Orion Kingman DPE Checkride Gouges

Five reports are on file for Orion Kingman, three private and two instrument. He starts with a meet and greet, then checks your documents, signatures, and endorsements. He wants you organized, so tab your pages and have the aircraft logbooks ready. He reviews maintenance records before the ride begins, and San Diego FSDO examiners want to see several ground lessons logged.

The oral centers on your cross-country scenario. Private routes use points like PSP, HII, HND, or Kern Valley, often a trip such as MYF to VGT with friends and baggage. Expect weight and balance planning, including a fuel stop to stay within gross weight. He covers privileges and limitations, medical certificates, required pilot and aircraft documents, and currency versus proficiency. He asks about airworthiness directives, MELs, and handling an inoperative item like a tail light. Weather work is heavy, driven from a ForeFlight briefing, with METARs, TAFs, AIRMETs, SIGMETs, surface analysis charts, and a go or no-go decision. One applicant got tripped up on mountain wave turbulence, lenticular clouds, and temperature lapse rates. Tab FARs you struggle with, like supplemental oxygen rules.

On the private flight he often does landings first, with soft field and short field takeoffs and landings. He departs on your plan, breaks off near your first point for lost procedures, and runs maneuvers over Lake Henshaw or the Warner Springs glider port. He gives emergency procedures on the return.

For instrument rides he likes Paso Robles to force a fuel stop and alternate planning, with BFL as a good alternate. He asks systems questions on vacuum or PFD failure, pitot static icing, lost comms departing Ramona, and the ILS 24 at CRQ. A DME arc shows up on the VOR/DME RWY 17 into VCV. His instrument oral is rapid fire, so keep answers short. He wants you to succeed.