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I just returned from the SBA Central Coast TRACON seminar on "Terminal Airspace Expansion for Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties," and one of the FAA personnel said that a DPE (Designated Pilot Examiner) from our region was relieved recently due to changes caused by the 9/11 attacks. The implications expressed by this speaker are that talk has begun to do away with DPE's and move back to the old FAA examiner system in an attempt to maintain control over who becomes a pilot.

For anyone that doesn't remember this system, years ago the only way one could get a pilot certificate was by taking a checkride with an FAA inspector. With limited inspectors and many pilots seeking licenses, the DPE program was created to lighten the load. (DPE's are not FAA employees.)

Although checkrides with FAA inspectors are free (and it's hard to argue with free), this sounds to me like another knee jerk reaction that places blame for the 9/11 attacks in places other than were they really need to be.

Anyway, the representatives that ran the seminar urged all pilots to review the newly proposed changes to flight regulations so we can voice any objections. I'm sure AOPA and EAA will make the proposals that are unreasonable well known. Stay tuned...

Ben

• RE: The end of DPE's near?,Tarmack, 06:22z, 10-12-01
  • RE: The end of DPE's near?,Ben Chiu, 11:57z, 10-12-01
• RE: The end of DPE's near?,craiggresham, 17:14z, 10-12-01

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Ben,

<<<I'm sure that AOPA and EAA will make the proposals that are unreasonable well known. Stay tuned...>>>

You might as well toss in ALPA into those that are liable to make the unreasonable well known.

The Air Carrier Division of the FAA has long had a practice of DPE's since the early 70's.....with very GOOD reason. They couldn't find enough qualified pilots to become an FAA examiner. Anyone that could DO the job sure as heck would not want to work for the FAA, about the 1/3 salary level, to BE a check pilot.

One of the nice perks about being retired is that I can shoot off my mouth. Grin. I had as my FAA examiner for checkout on the 747-400...a guy that had FLUNKED out of TWA during his initial Captain checkout on the DC-9. At that time of that checkout.....TWA and almost every other major air carrier had an "Up or Out" policy. If the pilot did not complete his initial Captain checkout.....he was fired.

Happened to this guy.

What does he do ? He hires onto the FAA in order to give checkrides on the very same airplane that he did not demonstrate the ability to be able to fly himself. Then...according to the Peter Principle.....he continued up the ladder and and became the very FIRST FAA man to be granted the right to give checkrides on the 747-400.

I would MUCH rather have a checkride from a pilot that CAN fly the airplane...rather than one that would like to fly the airplane.

But there I go again....shootin !

Regards,

Mel

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Greetings Mel:

>>But there I go again....shootin !

Well, you keep on shootin', pard!

We need to hear all sides of the story so we don't get corralled (pardon the pun) into some legislation that actually makes more problems than they solve.

Ben

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>>>I would MUCH rather have a checkride from a pilot that >>>CAN fly the airplane...rather than one that would like >>>to fly the airplane.

110% agreed

Craig G