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.
By the time you sit down on the day of the practical, the DPE has a routine. They are not improvising the order — most run roughly the same desk-side review pattern, and discontinuances at this stage are far more common than failures in the airplane. Knowing the order lets you stack the documents in the same sequence and walk the table cleanly.
The five-station desk review
- Identity. Government-issued photo ID with date of birth and signature (§ 61.3(a)(2)). Plastic student or pilot certificate (§ 61.19, § 61.83). Plus current medical or BasicMed (§ 61.23).
- Application. The IACRA 8710-1 (or paper Form 8710-1) printed and the recommending CFI's digital endorsement attached. The DPE will spot-check totals against your logbook.
- Knowledge test. Original FAA airman knowledge test report, dated within the preceding 24 calendar months. If you missed any items, the deficiency-review endorsement (§ 61.39(a)(6)(iii)) must be present.
- Endorsements. The § 61.39 practical-test prerequisite endorsement and the § 61.103(f) / § 61.107(b) / § 61.109 prerequisite endorsement, in your logbook with the AC 61-65J normative wording.
- Logbook. The actual logbook itself — every § 61.109(a) sub-rule the DPE wants to see traced back to a logged flight, and the cross-country / solo / night totals reconciled against IACRA.
Names match — really, the same name everywhere
The single most common discontinuance at the desk is a name mismatch across documents. A driver's license that reads M. Christopher Chen, a pilot certificate that reads Marcus C. Chen, and an IACRA application that reads Marcus Christopher Chen will get the day rescheduled. Diminutives, missing middle names, and missing suffixes count.
Stack your stack the night before
- Photo ID + plastic certificate + medical (or BasicMed printout) on top — the identity station moves fastest when these are all together.
- IACRA application print + your CFI's printed endorsement summary next.
- Knowledge test report + deficiency-review endorsement attached behind it.
- Logbook last, opened to your most recent endorsements page.
An organized desk is a small thing but it changes the room. The DPE forms an opinion about your preparation in the first five minutes. Make those five minutes about you knowing your packet, not about hunting for a piece of paper.
Source citations
- 14 CFR § 61.39
- 14 CFR § 61.3(a)(2)
- 14 CFR § 61.13
- 14 CFR § 61.23
- FAA-S-ACS-6C, document-review checklist