DPE directory · structured reviews · scheduling
Know the ride
before you fly it.
Read what pilots actually experienced with a Designated Pilot Examiner — scored on briefing, communication, scenario realism and debrief — then request one of their open checkride dates.
Every request is approved by the examiner before it is confirmed
Rating snapshot
Dana Whitfield
KADS · Addison, TX
4.7
“Briefing was tight and the scenario load was realistic. The debrief was the most useful hour of my training.”
Private Pilot ASEL · passed
How pilots rate
Not a star
and a rant.
“They failed me” isn’t a review — it tells the next pilot nothing. Every review scores four things a pilot can actually judge, and adds what to expect on the day.
Briefing & prep
Did they tell you what was expected before you showed up?
Communication & fairness
Clear instructions, no games, consistent standards.
Oral & scenario depth
Realistic, ACS-based questions — not trivia or gotchas.
Debrief & disposition
Useful feedback afterward, and how you were treated.
Fees, wait time, aircraft and pass/fail outcomes are recorded separately — so a fair oral doesn’t get confused with a cheap one.
Examiner profiles
What a profile tells you
Dana Whitfield
Addison, TX· KADS
Full-day block, no surprises on the oral. Sends a prep sheet a week out.
Marcus Ortega
Mesa, AZ· KFFZ
Runs the oral as a scenario from engine start to shutdown. Strict but consistent.
Ruth Kaplan
Bedford, MA· KBED
Long debrief either way. Two pilots said the oral prep call alone was worth it.
Sample profiles — real examiner listings appear here once added
How it works
Scheduling runs on examiner approval
Read the profile, not the gossip
Four scored dimensions, pass/fail outcomes by checkride type, fee, and what the day looked like — straight from pilots who flew it.
Request an open date
Examiners publish the dates they’re actually holding. Pick one that works and send your checkride type, tail number and notes.
They approve, you fly
The examiner accepts or declines from their dashboard, with a reply. Nothing is confirmed until they do.
For Designated Pilot Examiners
You set the dates.
You approve the request.
This isn’t a booking engine that fills your calendar. You post the dates you’re willing to hold, and every request lands in your dashboard for a yes or no.
- Publish only the dates you want to hold
- Approve or decline every request yourself
- Answer review scores publicly if you want to
- No booking fees — pilots contact you through the request