The Benefits of an In-House Checkride for Flight School

Checkrides test a pilot’s proficiency and knowledge, validating their ability to safely operate an aircraft. This exam is normally administered by an FAA examiner who has to come to the flight school for the test. But, PEA students have the opportunity to take an in-house checkride, as PEA is able to sign off on FAA licenses. There are plenty of benefits to the in-house checkrides offered by PEA, which we cover below. 

Avoid Wait Times

FAA examiners can take up to a month to arrive at the flight school for checkrides. During this time, students have been waiting to take the test. In these cases, the knowledge and experience from flight school is no longer fresh in a student’s mind. Some students may have to take repeat flights to brush up on their knowledge and practice before the checkride. This requires students to put more time and money into their training. 

In-house checkrides allow students to avoid wait times. Instead, they can jump right into the checkride after completing their requirements. This is because FAA examiners don’t need to travel to schools that offer it in-house. Instead, the flight school can administer the checkride internally and directly issue sign-offs for FAA licenses, eliminating the need to wait for an external examiner. This results in shorter wait times and fewer challenges in scheduling the evaluation. 

Easier Scheduling

Booking your checkride is much easier when you can do it right through your flight school. Both you and the flight school can avoid having to fit into the schedule of an external FAA examiner, who has to travel to the flight school based on their availability. This makes scheduling hassle-free for students, so they can get through it faster. 

Tailored Support

When a flight school offers in-house checkrides, the certified flight instructor (CFI) already understands a pilot’s strengths and weaknesses before taking the checkride. This allows them to support students so that they are the most prepared to pass. They can also design practice flights tailored to address your specific areas of difficulty in preparation for the checkride. This leads to a higher statistic of success amongst schools offering in-house checkrides. 

Builds Confidence

Taking the checkride amongst a familiar environment with familiar CFIs helps to calm nerves and builds confidence. It can be easy to get nervous in an unfamiliar environment. In addition, some students may get nervous having to take the checkride with an unfamiliar instructor. Having a familiar face there with you encourages a supportive atmosphere and one that was built to help you succeed.

FAA Oversight

Schools with in-house examiners undergo regular oversight from the FAA. Flight schools offering self-administered exams may be a deciding factor for many students when choosing where to train. These schools must adhere to higher standards in compliance with the FAA. This usually means better resources, the most experienced instructors, and high quality education and training programs. The benefit of FAA oversight is experienced long before needing to take a checkride, as the whole program and whole flight school is required to comply with their standards. 

For those who want to become a commercial pilot, FAA-oversight guarantees rigorous training standards. Most commercial pilot students pursue Part 141 programs, which follow an FAA-approved curriculum. Ongoing FAA audits further ensure enhanced safety and consistent regulatory compliance. 

Do All Flight Schools Offer In-House Examiners?

Most flight schools do not offer in-house examiners. It’s one of the many reasons why flight school students decide to transfer to PEA. In-house examiners allow students to avoid wait times that students from other flight schools have to deal with. FAA examiners can sometimes take up to a month to arrive at the flight school for the checkride. By that time, students often become rusty from the extended waiting period, as opposed to taking the checkride immediately after completing their training.

If you are interested in applying for a flight school that offers in-house examiners, contact PEA at info2@pea.com to inquire about the training programs available based on your aviation goals.