Ronnie Greathouse DPE Checkride Gouges

Oral Emphasis

The ground portion was reported as quick and efficient, centered almost entirely on multi-engine concepts and aircraft systems. Key topic areas included:

• Multi-Engine Aerodynamics: V speeds (especially VMC in depth), how VMC is calculated, and the SMACFUM acronym — expect to explain each factor thoroughly.
• Accelerated Stop vs. Accelerated Go: Know the difference between the two and be ready to explain how you calculated accelerated stop distance for your specific departure.
• Performance Planning: He asked about time, fuel, and distance calculations to the first top-of-climb point. Be ready to walk through your performance charts.
• Aircraft Systems: Three systems were discussed in detail — landing gear, fuel system, and the propeller system. Know these cold for your specific airplane.
• Engine Configuration: He asked about counter-rotating vs. conventional engine configurations and why some aircraft (like King Airs) use conventional rotation (cost effectiveness of using the same engine on both sides).
• PAST: Be prepared to recite and explain this acronym in the multi-engine context.
• Maintenance Logs: He reviewed the MX logs himself and did not require the applicant to walk through them.

Common Questions

Pilots reported that Ronnie's questioning style is conversational and builds on your answers — one topic flows naturally into the next. For example, discussing V speeds led into a deeper VMC discussion, which opened into SMACFUM. He tends to ask "how did you calculate this?" rather than just "what is this?" — so be ready to show your work, not just recite numbers. He also asks practical "why" questions about aircraft design choices, not just textbook definitions.

Practical Focus

The flight portion was notably pilot-led. Key details reported:

• Pilot Plans the Flight: Ronnie let the applicant choose the sequence of maneuvers, where to go, and how to structure the flight. Have a solid plan ready, especially if pattern work isn't available at your departure airport.
• Maneuver Sequence (as flown): Slow flight, power-off stalls, power-on stalls, steep turns, accelerated stall, and VMC demo — all done in the practice area before proceeding to a towered or non-towered field for landings.
• Landings: Short field landing, short field takeoff, and a single-engine full-stop landing in the pattern.
• Engine Failures: He let the applicant simulate their own engine failure and restart during the maneuvers phase. However, he initiated an engine failure himself at a high-workload moment — right at the final approach fix during a single-engine ILS approach back to the departure airport.
• Single-Engine ILS: The flight concluded with a VFR practice ILS approach on a single engine. Be prepared for this to be the capstone of the ride.

Examiner Style

Ronnie's style was described as efficient and relaxed. The ground portion moved quickly with no unnecessary tangents. He follows the Commercial ACS multi-engine add-on matrix closely but keeps the tone conversational rather than interrogative. In the airplane, he gives you real autonomy — you're PIC and he expects you to act like it. He doesn't micromanage the flight or the sequence, but he will introduce failures at operationally realistic and challenging moments (like the FAF on an approach). Overall demeanor is fair and professional without being intimidating.

What Surprised Pilots

• He reviewed the maintenance logs entirely on his own and didn't ask the applicant to present or explain them — so don't over-prepare a logbook walkthrough at the expense of other topics.
• The ground portion was described as "very quick" — much shorter than expected. Don't mistake brevity for a lack of depth; he covers what matters and moves on.
• The amount of autonomy given during the flight was notable — he genuinely lets you run the show, which can feel unusual if you're used to examiners dictating every step.
• The engine failure timed right at the final approach fix on the ILS caught attention — be mentally prepared for failures at the most task-saturated moments, not just in the practice area.