What does Glen Don Klakring focus on during the oral exam?

Reports from applicants who flew with Glen Don Klakring describe the oral examination structure. For specific topics covered and questions asked, see full reports.

How does Glen Don Klakring approach weight and balance?

Applicants who flew with Glen Don Klakring describe how weight and balance was handled during the checkride. For complete detail, see full reports.

What catches applicants off guard with Glen Don Klakring?

DPE was extremely pleasant and set candidate at ease. Oral ran approximately 2 hours 20 minutes (10:40 to 1:00). DPE eng For the complete breakdown of notable patterns, see full reports.

How long is a checkride with Glen Don Klakring?

Checkride duration data from applicants who flew with Glen Don Klakring is available in the full reports.

Glen Don Klakring DPE Checkride Gouges

Designated Pilot Examiner • Location coming soon

CFI

1 Gouge report — view ↓ 1 Rating types covered - Total on platform

↓ View 1 available gouge report

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Andrew Gray, CFI-II 1,500+ hrs · Former US Navy & Boeing · Data methodology

Oral Emphasis

Gouge data is limited to an initial CFI checkride, so expect emphasis on instructor-level knowledge areas consistent with the CFI PTS/ACS. The report indicates a thorough but conversational oral exam where the candidate was encouraged to think through answers rather than being rapid-fired.

Common Questions

Specific question topics were not fully detailed in the available gouge, but pilots noted that Mr. Klakring gives you room to work through your responses. He doesn't appear to try to trip you up — instead, he encourages candidates to take their time and reason through the material.

Practical Focus

The gouge touches on the practical portion but does not provide detailed maneuver-by-maneuver coverage. One notable detail: when the candidate forgot view-limiting devices and offered to improvise a solution, Mr. Klakring was open to working through it rather than treating it as a disqualifying issue. This suggests flexibility and a practical, real-world mindset toward equipment and problem-solving on the ride.

Examiner Style

Demeanor: Described as extremely pleasant, calm, and encouraging. Within the first ten minutes of meeting, he was able to put a very nervous candidate at ease.
Pacing: Conversational rather than formal or adversarial. He explicitly encouraged the candidate to take their time and think things through.
Overall approach: Pilots describe him as someone who wants you to succeed, not someone looking for reasons to fail you.

What Surprised Pilots

Availability and affordability: At $800 for an initial CFI, his fee was the lowest the candidate found after calling DPEs within 150 miles. Most other DPEs either wouldn't do initial CFI, were booked far out, or charged significantly more.
Scheduling flexibility: Despite an initial delay of about a month due to weather and scheduling conflicts, Mr. Klakring proactively moved the checkride date up to beat incoming bad weather — a level of accommodation that caught the candidate off guard in a positive way.
Accessibility: Unlike many DPEs who never returned calls, Mr. Klakring was responsive and had availability within two weeks of initial contact.

Glen Don Klakring stands out as one of the more accessible and affordable DPEs for initial CFI — hard to find in that category. Pilots report a calm, encouraging demeanor that puts even the most nervous candidates at ease from the first few minutes. If you're dreading the CFI checkride gauntlet of high fees, long wait times, and cumbersome enrollment, this is a profile worth reading.

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Ratings & Checkride Types

CFI (Certified Flight Instructor)

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.