Multi-Engine Checkride Secrets Revealed: What Your DPE Actually Wants to See

Jeff Gerencser
3 hours ago
4 min read

Meta Description: Master your multi-engine checkride with insider secrets from active DPE Jeff Gerencser. Learn what examiners really look for in the oral and flight portions to ace your rating.

I’ve spent over 30 years in the cockpit and, as an active Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE), I’ve sat in the right seat for hundreds of checkrides. I’ve seen the best of the best, and I’ve seen candidates who were technically "ready" on paper but fell apart when the pressure was on.

The multi-engine checkride is often the first time a pilot feels the true weight of managing a complex, high-performance machine. It’s not just about keeping the needle on the blue line; it’s about demonstrating that you are a safe, competent PIC who can handle the worst possible day in an airplane.

If you’re prepping for your Multi-Engine Rating, you don't need to be perfect. You need to be professional. Here is the insider's look at what I: and every other DPE: am actually looking for when we step onto the ramp.

The DPE Mindset: We Are Looking for a Peer, Not a Student

The biggest mistake candidates make is walking into the room with a "student" mindset. By the time you’re sitting for a multi-engine add-on or a commercial multi-engine checkride, I’m looking to see if I can trust you with a multi-million dollar airframe and a cabin full of passengers.

I’m not looking for a "perfect" flight. I’m looking for competence and judgment. If you miss an altitude by 50 feet but catch it immediately and correct it smoothly, that shows me you’re paying attention. If you blow through a heading because you’re staring at the GPS and don't notice until I say something? That’s a different story.

We evaluate you against the FAA’s Airman Certification Standards (ACS). These aren't suggestions; they are the legal requirements. But beyond the numbers, I want to see command.

The Oral Exam: Where the Ride is Won or Lost

Most checkrides are actually decided before the engines even start. If you stumble through the oral exam, you’re already behind the power curve. DPEs don’t want to hear you recite definitions from a textbook; we want to see that you understand the why behind the aerodynamics.

1. Master the "Vmc Factors"

I will ask you about Vmc (Minimum Controllable Airspeed). Every student can list the factors that affect Vmc, but can you explain them?

Don't just say: "Moving the CG aft increases Vmc."
Tell me why: "An aft CG shortens the arm between the rudder and the center of gravity, making the rudder less effective at counteracting the asymmetrical thrust."

When you explain the "why," you’re showing me that you understand the physics of the aircraft. That’s what builds my confidence in you.

2. POH Fluency over Memorization

I don’t expect you to have every single performance chart memorized. I do expect you to know exactly where to find them. If I ask for the accelerate-stop distance at a specific density altitude, you should be able to flip to the correct page in the Pilot’s Operating Handbook (POH) and give me an accurate answer within seconds.

Pro tip: Use Multi-Engine Checkride Flashcards to burn the core V-speeds and systems knowledge into your brain so you have more mental bandwidth for the complex stuff during the oral.

A pilot's hands holding a professional aircraft POH (Pilot's Operating Handbook) open to a performance chart, with a pair of aviator sunglasses and a flight computer nearby. The setting is a clean, organized cockpit environment.

Flight Proficiency: Precision in the Pattern

When we get into the air, I’m watching your hands and your eyes. Are you ahead of the airplane, or is it taking you for a ride?

Checklist Discipline

This is a big one. In a multi-engine aircraft, things happen fast. If you try to do everything from memory and skip the checklist, you’re asking for trouble. I want to see you use a flow, then verify with the checklist. It shows me that you have a system in place to catch errors before they become emergencies.

The "Critical Engine" Scenario

We are going to spend a lot of time on single-engine operations. When I pull a throttle back, I’m looking for your immediate, practiced response:

Maintain Control: Rudder and pitch for Vyse (Blue Line).
Identify: "Dead foot, dead engine."
Verify: Retard the throttle of the suspected failed engine to confirm.
Fix/Feather: Follow the prescribed flows for your aircraft.

I’ve seen candidates get so flustered they start feathering the wrong engine. Take a breath. Identify. Verify. Then act.

A high-quality close-up of a multi-engine aircraft's throttle quadrant with the pilot's hand smoothly adjusting the levers. The focus is on technical precision and professional handling of the controls. Both engines are running, and the image is technically accurate.

Common Mistakes That Lead to a Disapproval

I want you to pass. Every DPE does. But there are a few "automatic" ways to end a checkride early:

Gear Malfunctions (Mental): Forgetting to put the gear down or failing to verify the "three green" on short final. It sounds simple, but in the stress of a single-engine approach, it happens more than you’d think.
Vmc Infringement: If you allow the airspeed to decay toward Vmc during a demonstration and don't recover immediately, the ride is over. Respect the red line.
Poor Energy Management: Coming in too fast or too high on a single-engine approach. In a twin, you don’t always have the luxury of a go-around on one engine, depending on the density altitude. I want to see you stabilized.

How to Walk In with Confidence

The best way to beat checkride anxiety is through Accelerated Multi-Engine Flight Training. When you immerse yourself in the curriculum and fly several hours a day, the flows become second nature. You stop thinking about how to fly and start thinking about how to manage the flight.

Remember, the checkride is just a snapshot in time. If you’ve done the work, studied the ACS, and practiced your flows until you can do them in your sleep, you have nothing to worry about.

I’ve spent 30 years teaching pilots how to move to the next level. The multi-engine rating is your gateway to the airlines and a professional career. Treat the preparation with the respect it deserves, and I’ll see you at the finish line.

A confident commercial pilot in a professional uniform walking toward a modern multi-engine aircraft on a sunny airport ramp. The pilot is carrying a flight bag, looking ready for a professional evaluation.

Ready to Ace Your Checkride?

Don't leave your success to chance. At Ace Pilot Academy, we specialize in getting pilots checkride-ready in record time. Our programs are designed by an active DPE (that's me!) to ensure you aren't just passing a test: you're becoming a superior pilot.

Explore Our Multi-Engine Training Programs Today