Short reads on the parts
of the ride that go sideways.
The same six topics that surface as gaps in our readiness packet — written up so you can read each one in five minutes and walk back to the logbook with something concrete to fix.
- Missing hours4 min read
Close dual XC, dual night, and night-XC in one flight
How to plan a single dual evening flight that knocks out three § 61.109(a) sub-requirements without padding hours.
14 CFR § 61.109(a)(1) · 14 CFR § 61.109(a)(2) · 14 CFR § 61.109(a)(2)(i) · +2 more - Endorsements6 min read
AC 61-65J wording traps that postpone checkrides
Why the § 61.39 endorsement must say 'preceding 2 calendar months' (not '60 days') — and the other normative phrases that catch students out.
14 CFR § 61.39 · 14 CFR § 61.35 · 14 CFR § 61.87(b) · +3 more - Checkride prep5 min read
What DPEs check before they ever look at the airplane
The desk-side review pattern most examiners run: ID, certificates, IACRA, knowledge test, endorsements, then the logbook itself.
14 CFR § 61.39 · 14 CFR § 61.3(a)(2) · 14 CFR § 61.13 · +2 more - Paperwork3 min read
The night-before paperwork stack
The exact pile of documents to lay out before bed — ID, plastic certs, knowledge test, IACRA print, AROW — and how examiners want it ordered.
14 CFR § 61.3 · 14 CFR § 61.13 · 14 CFR § 61.23 · +2 more - Oral exam4 min read
Five questions every oral exam opens with
The opening volley is almost always the same. Walking in with crisp, citation-grounded answers sets the tone for the rest of the day.
FAA-S-ACS-6C · 14 CFR § 61.103 · 14 CFR § 61.113 - Examiner prep3 min read
Examiner research, the conservative version
How the examiner-emphasis surface works: an FAA-sourced directory plus publicly-cited notes per examiner, joined into the readiness packet only when the citation supports it.