FAA Examiner Fee Waived

[slick1537]

This school was mentioned in another thread so I was looking around their website, toward the bottom of

 

http://www.highpeaksheli.com/programs.html

 

it says that the FAA is obligated to provide an examination free of charge if the student wants. How does that work?

[ChopperJ]

The FAA does not charge for a check ride but the DPEs do (Designated Pilot Examiner). The DPEs are not FAA employees. However some FSDOs do not have any examiners that will do check rides in an R22 so you will have to pay for the DPE. Also the FSDO can say that they don't have time and then you are back to the DPE. Personally I would use a DPE for every check ride.

[BillyBob]

The FAA does not charge for a check ride but the DPEs do (Designated Pilot Examiner). The DPEs are not FAA employees. However some FSDOs do not have any examiners that will do check rides in an R22 so you will have to pay for the DPE. Also the FSDO can say that they don't have time and then you are back to the DPE. Personally I would use a DPE for every check ride.

 

 

What is the going rate for a DPE ride?

 

I was told a price and think it's on the steep end.

[joker]

Fee usually runs between 300 and 400 spondoolies. It depends on the DPE.

 

Yes, it's a lot of money, and could lead to some unethical practice.

 

I don't know how much exists already, but I think their should be some regulatory involvment to control this.

 

It'll set you back if you haven't planned for it.

 

Dispite my disagreement, it didn't stop me from looking seriously into how to become a DPE! Could work out very lucrative for a young pilot.

 

Joker

[rick1128]

Slick,

 

You might want to rethink that a little. The DPE fee is cheap insurance of getting a fair and good checkride. First of all the FSDO is generally busy doing CFI rides and Part 135 rides to do a checkride where a DPE is available. Second, scheduling can be as long as 6 to 8 weeks in advance. Then add in the fact the Inspector does fly hardly at all, may not have a lot of experience and might be having a bad day, which you will pay for.

 

Another point is that your instructor knows what most examiners want to see and can prepare you better for the checkride. For an inspector they tend not to have that information and you would be working in virgin territory.

 

I have done checkrides with both the Feds and DPE's in my career and have found that the rides with DPEs are a lot more fu and comfortable and I have generaly gotten more out of them.

 

Good luck.