Jeff Counter DPE Checkride Gouges

Oral Emphasis

Counter's CFII oral is focused and regulation-heavy, with particular attention to IFR flight planning scenarios and the nuances of key FARs. Expect deep dives into:

• 91.169 (IFR Alternate Requirements) — He sets up a flight plan to an airport with no published instrument approaches and probes whether you truly understand when an alternate is required. The trap: the "1-2-3 rule" weather exception only applies when both conditions in 91.169(a)(1) and (a)(2) are met. If the destination has no IAPs, you must file an alternate regardless of weather. This catches a lot of people.
• 91.175 (Descent Below MDA/DA) — Standard discussion of when you can descend, with an emphasis on the ALS provision allowing descent to 100 feet above TDZE. He appreciates candidates who bring this up proactively.
• Pitot-Static System — Taught at an instrument student level. He wants a solid, instructional-quality presentation.
• ILS and Localizer — Know the expanded service volumes for the localizer (found in the AIM). This isn't something most people study but he asks about it.
• GPS, RAIM, and WAAS — He wants you to clearly articulate the differences between these systems and specifically when a RAIM check is and is not required.

Common Questions

Counter frames many of his questions around flight planning scenarios rather than rote regulatory recall. He'll set up a situation — like filing IFR to a non-instrument airport — and let you work through the logic. He's looking for whether you understand the structure of the regulations, not just the popular rules of thumb. Expect him to ask you to teach systems and approaches as if briefing an instrument student, since this is a CFII ride.

Practical Focus

Pilots described the flight portion as straightforward — "cake" was the word used. No reports of unusual scenarios or gotchas in the air. If you're solid on your instrument flying and instructional technique, the flight should go smoothly.

Examiner Style

Counter is efficient and consistent. The ground portion runs around 45 minutes or less, and he's known for keeping his CFII checkride format largely the same from candidate to candidate. He's conversational, not adversarial — when you nail a point (like the ALS descent provision), he'll tell you most people miss it. He moves briskly and gets to the flying quickly, which pilots appreciate.

What Surprised Pilots

• The 91.169 alternate filing question about airports without published approaches — even CFIs at the applicant's school weren't aware of this nuance, so it's clearly an area Counter uses to test depth of understanding.
• The localizer expanded service volume question on the ILS teach-back was not something the applicant had studied from previous gouges, suggesting Counter occasionally adds wrinkles even to his otherwise consistent format.
• How short the ground portion was — candidates expecting a long oral were pleasantly surprised.