FAA private pilot examinar

[rppearso]

Hello,

Does anyone know of a good FAA examinar to request for a check ride, I am looking for someone that has a calm demenor that will put me at ease so I have a better chance of passing. Not nessicarily someone who will just pass you but I dont want some grouchy old man that makes me so nervous that I botch a manuver or a question and they make the experience miserable. Most people I have met in the aviation community are great but with the cost of FAA exams going sky high I dont want to take the chance of getting the one guy that hates his job and have to retest for 500+$.

 

[headoutdaplane]

cant you go to the FSDO and get it done for free?

 

[rppearso]

Im not sure what that is, I will try googling it. A free check ride would be sweet and take the pressure off if I had to redue it. Its hard to imagine the gov offering anything for free, especially the FAA.

 

[crnadoc]

Heidi Ruess is fantastic. Very calm and easy going.

Ron

 

[Grizzly 1]

Im not sure what that is, I will try googling it. A free check ride would be sweet and take the pressure off if I had to redue it. Its hard to imagine the gov offering anything for free, especially the FAA.

FLIGHT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE. Doesn't the FAA still have an office at Merrill Field? Or am I dating myself . . . . . ?

 

[ftaba1]

The FSDO main office is on 36th St. Phone: 271-2147. If you request an FAA inspector (no charge for the checkride) they will most likely tell you to contact a DPE (Designated Pilot Examiner, not free of charge). If my experience is any indication, you don't want to go with a FAA inspector even if the checkride is "free". Chances are you'll end up spending more on getting more flight instruction after not passing a checkride first time. As for the DPE, I'd recommend Heidi Ruess or Ray Hodges. Both are very nice and will put you at ease.

 

[RocketRick]

I 3rd the Heidi recommendation. Saw her a few weeks ago at L Hood at their office.

Flew with her in 1983 in her Taylorcraft and she's still going strong. Great lady.

Rick

 

[roamak]

X4 Heidi Ruess.

 

[Float Pilot]

Heidi Ruess in Anchorage or Dean Eichholtz in Soldotna

 

[AKDREAMER]

A friend just did his check with Heide. He said she was great...X6 Heidi

 

[Grizzly 1]

The FSDO main office is on 36th St. Phone: 271-2147. If you request an FAA inspector (no charge for the checkride) they will most likely tell you to contact a DPE (Designated Pilot Examiner, not free of charge). If my experience is any indication, you don't want to go with a FAA inspector even if the checkride is "free". Chances are you'll end up spending more on getting more flight instruction after not passing a checkride first time. As for the DPE, I'd recommend Heidi Ruess or Ray Hodges. Both are very nice and will put you at ease.

I don't mean to take anything away from those recommendations for DPEs found above. At the same time, I wouldn't fear an FAA Flight Examiner. Remember, your examiner only wants to know you meet certain MINIMUM safe flight requirements. Looking at the other side of the coin: would you be thrilled at flying with a pilot who only passes the minimum requirements?

My recommendation: get a good night's sleep and do everything your examiner asks of you in a positive manner. You'll be just fine !!!

 

[SewellGT]

++ Heidi Ruess. Checkride with her last year was awesome, great learning experience in addition to getting a sign-off

 

[onebadjudge70]

Heidi Ruess! I took my checkride with her in February. She is everything your looking for in an examiner. A great pilot and an amazing lady with lots of flying stories.

 

[rppearso]

Sounds like im going with Heidi, just retook my writen and got a 90 and resoloed, going for my pre solo CX wednesday and that should double as my remaining instrument time I have left to get (have to check the FAR's again to see if it specificly calls out hood time or if I can count the entire hobs as "instrument flying" if I am continually doing track VOR and compass navigation mixed in with some hood time. Then just have to do 2 convoluded trips to talkeetna at low air speed and my 5 hrs CX will be done (have already calculated it out and it can be done in 2.5 hrs at 75 knots with one straight line form talkeetna to pt no name greater than 50 nm and total flight of greater than 150 nm, then just have to do that one more time and will be finished. Then just the pre check ride practice, wow this will be more exciting than getting my PE in chemcial engineering lol.

 

[crnadoc]

Heidi and Rick are both absolutely fantastic. If you are taught by them, you will receive their years of experience. That is priceless.

 

[rppearso]

I am looking forward to it. My dad has been a bush pilot all his life but is not a CFI so I will also gain alot of experience from him once I get my licence and start working on tail draggers. Just looking for the check ride to be as smooth as possible, its been a long time comming getting my licence and just dont want any hicups at the very end.​