Prof. H. Paul Shuch served for several years as an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) managed by the Harrisburg PA Flight Standards District Office. He is currently based at the Frazier Lake Airpark (1C9) in Hollister CA, and assigned to the FAA Specialty Aircraft Examiner (SAE) branch out of Oklahoma City. As such, he is authorized to examine all candidates nationwide seeking Sport Pilot Airplane Single Engine Land (SP-ASEL) and Sport Pilot Flight Instructor (CFI-S) ratings. Prof. Shuch is also empowered to perform such FAA administrative functions as processing of military equivalency, foreign pilot equivalency, flight instructor renewal, Student Pilot certificate, Remote Pilot certificate, and Sport Pilot Category and Class add-on applications. The links found on our Main Menu provide full details. Applicants are encouraged to read them in their entirety before scheduling a practical test or administrative function.

Pricing Notes

Sport Pilot Initial Practical Test $900 payable by cash or chip-enabled credit card Sport Pilot Retest $600 if completed within 60 days of a disqualification Sport Pilot Retest $500 if completed within 60 days of a discontinuance Sport CFI Initial Practical Test $1,200 payable by cash or chip-enabled credit card Sport CFI Retest $600 if completed within 60 days of a disqualification Sport CFI Retest $500 if completed within 60 days of a discontinuance Paper Application Processing Fee $200 waived if using IACRA Sport Pilot Category​/​Class Proficiency Check $500 if Recommending Instructor completes 8710-11 Personal Assistance Setting up IACRA Account $200 Student Pilot Certificate Processing Fee $50 Remote Pilot Certificate Processing Fee $50 CFI Renewal Processing Fee $50 requires that CFI prepare renewal application via IACRA All other Administrative Certification Functions $100 Applicant must provide all necessary documentation

Policy

[Applicant Responsibilities] In addition to reviewing the Sport Pilot Practical Test Standards, with special attention paid to the FAA's Special Emphasis Areas, candidates for a Sport Pilot Certificate, as well as their Recommending Instructors, should familiarize themselves with these Sport Pilot Practical Exam Requirements prior to scheduling a Practical Test. You should bring this checklist, and all required documents, with you on checkride day. In preparation for conducting a practical test, the Examiner will have prepared a custom Plan of Action (PoA) tailored to the individual applicant's background and experience. The PoA will be built around a specific scenario, which the Examiner will convey to the Applicant at the time the practical test is scheduled. This scenario will guide the course of the oral and flight portions of the practical test. The applicant will be required to prepare in advance a cross-country flight plan to a specified destination. All this should be discussed between the Examiner and the applicant when their schedule is being set. Applicants should review, and be prepared to remit, appropriate practical test fees, as published on this website. It is also the responsibility of the applicant to ensure, prior to the Practical Test, that his or her flight instructor has provided all required logbook endorsements. Prior to and following the Practical Test, the applicant will be asked to sign several forms, which he or she is encouraged to read in advance. Applicants for the Sport Pilot license must provide a suitable aircraft for the Flight portion of the Sport Pilot Practical Test. The aircraft may be a Special Light Sport Aircraft (SLSA), an Experimental Light Sport Aircraft (ELSA), or an Experimental Amateur-Built aircraft (E-AB) or Certified Aircraft that meets the Light Sport definition as listed in FAR 1.1. Throughout the Practical Test process, the applicant assumes the role of Pilot In Command, and makes all flight decisions accordingly. Since the PIC is solely responsible for the safe outcome of the flight (FAR 91.3), the Applicant must both ensure, and demonstrate to the DPE, that the aircraft is airworthy and​/​or in a condition for safe operation. This means the applicant must verify that all required inspections and maintenance have been performed and properly logged, and all required documents are in order and aboard the aircraft. To verify required maintenance and inspections, applicants may use the aircraft maintenance logbooks, along with downloading and filling out this generic Aircraft Expirations Checklist. The applicant is to at all times treat the Designated Pilot Examiner as one would treat any other passenger. However, since the DPE conducts evaluations in many different types of aircraft, and may have limited experience with the one being provided for the checkride, applicants are encouraged to download, fill out, and provide to the examiner this generic Aircraft Specifications Checklist. Please note that, in the event of an actual inflight emergency, the Practical Test is immediately suspended (a Discontinuance will be issued), and the applicant and examiner will work together, doing whatever it takes to resolve the emergency.