Need and Ability to Manage See volume 1 of this Order.

a. General. Once the FAA establishes need and ability to manage, the selecting official can request a list of qualified applicants through DMS, which searches active applications to identify candidates that most closely match the specified criteria.

b. Process.

(1) DMS will return a maximum of three applicants per request. If there are more than three applicants that match the search criteria, DMS will generate the three with the highest scores within the system. If the number of applications is less than three, the selecting official is given the opportunity to amend the search criteria two additional times. After the third query, DMS changes the office’s status to “Request Lock Out,” which will only allow the selecting official to continue with the list of applicants previously provided during the last search. Lock out status prevents the office from submitting further requests for applications of this type for six months. However, the selecting official may also contact the policy owner to request that the lock out be removed.

(2) If the selecting official, in consultation with the field office management, rejects the applications provided by DMS for good cause, DMS may be accessed for an additional listing of up to three applicants for review. If the evaluating panel, with selecting official concurrence, rejects the second group of applications, the field office must wait six months before requesting additional applications from DMS.

(3) If no qualified candidates are available within DMS, a selecting official may request a deviation from minimum qualification requirements if:

(a) The FAA demonstrates a significant need for the appointment, and (b) The designee meets an equivalent qualification.

c. Minimum Qualification Deviation Request Process. In rare instances when an examiner applicant, including a former ASI (Operations), does not meet all of the minimum qualifications for appointment and a need is determined, the managing specialist may request that the selecting official petition the RFSD for a deviation from the minimum qualifications.

(1) Documentation. The selecting official will document and communicate the circumstances and justification for the deviation to the RFSD outside of the DMS.

(2) Coordination. The RFSD office, after a review supporting the deviation, will coordinate with the NPO for concurrence external to DMS. If in agreement with the RFSD recommendation, the NPO will document the circumstances and justification in DMS and affect the required DMS process to change the applicant’s status from “Unqualified” to "Qualified Active (deviation allowed).”

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5. Evaluation.

a. Evaluation Process. An FAA goal is to establish a uniform designee candidate assessment process (as much as practicable) for all designee types.

b. Evaluation Panel.

(1) At such time that one or more viable applicants have been identified through DMS, an evaluation panel is convened to consider the merits of each applicant. The panel is generally comprised of three FAA staff that should include:

(a) The managing specialist expected to be assigned to the designee. The presumed managing specialist will assume the role of “evaluating specialist” during the evaluation process.

(b) Two additional general aviation ASIs, which may include an FLM.

c. Evaluation Panel Tasks. For each perspective candidate, the evaluation panel must: (1) Contact references as necessary.

(2) Conduct interview to determine that applicants have the general and specific qualifications necessary for appointment; their responses are consistent with their application information; and they possess the qualities necessary to be successful as a designee.

(3) Verify that DMS has identified that minimum qualifications have been met. (4) Verify that the applicant possesses the appropriate airman certificate; category and class rating; and type rating for the authorities sought.

(5) Review the applicant’s history including all airman certificates held by the individual and flight time records if applicable.

(6) Review relevant information from each of the following FAA databases to

determine the candidate’s aviation background and any issues which may have an adverse effect on the candidate’s application:

(a) Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS); (b) SPAS;

(c) Program Tracking and Reporting Subsystem (PTRS); and (d) Enforcement Information Subsystem (EIS) DMS

(7) For Admin PEs, inspect facilities and equipment (if applicable) to be used in the conduct of their duties.

(8) Evaluate an applicant according to the established checklist in DMS. (9) Consider results of evaluation criteria and provide a recommendation to the appointing official.

d. DPE Proficiency Check Prior to Appointment. The evaluation panel will consider the results of a pre-appointment pilot proficiency check if applicable. The content of the proficiency check must include a demonstration of the following:

(1) The knowledge and skill areas required for the original issuance of the certificate for which the DPE will hold authority.

(2) All maneuvers and procedures listed in the Practical Test Standard for the applicable certificate and rating. The initial proficiency check must contain all events and maneuvers that the designee is authorized to evaluate when exercising authority. This proficiency check can be taken in an aircraft, simulator, or FTD (as applicable).

(3) An inspector who is qualified in the aircraft and current in accordance with FAA Order 4040.9, FAA Aircraft Management Program, must conduct the DPE proficiency check. The results of the check, either satisfactory or unsatisfactory, will be communicated to the evaluating panel. An “unsatisfactory” rating will be cause for rejecting the application.

Note: ACRs will be expected to successfully complete an oral examination on the applicable regulations contained in 14 CFR parts 61 and 141 as applicable.

e. Practical Test.

(1) Each DPE candidate selected for designation by a field office, other than pilot examiner candidates with administrative privileges only, must pass a practical test by an FAA inspector before the issuance of a CLOA. The practical test assists the FAA in determining if the candidate is competent to apply current practical test requirements, procedures, and performance standards in the aircraft for which authorization is sought. The field office schedules the

practical test upon selecting a candidate for DPE designation. The managing specialist records the results of the practical test in DMS.

(2) The practical test for initial pilot examiner designations must contain both the appropriate ground questioning and aircraft or flight simulator performance in accordance with the practical test standards (PTS). A complete pretest, preflight, and post-flight briefing must be completed for any practical test.

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(a) The ASI will observe the pilot examiner applicant conduct a test of an actual pilot applicant requesting a rating or certificate. The ASI will evaluate the pilot examiner applicant’s performance while the pilot examiner applicant evaluates the pilot applicant.

(b) In the event an observation of an actual practical test with an airman applicant cannot be accomplished, the ASI will play the role of a pilot applicant during a simulated

practical test.

(4) Where the ASI plays the role of a pilot applicant during a simulated practical test, the simulated practical test will be appropriate to the type of designation sought by the pilot examiner.

(a) The ASI will evaluate the pilot examiner applicant’s plan of action for completeness and efficiency.

(b) During the oral portion of the simulated practical test, the ASI will not use “trick” answers. But, for the purpose of evaluating the applicant’s technical knowledge, the ASI may purposely answer questions incorrectly to determine whether the pilot examiner applicant recognizes incorrect answers. The DPE applicant’s improper response to an incorrect answer will be reviewed and briefed with the pilot examiner applicant by the ASI.

(c) During the flight portion of the simulated practical test, the ASI will demonstrate selected maneuvers to assess the pilot examiner applicant’s ability to evaluate a pilot applicant in accordance with the standards and objectives in the appropriate PTS.

(5) Scheduling. Since a pilot examiner applicant’s hours may be incompatible with the FAA’s normal duty hours, the ASI will make every effort to be flexible when scheduling tests with pilot examiner applicants.

(6) Authority to Issue Documentation after the Practical Test.

(a) In the case of a practical test with an actual pilot applicant and a successful pilot examiner applicant, the pilot examiner applicant does not yet have the authority to issue a certificate to the pilot applicant. However, the ASI may allow the pilot examiner applicant to complete the appropriate documentation for the pilot applicant while the ASI observes. The ASI will then sign any certificate issued.

(b) In the case of a practical test with an actual pilot applicant and an unsuccessful pilot examiner applicant, the ASI will complete and sign the relevant documentation – whether it is a notice of disapproval, a letter of discontinuance, or a temporary airman certificate. The results of the DPE applicant’s failed evaluation will be documented in DMS.

(1) When the evaluation panel determines that an applicant meets the requirements for designation, the results are documented in DMS and a recommendation is provided to the appointing official. If the appointing official is in agreement with the recommendation, the appointment process will ensue.

(2) If the evaluation panel, with concurrence from the selecting official, rejects the applications provided by DMS for good cause, DMS may be queried for an additional listing of up to three applicants. If the evaluation panel, with concurrence from the selecting official, rejects the second group of applications, the requesting field office must wait six months before soliciting additional designee applications from DMS.