Glen Smith DPE Checkride Gouges

Oral Emphasis

Glen works directly from your written test results, going down the list of questions you missed and drilling into those areas. Beyond that, he focuses on core private pilot knowledge:

• Airspace classifications and requirements
• Aircraft systems
• Basic FARs and regulations
• E6B flight computer usage — especially if you missed any calculation-related questions on your written

Pilots report the oral lasting around 45 minutes, making it one of the shorter sessions you'll encounter.

Common Questions

• Expect questions tied directly to the topics you got wrong on the knowledge test — he literally works from that list.
• Questions are described as straightforward with no trick questions or gotcha scenarios.
• He may ask you to demonstrate paper E6B calculations, so don't rely solely on electronic tools.
• After covering your missed questions, he'll ask a few additional questions on core subjects but nothing outside what a well-prepared student should know.

Practical Focus

• Standard private pilot maneuvers — nothing unusual or outside the ACS.
• Multiple landings are part of the evaluation; he's been known to tell pilots they've passed a landing before they even touch down.
• He's not hyper-precise on holding exact altitudes to the foot, but he does watch airspeed and altitude deviations — stay within reasonable tolerances.
• Engine failure scenarios are part of the flight, but he typically gives you a heads-up before pulling the power, so it won't catch you off guard.

Examiner Style

• Extremely relaxed and conversational — described by pilots as "God's gift to earth" in terms of demeanor.
• Very forgiving and clearly wants applicants to pass.
• Passes most people who fly with him.
• No pressure tactics or adversarial tone — the checkride feels more like flying with a supportive mentor than a formal evaluation.
• If you're consistently passing mock orals with your CFI, you should have no trouble with his oral exam.

What Surprised Pilots

• How short and painless the oral was — 45 minutes felt quick compared to expectations.
• The transparency during the flight portion: he communicates what's coming, including engine failures, and gives real-time feedback on performance (like telling you a landing was a pass before touchdown).
• The emphasis on paper E6B proficiency — pilots who relied only on electronic flight computers were caught off guard when asked to use the manual version.