I PROVIDE PRACTICAL TESTS FOR PRIVATE; COMMERCIAL; INSTRUMENT; SINGLE ENGINE LAND AND SEA; CFI ADD ONS AND REINSTATEMENTS AS A DESIGNATED PILOT EXAMINER (DPE).
I AM IN THE LOWER 48 FOR OCTOBER 2023-MARCH 2024. APPLICANTS, DO NOT BOOK YOUR CHECKRIDE INDIVIDUALLY ON MY CALENDAR AT THIS TIME. I WILL SCHEDULE GROUPS OF CHECKRIDES WITH FLIGHT SCHOOL MANAGEMENT OR CFIS ONLY, UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. IF YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO COME TO YOUR AREA, SPEAK WITH YOUR FLIGHT SCHOOL ABOUT GETTING 5 CHECKRIDES TOGETHER SO MY TRAVEL COSTS ARE LESS OF A BURDEN FOR ONE APPLICANT. THEN HAVE YOUR CFI OR MANAGEMENT CONTACT ME. THANK YOU AND HAPPY FLYING!
I know there is alot on this page to read, but please do read carefully as it will greatly smooth your checkride day for you, and if you read all the way to the bottom, you’ll see checklists and tips for a great checkride day.
Examination fee for initial ratings: $800 Expect initial tests for private, commercial, or instrument to take around 6 hours.
CFI add ons or reinstatements: $1,000
Add-on ratings, such as ASES add-on to a private or commercial ASEL certificate: $800. Re-test: $300 or more depending on travel expenses.
Consult with your CFI and book your checkride together, giving extra time to yourself to make sure you feel ready and to account for missed training days due to weather, broken airplanes, etc. Call Carol (907) 350-6607 before booking if you have anything “outside the box” such as DPE travel required. If you would like to ask me if I will do an extra checkride on a certain day or week, I may be able to schedule more than the calendar allows – text and ask.
DPEs get very busy in certain seasons and availability is a scarce commodity. Plan your checkride date in advance and try to keep the appointment; others can use your scheduled time and will if they have the notice to be able to.
I accept cash or Venmo @Carol-Zerbe or you can search for my email on Venmo: northboundak@gmail.com. I may only take payment after the intake paperwork, as the checkride officially begins.
To schedule: SEE my location info above. IF YOU HAVEN’T READ THIS, DO NOT SCHEDULE.
Step 1: Click on a date that is open or pending. Once you have booked a date, you can check back on the calendar to see that the date is not longer available. Unfortunately the booking calendar confirmation emails are not working right now, so you can assume that if the date disapeared from the calendar a few minutes after you booked, that your date is saved. Once you get me your intake paperwork from Step 3, below, I will send you your personal confirmation and your scenario to plan within a week or so, and at the very latest a few days prior to the checkride.
Step 2: Fill out the form fields below and send.
Step 3: DMS Pre Approval:
I am required get permissions from the FAA to do your checkride. Email me the following FAA pre-approval information by the Friday before your test. The earlier the better. Send me the information via email to northboundak@gmail.com. This is not a web form – simply type in the information in an email.
Type of Test and are you adding to a private or commercial certificate if an add on rating
Retest yes or no:
Type of A/C ie. CE-172-P:
Registration number (N number):
Applicant Name (on pilot certificate):
Applicant Pilot certificate (student, pending, etc.)#:
Applicant FTN#:
IACRA Application # (If this is not done until just prior to the test, email me the number separately.):
Applicant Cell #:
Applicant email:
Applicant ID#, state, and exp date:
CFI Name:
CFI certificate #:
CFI Cell #:
CFI email:
Verify date, start time, and location for- ground/flight.
Once you send this information to me, I will send your cross country scenario to plan. If you don’t have an application number yet, email it to me when you do. That doesn’t technically have to be completed until just before the checkride.
Step 4: Wait for a reply from me verifying your check ride time. If you need to reach out to me my email address is northboundak@gmail.com and my cell number is (907) 350-6607. Text is best if you’re not hearing back right away and need a quick answer.
Step 5: To make sure things go smoothly on the day of your checkride, follow the appropriate checklist below carefully WITH your CFI. Major omissions or inaccuracies discovered on the day of the checkride could possibly result in a reschedule or other delay which is inconvenient for both of us and costs you more money due to retesting fees.
**updates**ONCE YOUR CFI HAS SIGNED YOUR APPLICATION IN IACRA, PRINT OUT THE APPLICATION AND BRING IT TO YOUR CHECKRIDE. THAT WAY IF IACRA HAS ISSUES WE CAN STILL DO YOUR CHECKRIDE. IF A KNOWLEDGE TEST WAS REQUIRED, BRING YOUR ORIGINAL KNOWLEDGE TEST RESULTS WITH YOU, AND A LIST OF THE MISSED KNOWLEDGE CODES, DECODED FOR ME.
Private Pilot Applicant Checklist
Commercial Applicant Checklist
Everyone in interested in a successful checkride – passing with flying colors, the first time. The following are my recommendations on how to make that a high probability event. There is no magic product to buy online, or silver bullet, that guarantees you will pass your check ride. It is up to you and your CFI to work diligently together to ensure you are prepared. Examiners are the final check in the process of certifying you to fly passengers in the national airspace system, and in the real world of flying. Prepare by being intimately familiar with the ACS (Airmen Certification Standards), preparing 3 times more than you think you need to at least for the private (your first checkride experience), and insisting on several “practice check rides” with your CFI, or a couple of CFIs. This very importantly should include oral quizzing of the sort that will happen during your check ride – to include SCENARIO based questions. Put yourself in the flight and imagine things go wrong and what you would do. CFIs – teach and question in mini scenarios all along the flight training journey. This level of preparation will help you feel more at ease and have confidence in your performance. The ACS is your best friend during this journey and is, along with the FAA Handbooks, the matrix examiners use to evaluate; so make friends with these publications. If you are in line with the ACS, you are on track for a checkride you can enjoy and be proud of. Examiners love to see preparedness and knowledge of the ACS, and we love to celebrate your hard work with you. Take pride in your excellence and dedication to the art and craft of being a pilot; you should be proud of your hard work and resilience, and every certification level of pilot deserves to be proud of what they have accomplished. I look forward to being a part of your flying journey!