CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 11 Issue 3 - 8

APPLICANTS SHOULD BRING A GOVERNMENT-ISSUED PHOTO ID THAT MEETS
THE FAA REQUIREMENTS FOR ACCEPTABLE IDENTIFICATION.
Too many times applicants bring expired IDs
and unfortunately, the system won't allow us to
enter that and have the application go forward.

Oh, and having the copy available lets the
applicant draw and mark in it-in a way that
they likely wouldn't want to do in an official
aircraft copy-which helps them answer
questions more fully!

3

3. PILOT LOGBOOK/GROUND TRAINING LOG

This seems pretty obvious, but applicants
regularly show up without any log of their ground
training, and periodically some show up without
their pilot logbook on test day. The answer we
sometime get as DPEs? "Well, my flight times are
there in IACRA."

5

Um, sure. But that doesn't solve the problem in
most cases. For most practical tests, we will need
to be able to see that specific ground training
areas have been covered and that specific flight
training and experience requirements have
been met. This can only be done by seeing the
documentation that goes with the efforts.

4

So, bring those logbooks and/or training records
on the day of the test.
4. AN UNEXPIRED PHOTO ID

We need to have an ID to match up with your
application information, and it has to be current.

Applicants should bring a government-issued
photo ID that meets the FAA requirements for
acceptable identification. Most commonly, these
are state-issued driver's licenses and/or photo
IDs, passports, and military IDs. Unfortunately,
if the applicant is not from the United States, we
are not able to use his or her foreign country's
driver's license.
No matter what form is used, it must be current.
An expired ID will not be able to be used as a
form of identification.
5. INSTRUMENT HOOD/FOGGLES/VISOR

"But my instructor usually has me use theirs"
is the answer I get many times when I ask
applicants if they have a hood/foggles/visor for
simulating IFR conditions on practical tests that
require that demonstration. The second most
common answer is, "There is usually one in the
backseat of the plane somewhere..."
Many DPEs, me included, have just gotten in
the habit of having something with them for

when, not if, applicants find themselves without
something to use to simulate instrument flight
time. But not all of us have them all of the time
and it may not be the type of hood that the
student is accustomed to using. This can lead to
additional challenge and distraction.
So, make sure your students have a hood they are
familiar with and comfortable using to ensure
they can do the test.
These are certainly not all of the things an
applicant might want or need to take with
them to a practical test, but they do happen to
be ones that are commonly forgotten. Showing
up without them can lead to an inability
to document all required information, use
resources to find or prove answers, or even
complete the test as scheduled. Take the time
as a CFI to make sure these and other required
items get into the bag of things an applicant will
take with them on checkride day.
Jason Blair is an active single and multiengine
instructor and FAA designated pilot examiner
with 4,900 hours total time and 2,850 hours
instruction given. As examiner, he has issued
more than 800 pilot certificates. He writes for
multiple aviation publications and actively works
within the general aviation industry.
Email: jason.blair@aopa.org
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 11 Issue 3

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 11 Issue 3
