Private Pilot Checkride Requirements

Oral

• The oral portion of an FAA checkride includes questions on such topics as FAA regulations, weather, flight physics, traffic scanning, aeronautical chart reading and aircraft systems. To pass, a student must answer every question correctly; however, some examiners will explain the correct answer to the student in lieu of asking a question. If a students passes the oral, then he may advance to the preflight section; if he fails, then the checkride is discontinued and he must retake the oral at a later date.

Preflight

• The preflight section--sometimes considered part of the flight portion--is when the student pilot gathers necessary flight information (weather, weight and balance, takeoff and landing distances) and conducts a preflight inspection of the airplane. The student must present accurate information to the examiner as well as conduct a thorough and logical preflight inspection. Inaccurate information or an incorrect preflight inspection means failure of the checkride.

Flight

• The flight portion is the final stage of the checkride. In the flight portion, the student takes the examiner up on a brief flight. The examiner tests the student on cross-country navigation; flight maneuvers such as stalls and steep turns; emergency procedures; ground tracking maneuvers; traffic pattern and airport departure and entry procedures. After the flight, the examiner will debrief the student pilot. If the examiner finds that the student meets the FAA&'s Practical Test Standards and does not commit any unsafe actions, then the examiner will issue her a private pilot license. If the student fails, then she must retake the checkride at a later date.