Oral Exam Preparation

Once I have a few more hours under my belt, and Ed and I both feel that I'm ready, I have to meet with a Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE), who will decide if I really am ready. The exam is made up of two parts: an oral exam that can last up to an hour and a half (or more from what I've heard) and a practical exam. The practical exam is just a flight. You take the DPE up with you, and he has you show him all of the maneuvers that I've been learning. He makes sure that you can perform each one safely and correctly, and if you can, you pass.

With the oral exam, he asks you all sorts of questions regarding everything concerning flight - weather, cross country planning, aerodynamics, and a multitude of other subjects. I've got books on what I'll be asked, and I'm studying when I'm not flying. I wanted more than just books, though, so I did some looking around for an example of an oral exam. I came upon something much better than I expected: A video of an actual oral exam. While I've been studying the materials, it's been incredibly helpful to have an example of the real thing to watch and listen to. Be warned, though; it's an actual oral exam, which means it's about an hour and a half long.