Proposes What Is A Major Push Of Practical Tests; In Essence, A 'Checkride Month'

In an open letter to the industry, Bob Rockmaker, president & CEO of the Flight School Association of North America (FSANA), is calling for a concerted effort to clear the existing backlog of FAA Practical Tests that can erode a pilot candidate's skills before he or she is able to take a checkride.

Rockmaker writes that over the past two years, the Flight School Association of North America (FSANA) has been engaged with members regarding concerns of testing availability backlogs for FAA Practical Tests. This backlog is affecting the pilot production pipeline nationwide.

Waits for practical test scheduling in many locations are more than a month, causing flight training providers to limit student intake and applicants to spend more to remain current and proficient as they await testing availability.

The FAA and industry representatives are working hard on this issue. However, these efforts are going to take some time to solve the long-term structural approach to providing timely practical testing. A short-term effort to help “clear the backlog” is needed. FSANA is asking DPEs and industry partners to help promote what is a major push of practical tests; in essence, a “checkride month.”

Currently, the FAA has approximately 950 DPEs who are able to provide practical tests. Most do this work as a part-time vocation, while also working as professional pilots or instructors. The part-time nature of this work has historically limited the number of tests they provide. In fact, the mean number of practical tests a DPE gives on a yearly basis is 63 tests. Very few DPEs in the system average even one test every other day.

FSANA is asking the DPE community to step up during the months of April and May 2020, and give even a few extra tests per examiner. FSANA is additionally asking other industry associations to promote this effort and ask any members of theirs who are DPEs to help this effort.

Appropriate ACS/PTS standards will continue to be upheld, of course. We just need more tests to be given.

As examples: If you are a DPE who typically gives 4 tests per week and have off days on Saturday and Sunday, we are asking you to give a couple of extra Saturdays in April and May, and provide 2 more tests each week. If you are a DPE who flies for an airline as your primary job 16 days a month, we are asking that you take a couple extra of those off days for additional practical tests. If you are a DPE who is a corporate pilot and are at an airport away from your home for a couple of days while your client is in meetings, call a local flight training provider and offer your services.

Every extra practical test counts right now. If 900 DPEs each gave even one additional practical test per week it would equate to more than 46,000 additional practical tests across the system in a year! Considering the fact that in 2018 DPEs conducted approximately 91,000 practical tests, this would be a greater than 50% increase in testing capacity.

Part of the solution must also be provided by flight training providers to maximize the efficiency of practical test provision. Make sure when you schedule applicants they are ready, qualified, and proficient within the testing standards. Many DPEs encounter cancellations due to scheduled applicants who weren’t actually ready, didn’t meet all experience requirements or had other administrative challenges. If you are a flight training provider, check to make sure available testing blocks don’t go unused.

Increased testing volume by giving a few more tests per week or month is not the long term solution. An FAA Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee is working on additional solutions and the FAA is reviewing designee selection, standardization, and oversight. Those are future steps, though.

Right now, to recap, let’s work together to reduce the current backlog:
Training providers ensure that applicants are prepared for checkrides so maximum number of checkrides can actually be conducted;
DPEs who have off time from their primary jobs make an effort to add one or more checkrides a week, especially in the upcoming months of April and May;
Industry associations promote the call to service among their members, including flight training providers and DPEs.

FAA staff has expressed support for this, industry associations recognize the value of clearing the backlog, and our system needs to keep training and testing moving forward.

The work that an FAA DPE does on behalf of the FAA, while compensated, is also a service to the industry. FSANA and partner associations are hoping that as many DPEs as possible will step up to give as many additional practical tests as possible over April and May.

(Source: Flight School Association of North America (FSANA) news release)

 FMI: www.fsana.com