Jeff Counter DPE Checkride Gouges
Designated Pilot Examiner • (Jeffery Joseph Counter)
Preparing for an FAA checkride with Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) Jeff Counter? GougeHub has a first-hand Jeff Counter 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 Jeff Counter, and it covers a CFII ride. The pilot described the ride as quick. That matters if you walk in expecting a long, drawn-out grind. The pace was efficient and to the point.
The oral centered on a tricky alternate requirement question. That is the standout topic from this report, so study your alternate planning before you sit down. Know when an alternate is required and what the filing rules demand. Be ready to work through the numbers and reasoning out loud.
The other piece of feedback was about style, not knowledge. Jeff advised the pilot to dial back the CFI chatter. As a future instructor, the instinct is to teach and talk through everything. On this ride, that worked against the applicant.
So the practical lesson is simple. Answer the question that was asked, then stop. Do not pad your answer with extra lecture material the examiner did not request. Show you know the topic, but keep it tight and direct.
This is a single report, so treat it as one data point rather than the full picture. The alternate requirement question and the advice on chatter are the concrete details worth carrying in. If you fly with Jeff soon, add your own write-up afterward so the next pilot has more to work with.
Examiner Patterns
Preliminary insight — based on 1 report
- Oral style: 1 pilot reported the examiner kept the oral conversational
- Oral duration: 1 pilot reported — under 1 hour
- Flight duration: 1 pilot reported — under 1 hour
- Density altitude: 1 pilot reported the examiner did not cover density altitude
- 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 electrical failure
- Preflight briefing: 1 pilot reported the examiner gave a full preflight briefing
- When ACS standard not met: 1 pilot reported the examiner (no ACS standard was exceeded in these reports)
Based on self-reported pilot submissions. Data methodology
Ratings & Checkride Types
- CFII (Instrument Flight Instructor)
FAA Designee Information
FAA Oversight Office: Delegation And Resource Branch, Afg-970
Status: Active Designee
- Private Pilot Examiner: Airplane Single Engine Land, Airplane Multi-Engine Land
- Commercial & Instrument Rating Examiner: Airplane Single Engine Land, Airplane Multi-Engine Land
- Sport Pilot Examiner: Airplane Single Engine Land
- Flight Instructor Examiner: Airplane Single Engine, Airplane Multi-Engine
- Flight Instructor Examiner — Instrument: Airplane Single Engine, Airplane Multi-Engine
- Military Competency Examiner
- Ground Instructor Examiner
- Flight Instructor Rating Examiner
- Balloon Airman Examiner
- SPFIE
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.