Robert Alan Clausen DPE Checkride Gouges

Robert Alan Clausen runs a practical test that rewards clear thinking. As of this writing, only one report is on file for this examiner, so treat this as one pilot's honest account. The pilot reported a focus on airspace pitfalls, passenger decisions, and the maneuvers that decide the outcome. Plan to back up your choices with reasons, not guesses.

The oral leaned hard on airspace. Know your class boundaries, entry rules, and the spots where students trip themselves up. The pilot noted real attention to passenger decisions, so be ready to talk through who you carry and when you say no. Think about weight, weather, and your own currency before you agree to take someone up.

Planning came up as part of that same judgment. Be ready to explain how you build a flight and where you would change the plan. The pilot framed these choices as the difference between a safe pilot and a paper one. Clausen wants to hear how you weigh risk in plain terms.

The flight is where the report says it counts. The maneuvers will make or break your practical test, so fly them to standard and stay ahead of the airplane. Hold your altitudes, headings, and airspeeds, and recover cleanly when something drifts. Show steady control and a clear plan for each task rather than rushing.

Walk in with your airspace knowledge sharp and your passenger reasoning ready. Brief your maneuvers in your head before you start each one. This is a single first-hand account, so add yours after you fly to help the next pilot. The pilot's full write-up gives the play-by-play that fills in the rest.