Thomas Tam DPE Checkride Gouges

Oral Emphasis

The oral portion is reported as short — around 30 minutes for a commercial multi-engine ride. Tam focuses on multi-engine-specific systems and procedures rather than broad knowledge quizzing.

• Weight and balance (brief)
• Fuel system overview
• Engine and propeller systems
• Landing gear system — this gets the most attention. Be ready to discuss gear indicator failures, what steps you'd take (checklist, requesting a tower flyby, pulling Gs to help the gear lock).
• Performance: PAST (Power, Altitude, Speed, Trim) and SMACFUM in detail

Common Questions

• What would you do if you had a landing gear indicator failure? Walk through your troubleshooting steps.
• Explain SMACFUM and be ready to discuss each element in depth.
• Be prepared to briefly discuss W&B, fuel planning, and prop/engine system basics — he touches on these but doesn't dwell.

Practical Focus

• The flight portion is fast-paced. Expect to begin maneuvers almost immediately after departing the Delta airspace — there's little transition time.
• Vmc demo: He may assist by inputting rudder to accelerate reaching the demonstration point. Know the maneuver cold.
• Single-engine approaches and patterns are part of the ride.
• He handled approach communications himself and vectored the aircraft onto final, so be ready for him to take over radios.
• Flight time reported around 1.4 hours.

Examiner Style

This is where pilot opinions diverge sharply. Everyone agrees on one thing: Tam prioritizes efficiency and wants to get through the checkride quickly.

• Casual demeanor — reported showing up in jeans and a T-shirt, using colorful language in the cockpit.
• Some pilots found him fair and straightforward, describing the experience as no-nonsense and efficient.
• Others found him rude and unprofessional, feeling rushed and sensing he didn't want to be there. One pilot reported Tam becoming visibly annoyed when they wanted to conduct a preflight inspection.
• He schedules checkrides on his terms — early morning slots (as early as 6 AM) have been reported.
• He is a Delta airline pilot, and multiple gouges reference this as context for his schedule-driven pace.

What Surprised Pilots

• The speed of the entire checkride — both oral and flight — caught pilots off guard. Don't mistake brevity for ease; be ready to perform from the moment you sit down.
• His willingness to take over radios and vector the aircraft himself during the flight portion was unexpected.
• The contrast between his casual appearance/language and the actual checkride standards surprised some pilots.
• Being visibly impatient with a standard preflight was a red flag for at least one applicant — don't let the pace pressure you into skipping your own safety procedures.