What's the trick to passing your FAA check ride?
By Brett Zukowski
Many people are looking for a checkride trick, a hack, or the latest "gouge" on a particular Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) to improve their chances of passing. The truth is, that's the wrong question to ask.
The purpose of a checkride isn't simply to pass a test. It's to demonstrate that you're a proficient, capable Pilot in Command with sound aeronautical decision-making skills. It's your opportunity to show that you can safely operate an aircraft, think critically under pressure, and make timely decisions when presented with situations that resemble real-world flying. A good CFI and an experienced examiner are there to evaluate whether your higher-order thinking skills continue to function when the stress level increases—because that's exactly what flying often demands.
So what's the best way to pass a checkride? Train for mastery.
Don't train to barely meet the standards. Train until the skills become second nature. By the time you arrive for your checkride, the experience should feel almost anti-climactic because your abilities are well beyond the minimum standards outlined in the FAA Airman Certification Standards (ACS). I've lost count of how many pilots have told me something like this:
I rushed through my primary training with a fast-track, minimum approach. I barely passed—or failed the first attempt and had to come back. Then I took my friends and family flying and realized I wasn't confident. My passengers could tell. Busy airspace made me uncomfortable. Stronger winds made me nervous. I wasn't even sure how everything in the airplane worked. Eventually I had to come back for more training just to feel safe and make practical use of my certificate. Looking back, I wish I had done that training before my checkride. The exam would have been much easier.
The certificate is only the beginning. The goal isn't to earn the temporary certificate—it's to become the pilot your certificate says you are.
Train easy, test hard. Train hard, test easy.
Train for mastery, and the checkride will take care of itself.
SAY IT OUT LOUD
One of the simplest habits you can develop as a pilot doesn't cost anything, doesn't require new equipment, and can dramatically improve your flying:
Talk through what you're doing.
It might feel awkward at first, but verbalizing your thought process is one of the best training tools available. As instructors, we often tell students, "Talk me through it." We aren't asking because we like hearing ourselves talk—we're trying to understand how you're thinking. Flying isn't just about manipulating the controls. It's about making decisions. When you say things like: "We're a little high, so I'm reducing power," or "The winds favor Runway 22, so that's what I'm going to plan for," or "If the engine quits here, my best landing option is the field off the left wing." - you're reinforcing good aeronautical decision making while allowing your instructor to identify any gaps in your thinking before they become habits.
Why it Works
Research has shown that speaking through a task improves learning, memory, and focus. In aviation, that translates directly into safer flying. Talking through your flight can help you:
- Stay ahead of the airplane.
- Catch mistakes before they happen.
- Reduce task saturation.
- Develop stronger cockpit resource management—even when you're flying solo.
Checkrides Are No Different
One of the biggest mistakes applicants make during a practical test is staying silent. Remember, the examiner can't read your mind. If you make a decision but never explain it, they may wonder whether it was intentional or simply luck. That doesn't mean narrating every second of the flight, but when you're making decisions, changing plans, or identifying hazards, let them hear your reasoning.
Make It a Habit.
Our challenge for you is to try verbalizing during every lesson:
- Before takeoff, brief your departure and verbalize your checklist during "read, do, verify"
- During maneuvers, explain what you're looking for with performance.
- On approach, talk through your "stabilized approach" criteria.
- During emergencies, verbalize your priorities and plan.
Eventually, those thought processes become automatic—and that's exactly what good training is supposed to do. The next time your instructor asks, "What are you thinking?" don't be afraid to say it out loud. Safe pilots don't just make good decisions—they communicate them.
Congratulations to Our Students!!!!
Instructor Shout Out
Congratulations to Stephen Dangerfield on becoming a Multi-Engine Instructor!
Checkride Pass:
- Gloria English - IRA
- Jacob Wainwright - CPL
- Cody Wilkinson - CPL
- Aidan McKinney - CFI-I
- Stephen Dangerfield - MEI
- Kyle Zuba - IRA
1st Solo!
Way to Go!!
- Thomas Austin
- Hari Kumar
Student Survey:
Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"