I would highly recommend Mr. Carmello’s instruction and expertise to anyone. His procedural, detail-oriented approach to my flight training and preparation for the oral portion of my Private Pilot Practical Test had allowed me to excel once I was in the exam room. I have continued to successfully utilize his techniques in both the Part 61 and 141 training and evaluating environments, and I certainly plan to use his process as I progress into the Part 121 world.
Walk Into Your Checkride Oral Like You've Already Done It Before — Because You Have
Pilot Oral Prep gives student pilots a 1-on-1 simulated mock oral exam via Zoom, where your weak spots are exposed, and you are given a personalized study plan to fix those weak spots — so you walk in well prepared and confident on checkride day
Crunching the Numbers
The FAA data shows that in 2025, 1 in 4 student pilots failed their private pilot checkride — In some markets, rebooking a DPE takes 4–6 months and costs over $1,000 in fees alone
The overall pass rates for airman certification has dropped from near 81% back in 2020 and 2021 to just above 78% in 2025 according to FAA data. Pass rates on original issuance certificate practical tests was showing an upward trend from 2014 to 2021, but since then those progressive gains are slipping away and the trend has been downward since for Private Pilot, Commercial Pilot, and CFI certification.
Why is this happening? Well I am only speculating here, but with the recent hiring demand at the airline level most of the CFI’s in the industry are getting scooped up by the airlines, resulting in high turnover in the training environment. Leaving students with inconsistent instruction, no structure, and less experienced CFI’s teaching them.
In 2025 the CFI-Initial practical test had the highest failure rate at 26.3%. The second highest was the Private Pilot practical test at 24.9%, and then Commercial was third at a 23.3% failure rate, and the add on of an Instrument rating is around a 20.0% failure rate.
With DPE checkride fees ranging on average from $600 to $1,300 based on the practical test you are taking and where you are located in the U.S. You can see that there is a lot at stake in terms of the extra amount of money you could have to pony up if you fail your checkride. You also need to understand that if you fail the examiner will likely charge you a percentage of the original checkride fee, some examiners my charge you the full fee again for a retest.
Not to mention the continued difficulty to schedule your checkride in a timely manner due to the the current shortage of DPE’s out there. Some students are having to wait months in order to get on the schedule with an examiner. In 2024, FSANA (Flight School Association of North America) along with members of Congress wrote a letter to the FAA urging them to address the DPE shortage situation. It was noted that the FAA allows 935 DPE’s to administer tests, 75% are administered by only 350 examiners, while 50% of tests administered are conducted by roughly 200 DPE’s. With this in mind a failed checkride can turn into long waits to get back on the schedule with an examiner for a retest, which then leads to more money out of your pocket just keep current and proficient up until your retest date for your checkride.
Most students fail their checkride oral not because they don't know the material — but because they've never been tested under pressure before and they don't feel confident going into their checkride. I fix that. At Pilot Oral Prep you get a chance to...
- Practice a mock oral to see where your knowledge and skills are at
- Simulate the pressure of answering DPE style questions
- Find out & fix your weak areas before checkride day
- Get real world insight - Learn from an instructor who is actively flying a Falcon 2000EX & 7X for a worldwide corporate flight department
About Evan Carmello
Meet Your Check Ride Prep Instructor Evan Carmello
Flying is more than my job — it’s my passion. I know how stressful the check ride process can be, trust me I have been through several check rides in my career. I’m here to make sure you walk in fully prepared and confident. I was not always the strongest test taker growing up in school, and when it came to flight training I struggled trying to figure out what to study and how to retain all this information being thrown at me. It wasn’t until I was working towards my CFI certificate where I developed a process and system that I could finally count on that I knew I could repeat to learn and absorb all this information. I have been instructing for 8 years now and I have been instilling this process/system into my students that I work with in order to help them gain the skills to be able to learn, retain, and apply all this information to become confident, exceptional pilots.
Credentials:
- ATP, CFI/CFII
- Type-rated in a Falcon 2000EX EASy & Falcon 7X
- 8 years of instructing experience teaching PPL, Instrument, Commercial, CFI-I, and CFII candidates
- All my students have passed their checkride on the first attempt
- Currently flying for a private company all over the world
- Training Officer for a corporate flight department
Teaching Philosophy:
My job is not only to prepare you for your oral on your check ride but to give you the skills and knowledge beyond just the test so you become a competent and confident pilot and are able to apply those knowledge and skills in real world scenarios.
testimonial
What My Students Say
Certificates/ratings
Certificates & Ratings I Provide Oral Prep For...
Private Pilot License
Instrument Rating
Certified Flight Instructor-Initial
PROGRAMS
My Programs Fit Your Needs
These programs are designed to give you the confidence and support when you need it so you walk in knowing you’re fully prepared. If you complete any of my programs and don’t pass your oral exam, I’ll refund 100% of your investment — AND continue working with you at no charge until you pass (up to 3 attempts MAX)
Checkride Foundation Program
For students who want a 1-on-1 mock oral via Zoom to practice answering questions under pressure and to see where your knowledge and skills are at and to be able to identify any weak areas before the DPE does on checkride day.
$197
Includes:
- A 2-3 hour 1-on-1 mock oral session via Zoom
- Identify your strengths and weaknesses
- A written report that breaks down your weak areas and what to focus on before your checkride
- All the appropriate ACS tasks will be covered in this session and it will be specific to the airport and airplane you operate out of
Checkride Pro Program
For students who want to have follow up sessions after their initial mock oral to fix their weak areas. In addition, I will show you how to study all this material, teach you how to create consistent study habits, come up with your own personalized plan of attack, and walk you through my Checkride Readiness Checklist to make sure your paperwork is in order. After I will run you through another mock oral to confirm you are ready before your checkride date.
$550
Includes:
- Zoom session to fix your weak areas
- Learn how to study & organize all this material to make it simple and efficient.
- Learn how to create consistent study habits that last a life time
- A review of my Checkride Readiness Checklist - To make sure your paper work is in order
- Follow-up simulated 1-on-1 mock oral session to make sure you are ready
Checkride Mastery Program
For students who want the ultimate prep program with unlimited access and full support leading up to their check ride.
Includes:
- Everything in the Foundation & Pro Programs
- Unlimited Zoom sessions/check-ins till your checkride
- Unlimited access to me via text, email, or phone call until your check ride date