Norman Robinson DPE Checkride Gouges

Norman Robinson examines CFI applicants at Apple Valley, and the three reports on file describe a consistent style. He starts with paperwork, the Pilot's Bill of Rights, and small talk, which took about an hour in one case. He reviews your driver's license, pilot and ground instructor certificates, and medical before getting to work. The oral runs long, with one applicant logging four and three quarter hours from 9:00 am to about 1:45 pm. The flight portion ran 1.4 hours.

Norm works straight from a printed PTS and checks off each element as you cover it. One applicant noted that if you are thorough on every point in the Area of Operation, he will not interrupt with extra questions. He told one applicant he is not looking for perfection, but for material conveyed in a logical sequence. Expect storytelling from him throughout, which keeps the tone casual.

The Fundamentals of Instruction sit at the center of the oral. He highlighted Task E Instructor Responsibilities and Professionalism, Task F Techniques of Flight Instruction, and Task G Risk Management. Applicants taught these on the whiteboard as if presenting to another CFI candidate. Topics included helping students learn, providing adequate instruction, standards of performance, and minimizing student frustration through coping mechanisms and antidotes.

For risk management, applicants tied teaching back to PAVE, IMSAFE, the 5P and DECIDE models, FRAT, SRM, and ADM. One applicant used the MACK BAG acronym for minimizing student frustration. Aviation instructor versus flight instructor responsibilities came up, along with professionalism, evaluation of student ability, and professional development through AOPA and FAA resources.

Useful prep mentioned in the reports includes opening your PTS during the discussion and watching Todd Shellnutt's YouTube videos. Applicants found Norm a strong learning experience overall.