Mark Albert Favolise DPE Checkride Gouges

As of this writing, only one report sits on file for Mark Albert Favolise, from a commercial checkride in April. It gives a clear picture of where the examiner spends time, and most of that time was oral. The pilot described a wide sweep of document, regulation, weather, and systems questions. Plan to know your paperwork cold before you walk in.

The oral opened on documents. Favolise asked what papers belong on the plane and their expiration dates. He covered the type of medical and how long it stays valid. Recency and currency came up, including passenger currency, plus what documents you carry on your person. He asked about the FAA purpose of the minimum equipment list and tied it to redundancy when you have more than one of something. A radio license question and a ramp inspection question also showed up.

Weather and planning got heavy attention. The pilot read a METAR and a TAF aloud, then explained how often TAFs issue and their valid period. Favolise asked about AIRMETs, the difference between a SIGMET and a convective SIGMET, and what follows a cold front passing. He wanted to know how winds aloft shape flight planning, why the pilot picked that altitude, and what factors drive it. Fuel, time, and distance estimates came up, along with reading risks straight off the sectional.

Systems and judgment rounded out the oral. He stressed using a checklist for emergencies at the commercial level. Pressurization questions ran from a basic explanation to the oxygen requirements and why 12,000, 14,000, and 15,000 cabin altitudes matter as breathable air. Expect carbon monoxide poisoning, what to do about moderate turbulence, why clouds are AGL, and what NOTAMs tell you. He also asked why you stay on centerline and what you check during post flight.