Thomas Hamm DPE Checkride Gouges

Thomas Hamm gave this commercial checkride at KLGB on July 15, 2026. The oral leaned hard into airworthiness and inspections. He wants to know when maintenance is required and which documents must be on board. The pilot brought the maintenance logs and read off when each inspection was due, which is exactly what he expects. He asked one question about common versus private carriage and then moved on without pressing the subject.

He covered the personal documents you need on you to fly. He asked about oxygen requirements for both unpressurized and pressurized aircraft. He also wanted the basics of how a pressurized system works. The pilot answered that a compressor compresses air for the engine, then a small amount is conditioned, cooled, and let into the cabin. Hamm was satisfied with that level of detail.

Expect an inoperative equipment scenario. He gave one about an inop fuel gauge and wanted a full INOP flow. That flow covers the MEL if applicable, the TCDS, 91.205, the Kinds of Equipment List, the comprehensive equipment list, ADs, marking the item inop, and the PIC decision. Since the fuel gauge is required by 91.205 and most small planes lack an MEL, he pulled out an FAA Master MEL and asked if you could still fly with that in account. He also asked who checks off an MEL, listing the owner operator, the FAA, and the manufacturer.

He asked about equipment needed for different airspace and speed requirements, the pitot static system, and engine horsepower. On the engine, he wanted extra detail about the type, how it is cooled, and how it is mounted. He closed with a judgment scenario about arriving for a flight and finding his plane missing and his car still there. The pilot said that question made him think hard.

As of this writing, only one report sits on file for Thomas Hamm. If you fly with him, add yours.