Pilot Checkrides: The #1 Ultimate Guide to All Types

Pilot checkrides are the final hurdle between a student and their license. They are the aviation equivalent of a driving test—but far more rigorous. Whether you’re applying for a Private Pilot License (PPL), Commercial Pilot License (CPL), or adding ratings like Instrument or Multi-Engine, your checkride is where everything you’ve learned is put to the test.

Many students fail because they underestimate the format, overfocus on flying skills, or ignore oral questioning. In this guide, we break down all types of pilot checkrides to help you understand the format, expectations, and how to prepare for each one.

What Are Pilot Checkrides? (PPL, CPL, IR & More)

A pilot checkride is an official flight test conducted by a certified examiner. It includes an oral exam followed by a flight portion. The checkride assesses your ability to operate safely, legally, and confidently within the airspace and aircraft category you’re applying for.

Checkrides are required for:

Private Pilot License (PPL)
Commercial Pilot License (CPL)
Instrument Rating (IR)
Multi-Engine Rating
Type Ratings (e.g., A320, B737)

Examiners may be authorized by DGCA (India), FAA (USA), or EASA (Europe), and the standards are based on regulatory checklists like the FAA’s ACS or DGCA’s flight test profile. Checkrides are pass/fail—and while retakes are allowed, a failure can delay your career progression.

Private Pilot Checkride (PPL)

The PPL checkride is a student’s first formal skill test and includes both an oral and flight portion. The oral exam covers:

Airspace rules
Weather interpretation
Aircraft performance
Cross-country planning

In the flight portion, you’re expected to demonstrate takeoffs, landings, steep turns, stalls, slow flight, emergency procedures, and cross-country navigation.

Common failure points include poor decision-making, incomplete checklists, and weak communication skills. To prepare, practice mock orals, know your aircraft inside out, and simulate the full flight with your instructor multiple times.

Commercial Pilot Checkrides

The CPL checkride builds on the PPL but expects a higher standard of professionalism and aircraft control.

Oral topics include:

Complex aircraft systems
Weight and balance computations
Federal/aviation regulations
Emergency planning

Flight skills tested include chandelles, lazy eights, power-off 180s, steep spirals, and commercial maneuvers. The examiner expects precise control, fuel planning, and professionalism throughout the test.

Single- and multi-engine CPL checkrides differ primarily in engine-out procedures, Vmc demonstrations, and asymmetric flight handling.

Instrument Rating (IR) Pilot Checkride

The Instrument Rating (IR) checkride is one of the most demanding evaluations a pilot can face. It tests your ability to operate solely by reference to instruments, under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR). The checkride simulates low-visibility or IMC (Instrument Meteorological Conditions) environments where visual flying is not possible.

The oral exam focuses on your theoretical understanding of IFR operations. You will be questioned on:

IFR enroute and approach chart interpretation
Departure and arrival procedures, including SIDs and STARs
Holding patterns and entry techniques
Fuel requirements and alternate airport planning
Lost communication procedures under IFR
Weather interpretation, minimums, and regulatory compliance

You must demonstrate not only memorized answers, but also practical application. For example, you may be given a scenario involving an alternate minimums decision or clearance amendment under pressure.

The flight portion is equally intense. You’ll be expected to:

File and fly a full IFR cross-country route
Perform standard instrument approaches (ILS, VOR, RNAV)
Handle a simulated partial panel failure (e.g., loss of attitude indicator)
Conduct missed approaches and holding procedures
Comply with real-time ATC instructions while maintaining precise altitude, heading, and airspeed

Most failures occur due to poor instrument scan discipline, late corrections, or loss of situational awareness during high workload phases. Communication breakdowns with ATC or unclear readbacks can also lead to unsatisfactory results.

To prepare, fly regular simulator sessions, especially under partial panel and low-visibility conditions. Practice real ATC interactions and ensure you can execute every maneuver cleanly without visual references. The IR checkride demands technical precision, workload management, and complete confidence in your scan.

Multi-Engine Rating Checkride

The Multi-Engine Rating checkride evaluates your ability to safely manage aircraft with two or more engines — and it’s often the first exposure pilots have to asymmetric flight and complex systems management.

The oral exam focuses on critical systems and failure scenarios unique to multi-engine aircraft. Expect questions on:

Vmc (Minimum Control Speed) — what it means, what affects it, and how to recover safely
Propeller systems — including constant-speed props, feathering mechanisms, and overspeed governors
Fuel and electrical systems — how they’re split or interconnected between engines
Engine-out aerodynamics and performance — including climb rates, critical engine concepts, and emergency procedures

Examiners often use scenario-based questioning, such as how you’d handle an engine failure on takeoff or during cruise at high density altitude.

In the flight portion, you’ll need to demonstrate:

Immediate engine failure recognition and response (identify, verify, feather)
Engine-out climb performance and directional control
Vmc demonstration, including how to safely recognize and recover
Simulated single-engine approach and landing
Use of emergency checklists under pressure

Precision is key — but so is judgment. Examiners aren’t just looking for perfect maneuvers; they want to see you manage workload, stay ahead of the aircraft, and prioritize safety in high-stress, asymmetric situations.

Prepare by flying under simulated engine-out conditions often, and practice managing complex systems without hesitation. The more confidently you handle the unexpected, the smoother your checkride will be.

Type Rating Pilot Checkrides

A Type Rating checkride is required for any aircraft that exceeds 12,500 lbs or is powered by turbojet engines, such as the Airbus A320 or Boeing 737. These checkrides are highly structured and conducted in a Level D full-motion simulator, replicating the aircraft’s cockpit, systems, and handling characteristics in real-time.

The oral exam is extensive and designed to test your mastery of complex systems and airline-style procedures. Examiners will expect you to:

Break down aircraft systems like hydraulics, pneumatics, flight controls, and fuel management
Explain abnormal and emergency procedures from memory and via QRH (Quick Reference Handbook) use
Perform detailed performance calculations, including takeoff/landing data, V-speeds, and weight and balance
Demonstrate strong Crew Resource Management (CRM), including callouts, briefings, and workload distribution

The simulator checkride evaluates your ability to manage real-time flight scenarios as pilot flying (PF) and pilot monitoring (PM). It typically includes:

Normal procedures: engine start, taxi, takeoff, climb, cruise, descent, and approach
Abnormal events: rejected takeoff, single-engine operations, fire or hydraulic failures
System failures: auto-throttle disconnects, dual FMC failure, or flap/slat malfunctions
Automation management: proper use of FMS, autopilot, and flight director
Low-visibility procedures: CAT II/III approaches and go-arounds

This checkride is also a test of your ability to operate within Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). You’re expected to demonstrate complete procedural discipline — including checklists, callouts, and decision-making under pressure.

Success depends on systems knowledge, simulator fluency, and strong communication with your training partner. The examiner wants to see that you’re not just technically proficient, but also ready to operate safely in a two-crew airline environment.

Preparation should include full-motion sim sessions, CRM roleplay, memory items review, and briefing practice. Treat this checkride as your final gateway into professional cockpit culture.

DGCA vs FAA vs EASA Pilot Checkrides Differences

DGCA (India) checkrides are standardized and conducted by DGCA inspectors or designated examiners. They follow the flight test profiles defined in DGCA CAR documentation.

FAA (USA) checkrides are conducted by DPEs (Designated Pilot Examiners) and follow the ACS (Airman Certification Standards). They tend to be more scenario-based and include decision-making as a major scoring component.

EASA (Europe) checkrides include skill tests and licensing modules. The structure is modular and tends to be more systems-heavy, particularly in ATPL exams. CRM and SOP adherence are heavily emphasized.

Each authority has different styles of grading and examiner expectations. Students training internationally should adapt accordingly.

Pro Tips to Pass Pilot Checkrides

Passing a pilot checkride isn’t just about flying perfectly — it’s about proving you’re a safe, prepared, and decision-ready pilot. Here’s how to approach it like a professional.

1. Master the test standards — not just maneuvers: Before stepping into the oral or flight portion, know the Airman Certification Standards (ACS) or your local authority’s test profile inside out. Each maneuver and scenario has defined tolerances and expectations. Train with those in mind — not just what feels comfortable.

2. Prepare for the oral like a systems briefing: Examiners want understanding, not memorization. Use oral prep guides, mock interviews, and aircraft system briefings to build confidence. Know your POH, QRH, and emergency checklists fluently.

3. Fly like you’re already certified: Examiners aren’t looking for perfection — they’re watching how you think. Talk through your plans, use proper callouts, and show confident command presence. Smooth, professional flying wins over robotic textbook precision.

4. Respond to mistakes like a captain would: Everyone makes minor errors. What matters is how you correct them. Stay composed, acknowledge your mistake, and show safe recovery. A pilot who can recover gracefully is more valuable than one who tries to hide a misstep.

5. Practice CRM and workload management — even solo: Whether flying alone or with a crew, demonstrate checklist discipline, time management, and structured communication. Good CRM starts with clear thinking and good habits.

Bonus Tip: Failing is not the end — it’s part of the process: If you don’t pass, reflect and reset. Most failures are partials, and you’ll only need to retake what you missed. Learn from it, tighten your prep, and fly again stronger.

Conclusion

Pilot checkrides are not just the final step to getting your license — it’s a real-world rehearsal for the cockpit responsibilities that follow. It evaluates your ability to operate safely, confidently, and consistently under pressure. Examiners aren’t simply checking your technical skill; they’re assessing how you think, communicate, and manage workload when things don’t go perfectly.

Passing a pilot checkride isn’t about knowing everything — it’s about demonstrating that you know how to find the right answer, respond to the unexpected, and prioritize safety. This is especially true for ratings like Instrument, Multi-Engine, or Type, where rapid decision-making and situational awareness are critical.

Whether you’re working toward a PPL or preparing for your first airline sim, your training habits will show on the day of your test. Study the standards, take feedback seriously, and fly each lesson as if it were the checkride.

Treat the process with focus and discipline — because passing your checkride isn’t the finish line. It’s the beginning of how the aviation industry will view your professionalism moving forward.. Treat them with respect, prepare consistently, and use every training flight as a mock test.

Whether you’re aiming for your first license or adding a type rating, the habits you build now will carry into your aviation career. Know your systems, fly with purpose, and train like you’re already certified.

Every checkride is a doorway to a new level of responsibility. Make yours count.

FAQs: Pilot Checkrides

Question	Answer
What is a pilot checkride?	A formal oral and flight test to earn or upgrade a pilot license, conducted by an authorized examiner.
How long does a checkride take?	Typically 3–5 hours total, with the oral and flight portions often split into separate sessions.
What happens if I fail a checkride?	You’ll receive a Notice of Disapproval. Most failures are partials — you retake only the failed section.
Are checkrides the same under FAA, DGCA, EASA?	No — each authority uses different exam formats, profiles, and grading criteria.
Can I appeal a failed checkride?	Appeals are rare. You must prove examiner error or procedural fault.
How should I prepare for oral questions?	Study the ACS/PTS or local test guide. Use question banks, POH/QRH materials, and mock interviews.
Is a type rating checkride done in the air?	No. It is conducted in a Level D full-motion simulator using realistic line scenarios.

Contact the Florida Flyers Flight Academy Team today at 91 (0) 1171 816622 to learn more about the Private Pilot Ground School Course.