What This Guide Covers
- How FAA checkrides are structured — oral vs. flight test
- What the ACS (Airman Certification Standards) is and why it matters
- Private Pilot (PPL) checkride: oral topics, flight tasks, common failures
- Instrument Rating (IFR) checkride: oral topics, approaches, gotchas
- Commercial Pilot checkride: commercial maneuvers, regulations, failure points
- Documents you must bring to every checkride
- What happens if you fail — and how to recover
- Preparation strategy that actually works
How FAA Checkrides Work
Every FAA practical test (checkride) has two parts: the oral examination and the flight test. Both are conducted by a Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) — a private citizen authorized by the FAA to conduct practical tests and issue temporary airman certificates on behalf of the Administrator.
The DPE uses the applicable Airman Certification Standards (ACS) as their testing blueprint. The ACS defines exactly what knowledge, risk management, and skills an applicant must demonstrate for each task. If it's not in the ACS, it won't be on your checkride. If it is in the ACS, it's fair game.
The DPE can terminate the test at any point for safety. They document areas of satisfactory and unsatisfactory performance on FAA Form 8710. If you pass, you receive a temporary airman certificate on the spot. If you fail, you receive a Notice of Disapproval and must retest only on failed areas.
The #1 Preparation Mistake
Most students study ground school material but never read the actual ACS for their certificate. Download the current ACS directly from FAA.gov. Read every task. Review every knowledge element (K), risk element (R), and skill element (S). Your DPE is reading from the same document during your oral.
Documents Required at Every Checkride
Private Pilot (PPL) Checkride
Oral Exam Areas of Emphasis
- Aircraft systems, limitations, and performance
- Weather: METARs, TAFs, SIGMETs, AIRMETs, PIREPs, winds aloft
- Airspace classifications (A–G), entry requirements, weather minimums
- VFR flight planning and navigation (pilotage, dead reckoning, GPS)
- Cross-country planning, lost procedures, divert decision-making
- Emergency procedures (engine failure, electrical failure, fire)
- Aeronautical decision making (ADM) and risk management
- NTSB reporting requirements and accident/incident definitions
- NOTAMs, TFRs, and preflight planning resources
- Weight and balance, performance charts
Flight Test Tasks
- Preflight inspection and cockpit management
- Takeoffs: normal, crosswind, short-field, soft-field
- Ground reference maneuvers: turns around a point, S-turns
- Slow flight and stalls (power-on and power-off)
- Emergency approach and landing (simulated engine failure)
- Navigation (pilotage, dead reckoning, divert to alternate)
- Night flight tasks (if applicable)
- Landings: normal, crosswind, go-around, short-field, soft-field
Common Failure Points
- Poor weather judgment — flying into deteriorating conditions in scenario questions
- Airspace knowledge gaps — confusing Class B/C requirements
- Checklist non-compliance during flight test
- Altitude busts (±100 ft tolerance during cruise)
- Weak emergency procedure execution — poor glide management
Instrument Rating (IFR) Checkride
Oral Exam Areas of Emphasis
- IFR regulations: currency requirements, alternate minimums, logging IMC
- Instrument approach procedures: ILS, RNAV (GPS), VOR, LOC, circling
- Weather: reading prog charts, icing forecasts, convective SIGMETs
- IFR flight planning: fuel requirements, alternate airport selection, ATIS
- ATC communications and lost comms procedures (91.185)
- Departure and arrival procedures: DPs, STARs, transitions
- Navigation systems: VOR, ILS, GPS/WAAS, RNAV, RNP
- Aircraft systems: pitot-static system, vacuum/electric instruments
- Holding patterns: entry, timing, corrections
- In-flight emergencies under IMC
Flight Test Tasks
- Instrument takeoff and departure procedure
- Enroute IFR navigation and intercepting/tracking airways
- Holding pattern entry and corrections
- ILS approach to minimums
- RNAV (GPS) approach
- VOR or LOC approach
- Missed approach procedure
- Circling approach (if applicable)
- Partial panel (unusual attitudes, timed turns)
- Recovery from unusual attitudes
Common Failure Points
- Lost comms procedures — misremembering 91.185 route/altitude rules
- Holding pattern non-standard entry
- Unstabilized approaches — failing to intercept glideslope correctly
- Instrument scan breakdown during high workload
- Missing a step on the approach briefing (ATIS, full brief, minimums)
Commercial Pilot (CPL) Checkride
Oral Exam Areas of Emphasis
- Commercial regulations: 119, 135, 91 — when each applies
- Compensation and hire rules for commercial pilots
- Complex/high-performance aircraft systems
- High altitude physiology and hypoxia
- Aeromedical factors: spatial disorientation, visual illusions
- Advanced weather theory: fronts, wind shear, thunderstorm avoidance
- Aircraft performance at high weights and high density altitude
- Night flight operations
- Hazardous materials and passenger briefing requirements
Flight Test Tasks
- Steep turns (50-degree bank, ±100 ft, ±10 kts)
- Chandelles
- Lazy eights
- Eights on pylons
- Power-off 180° accuracy approach and landing
- Short-field and soft-field takeoffs and landings
- Emergency procedures
- Complex aircraft operations (retractable gear, constant-speed prop)
Common Failure Points
- Steep turn altitude loss — must maintain ±100 ft at 50° bank
- Chandelle coordination — maintaining proper back pressure through turn
- Power-off 180 — undershooting the intended touchdown zone
- Weak commercial regulations knowledge — Part 119/135 applicability
- Weight/balance for max gross weight operations
Preparation Strategy That Works
Go to FAA.gov → Airman Testing → ACS. Download the ACS for your certificate. Read it front to back. Highlight every knowledge and risk element you're unsure of. This is the single highest-leverage prep activity.
Schedule your written test at an authorized testing center — Parrish Aviation is a PSI testing center. The test prepares your brain for oral questions. Don't schedule your checkride until your written is passed (valid 24 months).
Your CFI should conduct at least two full mock oral exams simulating DPE questioning. Record them if possible. Identify weak areas. Re-study those ACS elements specifically.
For 2 weeks before your checkride, run your pre-flight briefing as if a DPE is watching. Verbalize your weather analysis, W&B, performance calculations, and go/no-go decision out loud.
The pre-checkride endorsement must reflect that your CFI has reviewed the deficiencies on your written and found you ready. Many CFIs give this endorsement within 60 days of the test; closer is better.
Use the required documents checklist above. Missing a document will result in postponement, not just an awkward moment. Aircraft logbooks, medical, IACRA — check all of it the night before.
Checkride FAQ
What do DPEs typically ask during a private pilot oral exam?
How long does a private pilot checkride take?
What documents do I need to bring to my checkride?
What happens if I fail a checkride?
What is the difference between the ACS and PTS for checkrides?
Train with a NAFI Master CFI
Parrish Aviation's instructors are trained to prepare you for checkride success from day one. Our Part 141 curriculum includes stage checks and mock oral sessions at every level.