Welcome Information
Thank you for choosing Checkpoint Aviation to further your aviation career/passion. My job as a Designated Pilot Examiner is to conduct each practical exam to the best of my ability and ensure a safe, efficient and fair testing environment for each applicant. To help orchestrate this process please use this guide/ checklist to ensure you meet all FAA requirements for the certificate or rating sought. I ask for a lot of paperwork ahead of time so more of my time is devoted to you on test day and not the mountain of paperwork required. This also helps mitigate setbacks from training or eligibility requirements; thus, delaying your journey to success! I recommend compiling this list early and work with your endorsing CFI to accomplish this. Waiting until the day prior leads to delays! Please print, read and follow this check list in its entirety. Accuracy is crucial to this process. Not using/ sending all the information on time may result in delays or check ride cancellation.
As you collect your information, please read and consider these items:
LOGBOOKS: Use the audit sheet provided under your respective exam data to document flights from your logbook. (Not applicable for add-on ratings). Some penmanship is too difficult to decipher so please type in the information using a computer if able and scan it with your other docs. Be specific with aeronautical requirements, solo, cross-country PIC flights, instrument, etc. as this saves a ton of time. PLEASE take the time to fill out the totals of your logbook at the bottom of each page and double check them for accuracy- Then sign it! Digital logbooks are very useful for this as well. You can highlight specifics after you scan your logbook for easy recognition if you desire. While preparing your logbook for “inspection” it is extremely important for you (the applicant) and your endorsing CFI to ensure all your training was legal – i.e. you never flew solo or solo XC without proper endorsements. For instrument and commercial applicants, accurately document your PIC and PIC cross-country flights in as much detail as possible and annotate in remarks how it applies to eligibility requirements regarding approaches, etc.
DO NOT FORGET to log ground training and have it signed off by your CFI. It must be documented IAW 14 CFR 61.105/107 for Private Pilot, 61.65(b) & (c) for Instrument, and 61.125/ 127 for Commercial Pilot, etc. See individual sections below for more details.
NOTE FOR COMMERCIAL APPLICANTS: Holding an instrument rating does not imply you have fulfilled all commercial instrument requirements under 61.129(a)(3)(i) as the requirements for this certificate are different than that of 61.65. Clarification can be found in the FAA’s Legal Interpretation Letter Theriault 2010.
NOTE FOR SIMULATOR TIME: If you are using simulator time to fulfill requirements YOU MUST bring a copy of the “Letter of Authorization” from the school/ organization for that specific simulator. This is usually applicable for 141 students or ATP applicants after their CTP training.
IACRA - 8710 (completed and signed by recommending instructor 48 hrs prior) It is imperative you verify that all the information from your current pilot (student) certificate, I.D. and medical are accurate on your application – hair, eye color, dates, etc. Ensure physicians name and medical qualifications match exactly. i.e. “JOE SMITH , MD”. Have IACRA username and password available the day of the test to sign in. Do not send you other documents without having IACRA complete.
ENDORSEMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR EACH RIDE: Please use the following itemized checklists to ensure you have met all eligibility and prerequisites for your check ride. Use AC 61-65K to ensure your endorsements match the current requirements. Many logbooks have canned endorsements that do not match current verbiage. If they do not match current 61.65K guidance they will not be accepted.
REQUIRED PERSONAL EQUIPMENT TO BRING TO EXAM
o View limiting device (If applicable)
o Current Aeronautical Charts (printed or EFB)
o Computer/plotter (if using paper charts)
o Flight Plan Form/ Flight logs (printed)
o Chart Supps, Airport Diagram and publications to include AIM, CFRs, etc.
Please have actual or copies of ALL appropriate MX inspections to prove your aircraft is legal the day of the test. (To include an itemized list of current Airworthiness Directives) A statement in the logbooks that says “all AD’s complied with” is NOT sufficient for determining AD Compliance, or for testing an applicant on required Airworthiness tasks. Highlight or tab applicable areas to save time in the search. Please use the MX log to help organize this information.
ITEMS TO SCAN - NO LATER THAN NOON 2 DAYS (48 hrs) PRIOR TO TEST DAY. Please send all the information in one attached .pdf versus multiple emails to Jason.charrier.dpe@gmail.com. The Genius Scan app works great for this and is free to download. It can be done in one document if done correctly.
APPLICANT DOCUMENTS - scan and email no later than 1200L two days prior (48 hrs) to your ride
o Current and valid Government issued picture ID (front/ back)
o Current FAA medical or copy of Military DD-2992
o Current pilot / student certificate (front/back)
o Knowledge test results AND generated code report – must be in IACRA (if applicable)
o Please decode all ACS / PLT codes for any missed questions on the knowledge exam using this website below and send your report with your exam results.
o https://www.faatestcodes.com
o Approved 141 School Graduation Certificate (if applicable- ONLY VALID FOR 60 DAYS)
o CTP Course Graduation Certificate (for ATP applicants- DOES NOT EXPIRE FOR AMEL)
o Letter of Discontinuance (if applicable)
o Notice of Disapproval (if applicable)
o Ground Training Log from logbook for Aeronautical knowledge areas IAW FARs. Use the grids in the respective sections below if desired.
o Scan ALL ENDORSEMENTS (including each solo and solo XC for Private/ instrument applicants) for applicable exam (completed IAW 61.65K and ensure they are legible if handwritten.) See additional pages below for specific endorsements for your check ride. Note that many older logbooks have shell endorsements and may be outdated and incorrect! Do not blindly use them. If you’ve had no check rides in the previous 2 years, ensure you have a current Flight Review if required.
o Scan all pages of your logbook (N/A for ATP applicants) showing proper qualification and eligibility – This may require every page for a private and instrument pilot applicant. Please scan all the way across so I can read the entire entry in one view. Ensure any applicable instrument time, all day / night, cross-country flights (and endorsements), PIC time, towered and night landings, are highlighted and/or marked to easily find, etc. NOTE: Do not actually highlight your logbook. You can do it in your .pdf if you choose.
o Use attached aeronautical audit doc and type in logbook information so I can read it. I use this so I don’t have to decipher poor penmanship and guess at airport identifiers.
o Home Study Course certificate and endorsement if not using Ground training log with your CFI.
AIRCRAFT DOCUMENTS - scan and email no later than 1200L two days prior (48 hrs) to your ride
o Please scan and most recent and current MX inspection documents proving airworthiness:
o Airworthiness Certificate
o Registration
o Current aircraft Weight and Balance documentation
o Annual inspection
o 100 hr (if applicable)
o Transponder inspection
o Pitot- static/ Altimeter inspection
o ELT inspection (& ELT Battery due date)
o Any /All applicable Airworthiness Directives logs showing compliance.
o GPS NAV database MUST BE CURRENT and up to date.
o 30 day VOR Check (if applicable)
Please arrive at least 30 mins prior to scheduled start time and be prepared with everything listed above.
Test Fee for Private, Instrument, Commercial, Multi-add on, CFII, MEI or any Reinstatements: $1000
Test Fee for ATP: $1,500
Retest Fee for Ground (oral failure) and Flight (that I started) $800. Retest Fee Flight only (That I started): $500.
Discontinuance for MX, or unexpected WX or family emergency (with me) $0. Otherwise, I will charge a prorated fee based on the required to complete the test.
Preferred forms of payment: Cash, Credit Card (3.5% transaction fee)
If not listed here, contact me directly. I look forward to flying with you.
Respectfully,
Jason