Rosemary Stidham DPE Checkride Gouges

Oral Emphasis

Stidham's oral is broad and hits nearly every major knowledge area. Pilots reported heavy emphasis on:

• Airspace: Classification details (especially Class E surface extensions and why), weather minimums for all classes with particular focus on Golf airspace
• Aerodynamics: Left turning tendencies, angle of attack, types of drag (parasite vs. induced), stall and spin causes and recovery procedures
• Weather: Thunderstorm ingredients, unstable lapse rates, and understanding of uplift forces
• Regulations: Oxygen rules (altitudes, types of oxygen and why), Airworthiness Directives (one-time vs. recurring), special flight permits
• Fundamentals of Instruction (FOI): Laws of learning and the learning process — expect to know REEPIR and the Rote-Application-Understanding-Correlation hierarchy
• Performance & operations: Minimum safe altitudes (congested vs. non-congested), types of airspeed (indicated, calibrated, true), and landing techniques for contaminated runways

Common Questions

Pilots described the oral as straightforward question-and-answer — not scenario-based or conversational, but direct knowledge checks. Expect questions like:

• When and why does a particular airspace class extend to the surface?
• Define a specific aerodynamic concept and explain how it applies in flight
• Walk through spin recovery using a specific memory aid
• Explain the differences between types of airspeed
• What are the ingredients required for a particular weather phenomenon, and give examples?
• What is a special flight permit and when would one be issued?
• Recite and explain the laws of learning and the learning process

Several of these topics were flagged as virtually guaranteed to appear, so treat nothing on the ACS as optional.

Practical Focus

The gouge data available focused almost entirely on the oral exam. No specific details were provided about the flight portion, maneuver expectations, or area of operation for this report.

Examiner Style

Stidham's style is structured and methodical. The oral follows a clear, systematic progression through topics rather than a free-flowing conversation. Pilots described it as direct question-and-answer — she asks, you answer, and she moves on. There's no indication of trick questions or attempts to trip you up; she appears to be checking that you genuinely know the material. Come prepared to answer concisely and correctly.

What Surprised Pilots

• The sheer breadth of the oral — pilots reported being asked about every topic on a comprehensive question list, not just a sampling. Don't skip any study area thinking it probably won't come up.
• Certain questions (like airspace to the surface, left turning tendencies, FOI laws of learning) were flagged as essentially guaranteed — she asks them every time.
• The emphasis on explaining the why behind answers (e.g., why aviation oxygen specifically, why Class E goes to the surface) — knowing the fact isn't enough, you need to understand the reasoning.