Pilot Reports

Private Pilot Examining Authority

Written by Andie Carballosa | Feb 05, 2026

A proud milestone that strengthens our commitment to student success.

What does that mean for you?

One of the biggest logistical issues for students in flight training is the checkride. Oftentimes, there's a long wait for a DPE (designated pilot examiner) to become available. This can cause lapses in training, loss of skills, and, in turn, a lack of preparation for the checkride. For the student, this means more time, money, and effort.

At Aviator Zone Academy, we seek to work around these issues with something very few schools in South Florida offer. In-house Self-Examining Authority (SEA). With our recent addition of the Private Pilots License to our SEA program, we can take you from PPL to Instrument Rated and through CPL entirely hassle-free with our own examinations.

How does this benefit you?

  • Shortened checkride wait times and increased availability.
  • Consistency between the material covered by CFI and the Examiner.
  • Real-time feedback on student learning.
  • No need to worry about ferry flights, checkride cancellations, or rescheduling.
  • Cheaper than an external checkride with a DPE.
  • Fewer training gaps between lessons and checkrides.
  • Familiarity with the examiner.
  • Instructors teaching benefit from examiner feedback.
  • Weather and mechanical cancellations don't cost you anything compared to Designated Pilot Examiners.

SEA sets AZA apart as it is very rarely given out to schools. The FAA requires at least a 90% pass rate on all checkrides on the first try. This means AZA has a strong safety culture approved by the FAA, has proven high-quality instruction, high standards, and priority on the student learning experience.