
- Go/no-go discussion: 1 pilot reported the examiner did not cover go/no-go
- Equipment failure simulated: 1 pilot reported the examiner simulated an engine failure
- Preflight briefing: 1 pilot reported the examiner gave no preflight briefing
- When ACS standard not met: 1 pilot reported the examiner noted the deviation and continued
Based on self-reported pilot submissions. Data methodology
Analyzed across 113 site-wide Private Pilot checkrides in the GougeHub database, the same questions keep coming up. Here’s one of the 37 in the guide:
“What documents must you have on your person to act as pilot in command?”
📋 Examiner Insight: A guaranteed question — know it cold.
⚠ Common Pitfall: While not required on your person, your logbook should be available to demonstrate recent experience and currency if questioned. Not all forms of ID are acceptable — reference 61.3 for the acceptable forms.
All 37 questions, ranked by frequency, with Examiner Insights and Common Pitfalls from 113 real checkrides — written and reviewed by Andrew Gray, CFI-II.
Get the Private Pilot Oral Exam Guide — $14 →7-day money-back guarantee · Instant PDF download
Ratings & Checkride Types
- PPL (Private Pilot)
FAA Designee Information
FAA Oversight Office: Delegation And Resource Branch, Afg-970
Status: Active Designee
- Private Pilot Examiner: Airplane Multi-Engine Land, Airplane Single Engine Land
- Commercial & Instrument Rating Examiner: Airplane Multi-Engine Land, Airplane Single Engine Land
- ATPE: Airplane Multi-Engine Land
- TYPE: DHC-6
- Balloon Airman Examiner
- Flight Instructor Rating Examiner
- Flight Proficiency Examiner
- Military Competency Examiner
Source: FAA Designee Management System · Verify on FAA.gov →
Transparency Disclaimer: This page summarizes patterns reported by applicants. It is not an endorsement, prediction, or guarantee of checkride outcome. Every checkride varies based on the applicant and circumstances.