Preparing for your EXAM
please note that non-U.S. CITIZENS MUST SHOW THEIR PASSPORT AND ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT-ISSUED IDENTIFICATION CARD AT THE EXAM SITE.
FROM THE ACS APPENDIX: “The applicant is responsible for mastering the established standards for knowledge, risk management, and skill elements in all Tasks appropriate to the certificate and rating sought. The applicant should use this ACS, its references, and the Applicant’s Practical Test Checklist in this Appendix in preparation to take the practical test.”
Please prepare for your exam. If you don't, you'll be needing a lot of these
Private ASEL/AMEL CERTIFICATION
Prepare for your oral exam by Referencing the ACS. We will test at least one "Knowledge" item and one "Risk" item from each applicable task for your aircraft class that you are testing in. All of the "skill" items for each task will be tested.
Plan a Cross-Country in advance of your appointment, according to the scenario assigned to you via e-mail.
Preparation, presentation, and explanation of a computer-generated flight plan is an acceptable option.
Be prepared to brief ALL ITEMS referenced in FAR 91.103 for the flight you planned. Bring a standard briefing, printed or digital, received the calendar day of the exam. Please note that Pilotage and Dead Reckoning are required exam tasks, and the iPad is only an electronic flight bag, not an acceptable means of navigation. I may ask you to turn off the iPad at any time during the exam to simulate an overheat, battery loss or equipment failure.
Bring with you...
An electronic or paper copy of the weather briefing you obtained.
COMPLETED NAVDATA Log
A View-Limiting Device or "Hood"
Printed copy of your application (8710-1) after your Instructor recommends you in IACRA. (We can use this copy in case there are issues with IACRA.)
Your logbook, please TAB all of the required Aeronautical Experience listed in FAR 61.109
Applicants must provide a copy of the Letter of Authorization (LOA) when using ATD flight training time credit to meet the minimum experience requirements for a pilot certificate, rating or privilege
Your Government issued Photo I.D.
Your printed Knowledge Test results
If you are applying for a certificate based on a foreign license, bring your CURRENT, NON-EXPIRED, VERIFICATION LETTER YOU RECEIVED FROM THE FSDO, ALONG WITH YOUR FOREIGN LICENSE.
Your Graduation Certificate, if you are a graduate of an approved Part 141 Flight School. Confirm the Graduation Date is within 60 days of the exam date!
Airworthiness Certificate, Airplane Registration, and all of the maintenance records and logbooks.
Please verify that all of the applicable "AViATE" inspections are current, and review all of the "AROW" documents for currency.
Please do TWO Weight and Balance calculations in advance:
For the above Cross-Country: carry maximum passengers and baggage to arrive at your destination with at least day-VFR fuel reserves.
For the Exam flight, with the expected fuel loading, I weigh 200#, no baggage. If safe and possible for your planned aircraft, please plan your fuel to be able to take an additional 200# passenger, in case an FAA Inspector asks to ride along to observe me while conducting your exam.
VERIFY you meet the Endorsement & Flight Experience criteria specified here
Commercial CERTIFICATION
Prepare for your oral exam by Referencing the ACS. We will test at least one "Knowledge" item and one "Risk" item from each applicable task for your aircraft class that you are testing in. All of the "skill" items for each task will be tested.
Please plan a VFR Charter Flight in advance of your appointment. Carry maximum passengers and baggage, departure airport is the exam airport and plan to one of these destinations: KTVL, KTRK.
If originating at KSBD make your first checkpoint the Interstate 210 and 215 Interchange, if originating at KCNO or KRAL make your first checkpoint over Lake Matthews. If originating at KSBP or KSMX use L52 Oceano County Airport as your first checkpoint. Other airports, please contact me and I will give you an assigned first checkpoint.
Preparation, presentation, and explanation of a computer-generated flight plan is an acceptable option.
Be prepared to brief me in detail on ALL ITEMS referenced in FAR 91.103 for the flight you planned. Bring a digital or paper copy of a standard briefing received the calendar day of the exam. Please note that Pilotage and Dead Reckoning are required exam tasks, and the iPad is only an electronic flight bag, not an acceptable means of navigation. I may ask you to turn off the iPad at any time during the exam to simulate an overheat, battery loss or equipment failure. Paper charts are always a wise backup as they have no batteries and never overheat!
Bring with you...
A digital or printed copy of the weather briefing you obtained.
NAVDATA Log
Printed copy of your application (8710-1) after your Instructor recommends you in IACRA. (We can use this copy in case there are issues with IACRA.)
Your logbook, please TAB all of the required Aeronautical Experience listed in FAR 61.129
Applicants must provide a copy of the Letter of Authorization (LOA) when using ATD flight training time credit to meet the minimum experience requirements for a pilot certificate, rating or privilege
Your Government issued Photo I.D.
Your printed Knowledge Test results, if applicable. Additional Category or Class applicants don't need a knowledge test.
If you are applying for a certificate based on a foreign license, bring your CURRENT, NON-EXPIRED, VERIFICATION LETTER YOU RECEIVED FROM THE FSDO, ALONG WITH YOUR FOREIGN LICENSE.
Your Graduation Certificate, if you are a graduate of an approved Part 141 Flight School. Confirm the Graduation Date is within 60 days of the exam date!
Airworthiness Certificate, Airplane Registration, and all of the maintenance records and logbooks.
Please verify that all of the applicable "AViATE" inspections are current, and review all of the "AROW" documents for currency.
Please do TWO Weight and Balance calculations in advance:
1. For the above Cross-Country: carry maximum passengers and baggage to arrive at your destination.
2. For the Exam flight, with the expected fuel loading, I weigh 200#, no baggage. If safe and possible for your planned aircraft, please plan your fuel to be able to take an additional 200# passenger, in case an FAA Inspector asks to ride along to observe me while conducting your exam.
Verify you meet the Endorsements & Flight Experience criteria specified here
Instrument Airplane Rating CERTIFICATION
Prepare for your oral exam by Referencing the ACS. We will test at least one "Knowledge" item and one "Risk" item from each applicable task for your aircraft class that you are testing in. All of the "skill" items for each task will be tested.
Please Plan a Cross-Country in advance, starting at the exam airport and ending at one of these destinations: KBFL or KSBP.
Preparation, presentation, and explanation of a computer-generated flight plan is an acceptable option.
Be prepared to brief ALL ITEMS referenced in FAR 91.103 for the flight you planned. Bring a standard briefing, printed or digital, received the calendar day of the exam.
If your aircraft is equipped with an IFR approved GPS with a current database, you may use it for navigation and approach reference. If NOT, you may only navigate using the VOR and Localizer/Glideslope receivers installed in the aircraft. Please note that the iPad is only an electronic flight bag, not an acceptable means of navigation. DISABLE THE “OWNSHIP” FEATURE ON YOUR EFB BEFORE THE EXAM FLIGHT. I may ask you to turn off the iPad at any time during the exam to simulate an overheat, battery loss or equipment failure.
COMPLETE an IFR flight plan.
Bring with you...
A electronic or paper copy of the weather briefing obtained the day of the exam.
NAVDATA Log
A View-Limiting Device or "Hood"
Printed copy of your application (8710-1) after your Instructor recommends you in IACRA. (We can use this copy in case there are issues with IACRA.)
Your logbook, please TAB all of the required Aeronautical Experience listed in FAR 61.65
Applicants must provide a copy of the Letter of Authorization (LOA) when using ATD flight training time credit to meet the minimum experience requirements for a pilot certificate, rating or privilege
Your Government issued Photo I.D.
Your printed Knowledge Test results
If your are applying for a certificate based on a foreign license, bring your CURRENT, NON-EXPIRED, VERIFICATION LETTER YOU RECEIVED FROM THE FSDO, ALONG WITH YOUR FOREIGN LICENSE
Your Graduation Certificate, if you are a graduate of an approved Part 141 Flight School
Airworthiness Certificate, Airplane Registration, and all of the maintenance records and logbooks.
Please verify that all of the applicable "AViATE" inspections are current, and review all of the "AROW" documents for currency.
Please do a weight and balance for the Exam flight, with the expected fuel loading, I weigh 200#, no baggage. If safe and possible for your planned aircraft, please plan your fuel to be able to take an additional 200# passenger, in case an FAA Inspector asks to ride along to observe me while conducting your exam.
Instrument Rating Requirements
Hold at least a current private pilot certificate, or be concurrently applying for a private pilot certificate with an airplane instrument rating (Private Certificate and Instrument Rating exams may be combined into one exam) All areas for each must be tested.
Verify you meet the Endorsements, Flight Instruction and solo flight criteria specified here
Remote Pilot Certificate (small UAS)
Bring with you...
Printed copy of your application (8710-13) (We can use this copy in case there are issues with IACRA.)
Your logbook with a current flight review endorsement (61.56), if you are applying based on your current FAA Pilot Certificate (not valid for Student Pilot Certificates)
Your Government issued Photo I.D.
Your printed Remote Pilot Knowledge Test results or Part 107 Training Certificate