Examiner assessment of competence is a checkride

In accordance with FCL.1020 all applicants for an examiner certificate - regardless of the category (FE, CRE, IRE, FIE, TRE, SFE) shall demonstrate their competence to an inspector or a senior examiner to conduct of a skill test, proficiency check or assessment of competence in the examiner role for which privileges are sought. This supervision is done during either real or simulated checkride called Examiner Assessment of Competence. The competent authority responsible for issuing the Examiner certificate may nominate either one of its inspectors or a senior examiner to assess the competence of applicants for an examiner certificate.

The content of Examiner Assessment of competence is throughly described in AMC1 FCL.1020. An inspector or a senior examiner will observe all examiner applicants conducting a test on a Exam candidate in an aircraft for which examiner certificate is sought. Items from the related training course and test or check schedule will be selected by the inspector for examination of the Exam candidate by the Examiner applicant. Having agreed with the inspector the content of the test, the Examiner applicant will be expected to manage the entire test. This will include briefing, the conduct of the flight, assessment and debriefing of the Exam candidate. The inspector will discuss the assessment with the Examiner applicant before the Exam candidate is debriefed and informed of the result.

The examiner applicant should demonstrate a satisfactory knowledge of the regulatory requirements associated with the function of an examiner.

For the purpose of Examiner AoC following terms apply:

  • Inspector is the inspector of the competent authority conducting the examiner AoC;
  • Examiner applicant is the person seeking certification as an examiner;
  • Exam candidate is the person being tested or checked by the examiner applicant. This person may be a pilot for whom the test or check would be required, or the person who is conducting the examiner certification acceptance test.

Communication is the key

The Examiner applicant should maintain the necessary level of communication with the Exa candidate. The following check details should be followed by the examiner applicant:

  • involvement of examiner in a multi-pilot operating environment;
  • the need to give the Exam candidate precise instructions;
  • responsibility for safe conduct of the flight;
  • intervention by examiner, when necessary;
  • use of screens;
  • liaison with ATC and the need for concise, easily understood intentions;
  • prompting the Exam candidate about required sequence of events (for example following a go-around);
  • keeping brief, factual and unobtrusive notes.

Pre-flight briefing ✅

The Exam candidate should be given time and facilities to prepare for the test flight. Those are basically all the items required to be briefed by examiner during the checkride anyway. The briefing should cover the following:

  • the objective of the flight;
  • licensing checks, as necessary;
  • freedom for the Exam candidate to ask questions;
  • operating procedures to be followed (for example operators manual);
  • weather assessment;
  • operating capacity of Exam candidate and examiner;
  • aims to be identified by Exam candidate;
  • simulated weather assumptions (for example icing and cloud base);
  • use of screens (if applicable);
  • contents of exercise to be performed;
  • agreed speed and handling parameters (for example V-speeds, bank angle, approach minima);
  • use of R/T;
  • respective roles of Exam ‘candidate and examiner (for example during emergency);
  • administrative procedures (for example submission of flight plan).

Assessment ✅

The Examiner applicant should refer to the flight test tolerances given in the relevant skill test, proficiency check or assessment of competence. Attention should be paid to the following points:

  • questions from the Exam candidate;
  • give results of the test and any sections failed;
  • give reasons for failure.

Debriefing ✅

The Examiner applicant should demonstrate to the Senior Examiner the ability to conduct a fair, unbiased debriefing of the Exam candidate based on identifiable factual items. A balance between friendliness and firmness should be evident. The following points should be discussed with the Exam candidate, at the applicant’s discretion:

  • advise the candidate on how to avoid or correct mistakes;
  • mention any other points of criticism noted;
  • give any advice considered helpful. 

Recording and documentation ✅

The examiner applicant should demonstrate to the Senior Examiner the ability to complete the relevant records correctly. These records may be:

  • the relevant test or check form;
  • licence entry;
  • notification of failure form;
  • relevant company forms where the examiner has privileges of conducting operator proficiency checks.