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To make sure you are ready, and fully qualified for your check ride, download the following forms:

Check Ride Checklist

This form is to ensure you are qualified to take your check ride. Sit down with your CFI and thoroughly check to ensure you have everything required.

Applicant Data Form

This form is fillable and needs to be sent to me along with screenshots of the following items:

  • Photo ID

  • Medical

  • Student pilot certificate or pilot certificate

  • All relevant endorsements required for the check ride you are conducting

  • Knowledge test report

Your Pre-Check Ride Questions, Answered

  • I conduct check rides out of my office, located at Pacific States Aviation, which is located at Buchanan Field Airport identifier KCCR.

    Parking and my office location are shown in the photo here

    Please do not park in the first two rows of the PSA flight school (marked with red Xs in the photo), as those are reserved for their aircraft.

    My office is accessible from the ramp and circled in blue.

    The green-boxed area is acceptable parking. You are also more than welcome to used transient parking.

  • My checkride pricing is $1200.

    $200 of that is required up front as an application/document review fee.

    I prefer cash, but will also accept Zelle and Venmo.

    *Attention*

    Starting 1/1/2027, all check ride prices will increase to $1400.

  • Bring the following:

    • View limiting device

    • XC navlog

    • FAR/AIM, chart supplement, ACS

    • Current charts or an EFB with updated charts

    • E6B computer, plotter, or an EFB equivalent

    • Your Logbook and endorsements

    • Aircraft logs, to specifically include: airframe, engine, and propeller annual and 100 hour inspections. Current transponder and ELT inspections, and (if applicable for the check ride) current pitot/static/alt inspection

  • The short answer is, yes!

    I conduct my checkrides in full accordance with the ACS. I also want to evaluate you as close to how you will operate in the real world as possible.

    My philosophy on this is: if you use paper sectionals and want to use an E6B, I will evaluate you on that. If you want to use an iPad with ForeFlight for charts, performance data, and XC flight planning, I will evaluate you on that. You still need to know the core concepts, but I will not make you demonstrate the “old-school” way unless that is what you will use as a certificated and rated pilot.

  • In addition to the applicant data form, I need to be provided with copies of the following sent to me NO LATER THAN 3 days prior to your checkride date:

    • Photo ID (DL, Passport)

    • Medical certificate or BasicMed

    • Student Pilot Certificate or Pilot Certificate

    • All relevant endorsements required to be eligible for the checkride you are requesting

    • Knowledge test report

    Also, for PPL checkrides, make sure your logbook has a 61.105 record of ground training and a 61.107 record of flight training.

  • Please make sure to bring an aircraft that is airworthy and in full compliance with required inspections. There are few things more disappointing than to send an applicant home because an aircraft inspection is out of date.

    It should go without saying, but triple-check your qualifications and eligibility as well. I cannot conduct your check ride if you do not meet the minimum eligibility and experience requirements.

  • The short answer is yes!

    The long answer is that the ACS gives the examiner discretion over the type of power-on and power-off stalls to be evaluated. I always give one turning stall on my PPL check rides, so expect one.

  • I schedule check rides, on the 15th of the month prior. For example, if you want a check ride in January, I will schedule January check rides on December 15th.

    To schedule, text or call (I prefer text) 925-595-1980 or email me at dpemarkp@gmail.com