‘It’s a domino effect:’ Metro pilots, flight schools alert to backlog that could lead to delays

Courtney Francisco
·2 min read

Atlanta pilots and flight school administrators are alerting passengers to a bottleneck in the certification that they said leads to delays at airports across the U.S.

Hamlin is Founder and CEO of Flyt Aviation, one of the largest flight schools in the metro.

“It’s a domino effect,” said Hamlin.

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He said his team is turning out plenty of pilots, but there aren’t enough examiners to advance them to the next level.

“We’re training at a break-neck pace,” said Hamlin.

He explained pilots must undergo check flights before they can advance in their careers enough to relieve any pilot shortage. A designated pilot examiner, DPE, must conduct those test flights to determine if the pilot is ready.

Hamlin said there are not enough DPEs to keep up with the demand. He pointed out that DPEs are pilots too, and they are working overtime right now.

“We’re seeing the demand for check rides increase and the availability decrease because the examiners are less available,” said Hamlin.

Pilots like Sheila Baber said they’ve had to wait seven weeks for a check ride in the past.

“All the while, I’m still paying for the [school] loan. The loan doesn’t stop because I’m waiting for a check ride. I’m losing proficiency because I’m getting rusty in the plane and frustrated because it’s taking so long,” said Baber.

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The Federal Aviation Administration is in charge of authorizing pilots to become DPEs.

Channel 2′s Courtney Francisco asked how many there are and how many tests they are conducting.

The FAA sent the following statement:

“The FAA works to ensure an adequate number of Designated Pilot Examiners are available to certify the expected volume of pilots. In 2018, the FAA removed the geographical limitations for examiners, enabling them to conduct tests anywhere in the U.S.”

Hamlin said Flyt Aviation needs to complete about 40 check rides a month.

“I can’t fathom or understand why we’re not brining more DEPs on,” said Hamlin. “The DPEs are paid by the individual getting the check ride. They’re not paid by the FAA.”

He said 20 percent of those are completed by a DPE representing this region. He said he must fly in three or more a month to conduct the rest. A costly move that he said many smaller schools cannot afford to make.

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