Definition
A checkride, formally known as a practical test, is the culminating evaluation a pilot candidate must pass to receive a new certificate (such as Private Pilot or Commercial Pilot) or rating (such as Instrument or Multi-Engine). The checkride is administered by an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) or, less commonly, an FAA Aviation Safety Inspector. It consists of two parts: an oral examination and a flight test, both of which must be completed satisfactorily in accordance with the applicable Airman Certification Standards (ACS) or Practical Test Standards (PTS). The oral portion typically lasts one to two hours and covers the knowledge areas specified in the ACS for the certificate or rating being sought. The examiner probes the applicant's understanding of regulations, aerodynamics, weather, aircraft systems, flight planning, and aeronautical decision-making through scenario-based questions. The flight portion follows, during which the applicant must demonstrate proficiency in the required maneuvers and procedures to the standards specified in the ACS. The examiner evaluates not just mechanical execution of maneuvers but also the applicant's judgment, risk management, and single-pilot resource management throughout the flight. A checkride can result in a pass (issuance of a temporary certificate), a disapproval (failure requiring additional training and a retest), or a discontinuance (suspension of the test due to weather, mechanical issues, or other factors beyond the applicant's control, allowing the test to be resumed later). First-time pass rates are closely watched by training organizations, regulators, and industry stakeholders as a measure of training quality.
Why It Matters for Flight Schools
For flight schools, checkride management involves significant coordination. The school or student must schedule the checkride with a DPE — often weeks or months in advance due to examiner availability — and ensure that all prerequisite training, endorsements, and paperwork are complete before the appointment. Missing a single endorsement or logbook entry can result in the examiner refusing to begin the test, wasting the examiner's fee and everyone's time. Checkride pass rates also serve as an unofficial but powerful marketing metric. Prospective students often ask about a school's pass rates when choosing where to train, and the FAA monitors examiner-level and school-level pass rates for quality assurance purposes. Schools with consistently low pass rates may attract increased FAA scrutiny. Tracking and improving checkride outcomes is therefore both an operational and strategic priority for flight school leadership.
How Aviatize Handles This
Aviatize streamlines checkride preparation with a pre-checkride readiness checklist that verifies all required training milestones, flight hours, endorsements, and documentation are complete before the student's scheduled date. This reduces the risk of last-minute surprises that could force a postponement. After the checkride, outcomes are recorded in the student's training record, feeding into school-wide analytics on first-time pass rates, common areas of disapproval, and examiner-specific trends. School owners and chief instructors can use these insights to identify weaknesses in their training program and take corrective action. The platform also helps with DPE scheduling coordination by maintaining examiner contact information and availability alongside the school's own calendar.