Mike Healey DPE Checkride Gouges
Designated Pilot Examiner • (MICHAEL HEALEY)
Preparing for an FAA checkride with Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) Mike Healey? GougeHub has a first-hand Mike Healey 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 is on file for Mike Healey, and it covers a private pilot checkride. The applicant described him as a fair examiner. The clear theme is that he wants the reasoning behind every answer. Knowing the right response is not enough with him. He wants to hear how you got there.
That focus shapes the oral. Be ready to explain your thinking out loud rather than reciting facts. He listens for the logic that backs up each answer. Walk him through your decision process and tie it to your role as pilot in command. A confident, reasoned reply lands better than a memorized one.
The flight portion stands out for its real-world diversion scenarios. These are not abstract questions. He sets up situations that force you to make decisions as PIC in the moment. Expect to plan a diversion and act on it while flying the airplane. He uses these scenarios to test your judgment and your priorities under pressure.
Because the diversion work drives the flight, brush up on the skills behind it. Be sharp on picking a new heading, estimating time and distance, and choosing a sound alternate. Think through fuel, weather, and terrain as you make the call. He wants to see you weigh the options and commit, not freeze.
This is one applicant's account, so treat it as a starting point rather than the whole picture. The pattern is plain though: come ready to defend your choices with clear reasoning, and come ready to make real decisions in the air. If you fly with Mike Healey soon, add your own report so the next pilot has more to work with.
Examiner Patterns
Preliminary insight — based on 1 report
- Oral style: 1 pilot reported the examiner used scenario-based questioning throughout
- Oral duration: 1 pilot reported — 1.5 to 2 hours
- Flight duration: 1 pilot reported — 1.5 to 2 hours
- Logbook review: 1 pilot reported the examiner reviewed endorsements specifically
- Go/no-go discussion: 1 pilot reported the examiner discussed go/no-go as part of a scenario
- Equipment failure simulated: 1 pilot reported the examiner simulated an electrical failure
Based on self-reported pilot submissions. Data methodology
Analyzed across 113 site-wide Private Pilot checkrides in the GougeHub database, the same questions keep coming up. Here’s one of the 37 in the guide:
“Walk me through your weight and balance calculation for today’s flight.”
⚠ Common Pitfall: Using ForeFlight or another EFB isn’t wrong, but you must understand how it calculates W&B. If you can’t show the examiner that the EFB uses the latest weight-and-balance record and follows the POH procedure, it’s better to use a paper log.
All 37 questions, ranked by frequency, with Examiner Insights and Common Pitfalls from 113 real checkrides — written and reviewed by Andrew Gray, CFI-II.
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Ratings & Checkride Types
- PPL (Private Pilot)
FAA Designee Information
FAA Oversight Office: Oakland FSDO
Status: Active Designee
- Private Pilot Examiner: Airplane Single Engine Land
- Commercial & Instrument Rating Examiner: Airplane Single Engine Land
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.