Private Pilot, Airplane Single Engine Land
“My experience with Ryan for my Private Pilot checkride was wonderful. I was really nervous leading up to the exam and I’m sure Ryan picked up on this. He started with some casual conversations about our experience and interest in aviation, this interaction really helped calm my nerves. From the beginning, I could tell Ryan wanted to see me succeed and he gave me every opportunity to do that. It was immediately clear to me that Ryan is passionate about aviation and safety. This experience was not only a personal goal fulfilled of mine, but a learning experience as well.
“I recommend anyone looking for a DPE for their next checkride to use Ryan, you won’t be disappointed.”
Jeff Hawkins, Private Pilot, Airplane Single Engine Land
Commercial Pilot, Airplane Single Engine Land
“I requested Ryan as my examiner for my commercial check ride after having such a positive experience with him for my instrument rating. He also came highly recommended by other students and instructors at my school.
“The best thing about him is his passion for aviation. He is a really interesting guy with a lot of real world experience, and in both checkrides I walked away having learned something new.
“I genuinely felt this examiner wanted to see me succeed, and I really appreciated his feedback at the end of the check ride. Ryan is the epitome of professionalism; he is fair, knowledgeable, and follows the ACS. I would recommend him to anyone.”
Gretchen Leneski, Commercial Pilot, Airplane Single Engine Land
Commercial Pilot, Airplane Single Engine Land
“After numerous scheduling conflicts with other DPEs, I reached out to Ryan and asked him to administer my ASEL Commercial practical test. Ryan responded promptly and scheduled my checkride that week. I was very happy with my experience and found Ryan to be professional, thorough and friendly. His demeanor put me at ease and I found that some of the pre-check ride anxiety faded. He directed me to his website which has great information, not only about the check ride itself but plenty of other really helpful content.
“I found the entire checkride to be a great experience with Ryan and will be requesting his services again soon. I would highly recommend him to anyone looking to pursue their next step in aviation!”
Keith Chance, Commercial Pilot, Airplane Single Engine Land, Instrument Airplane
Flight Instructor, Airplane Multi-Engine
“I have actually taken a few checkrides throughout my training with Ryan Ferguson, and there is a reason why I requested him again to conduct my Multiengine Instructor test. That reason being his genuine passion in aviation and enabling you to show off your training to earn the rating sought. He genuinely wants you to succeed and he never works against you: he takes the time to calm your nerves and will never throw gotcha questions at you.
“This checkride was actually FAA-observed which to some might seem scary, but it was honestly no different than usual. Ryan did an excellent job orchestrating the meeting between the observer, himself, and me, even though bad weather delays and the holidays made it a difficult task. The oral portion was very fair and taken at a comfortable pace and depth of knowledge in a largely conversational format. He tells you ahead of time to go through the PTS, as that is exactly what he will be testing you on. The flight portion was very smoothly planned out to be efficient with time and again was fair and comfortably paced. Safety is always his number one concern and so he will never put you in a position to operate the aircraft dangerously or illegally, again there are no gotchas here.
“Ryan is an extremely personable guy that really works hard to set you up for success. His flexibility and professionalism are top tier, and his high degree of knowledge means you will likely walk away with more knowledge than you came in with. I highly Recommend Ryan for the MEI rating and all other ratings!”
Nick Ollo, Flight Instructor, Airplane Multi-Engine
Instrument Rating
“I started my checkride pacing back and forth wondering if I should have prepared just a little bit more. When I finally stepped into the exam room with Ryan, I appreciated that he took some time to chat, making me feel more at ease.
“By the time the exam started, I felt like he wanted me to succeed and made it clear what was expected of me. He wasn’t out there to ask trick questions and look for mistakes, my own nerves did enough of the second guessing for me! But he did have a focus on safety and it meant a lot to me that he wanted to make sure his applicants were safe pilots themselves and acting in a safe manner in the national airspace system.”
Michael Tang, Private Pilot, Instrument Airplane
Commercial Pilot, Airplane Multiengine Land
“I contacted Ryan to conduct my Multi-engine commercial checkride and was extremely satisfied with the experience. After frustrations trying to schedule with the DPE typically used by the flight school, I reached out to Ryan who was very responsive and helpful in scheduling. He offered several options and was quick to reschedule when we were weathered out the first time. His website was a helpful resource for planning what to expect on the checkride – it is reflective of his personality – focused, professional and interested in your success.
“The checkride itself was smooth and thorough. Ryan was very organized in setting the foundation for our planned flight, established the possible outcomes and again focused on the result we both wanted, putting me at ease in what is often a stressful scenario.
“The oral was as expected and the flight portion was efficiently conducted to complete all required tasks. Along the way, Ryan offered helpful information and thoughts on technique and safety (like why the Vmc speed on my plane was increased from 80 mph to 90 mph!).
“I highly recommend Ryan for your next checkride – you will certainly learn something new and enjoy your experience at the same time.”
Douglas Weir, Commercial Pilot, Airplane Single and Multiengine Land, Instrument Airplane
Private Pilot, Airplane Single Engine Land
“Ryan was very helpful in being able to reschedule my checkride when I was unable to make the first planned date, which I really appreciated. I was of course very nervous on the day, but Ryan immediately tried to put me at ease and took the time to explain the whole process, answering any questions I had.
“You don’t feel rushed and you can tell he wants to make sure that you have the best experience possible even under the stressful situation of a checkride. He was very professional and made the whole experience something I will never forget. I would thoroughly recommend Ryan for your next checkride.”
Justin Wainwright, Private Pilot, Airplane Single Engine Land
Instrument Rating
“Having Ryan as a DPE for both my private pilot and instrument rating was the best experience. As everyone knows taking a checkride is probably one of the most stressful things you have to do in your flight training. For my private pilot checkride I was beyond nervous. It was so bad that Ryan tried to alleviate my anxiety by making some jokes and I didn’t realize because of how anxious I was. However during the whole checkride Ryan showed a strong sense of professionalism and understanding.
“Being able to have Ryan as my DPE for my instrument rating made it much easier for me to relax and not be as anxious. Since we already knew each other, it was easier to have this checkride. For the oral he follows the ACS to the dot and didn’t deviate from it. He doesn’t want to see you fail but he wants to know that you will be a safe pilot because that is important. All in all I would definitely recommend Ryan as a DPE for any phase of your flight training because he is fair, helpful, and just a great person who wants to see you succeed in your aviation career.”
Jose Velez, Private Pilot, Instrument Airplane
Commercial Pilot, Airplane Single Engine Land
“I was referred to Ryan by the local flying club owner to conduct my single engine commercial checkride. I was hesitant due to the fact that I did not know anyone personally who had taken a ride with him. However, his website was extremely informative and gave me a clear idea of what to expect.
“He was available rather quickly and on the day of the checkride, he arrived on time and we got right to work. He explained at length how our checkride was to be composed as well as all expectations pertaining to it. He does his best to set you at ease and right off the bat, you can tell he wants you succeed.
“The checkride itself was conducted fairly and efficiently. The oral portion was thorough, but did not include any trick questions or anything to fool you. I never felt rushed and was encouraged to take breaks as needed. The flight was smooth and the flow of the maneuvers was systematic and sensible. I felt at ease during the entire flight.
“I highly recommend Ryan, he was professional from start to finish and I learned a bunch along the way!”
Lucas Hardison, Commercial Pilot, Airplane Single Engine Land, Instrument Airplane.