The US Federal Aviation Administration has published Revision E of FAA Order 8000.95, the policy that governs how the agency selects, trains, oversees and terminates its designees, including the designated pilot examiners (DPEs) who conduct practical tests for pilot certificates and ratings. A notice of availability appeared in the Federal Register on 18 September 20261. The signed order carries an effective date of 15 September 2026 and cancels FAA Order 8000.95D, dated 21 January 20252. It was signed by Kevin Dickert, Director of the Organization Designation Authorization Office2.

According to the FAA, the revision addresses the move from the Designee Registration System to the Designee Management System (DMS) and aligns the order with that tool's workflows1. It also "changes the algorithm for the frequency of direct observation oversight intervals" required of Flight Standards managing specialists, and updates email addresses and website links1. The order contains ten volumes; Volume 3 covers DPEs, specialty aircraft examiners and administrative pilot examiners2.

From a draft change to a full revision

The FAA first proposed the changes as draft FAA Order 8000.95D, Change 1, which was open for public comment from 24 November 2025 to 23 January 202613. The agency received 234 public comments from educational institutions, industry associations, air carriers and commercial operators, and individuals1. Organisations that commented included the Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association, the Experimental Aircraft Association, the National Association of Flight Instructors, United Airlines, The Boeing Company, Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation and a number of flight schools1. The FAA said it "subsequently determined that the number and scope of changes required a comprehensive revision of the Order", which became Revision E1.

Before the comment deadline, FLYING Magazine reported that the National Association of Flight Instructors had sent its members a notice summarising the proposals, which in FLYING's words raised concerns that they could make finding a DPE harder than it already is4. The FAA noted that the Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association and the National Association of Flight Instructors "expressed support for the FAA's general intent to update, clarify, and improve designee management policy", while objecting to specific proposals1.

The five-hour make and model rule

Under Revision D, a DPE had to log at least 5 hours of pilot in command time in the specific make and model only before testing in a single-engine airplane "that is turbine-powered"5. The draft would have extended that requirement to practical tests in any single-engine airplane6. Commenters said the requirement "is operationally burdensome, would further constrain examiner availability, and exacerbate checkride delays"1. They also argued that "no safety data was presented to justify the necessity of a five-hour make and model requirement"1.

The FAA partially accepted these concerns. In the final order, the five hours apply before a practical test in a single-engine airplane "that is turbine-powered or having Simplified Flight Controls"2. The order defines Simplified Flight Control aircraft as those which "require model specific training and a logbook endorsement from an authorized instructor"2. "Broader make-and-model requirements for all single-engine airplanes were not adopted," the FAA said1. The existing requirement of at least 5 hours in the make and model before a test in a small multiengine airplane remains2.

CFI checkrides, fees and oversight

Revision D barred examiners from conducting "more than one initial CFI exam in a 24 hour period"5. The draft would have limited examiners to one initial certificated flight instructor application per day, including retests and continuations of earlier unsuccessful or discontinued tests6. Commenters argued that retests and continuations "often require less time and effort than standard initial CFI exams"1. The FAA accepted the recommendation "to limit only complete initial CFI practical tests to one per day" and removed the restriction on conducting retests or continuations on the same day as a full exam1. The final wording bars examiners from accepting "more than one initial CFI application in a single day"2. A separate cap of three complete practical tests in a single day, which does not apply to retests, remains in the order2.

On fees, the draft said examiners should "Not collect any fee until applicants eligible to take the test have been determined during the pretest briefing"6. Commenters warned this could leave examiners unpaid if an applicant was found ineligible, and the FAA removed the restriction from Revision E, adding that fee collection remains covered by FAA Order 8900.11. Examiners must still "Charge no more than a reasonable fee for services" and make sure applicants understand all fees, including the fee for retesting after failure, before accepting an application2. The FAA declined to define a reasonable fee, calling it outside the scope of the revision but "an area for future consideration and discussion"1.

The order also changes how examiners are overseen. Revision E states that direct observations of DPEs "will be conducted every six calendar quarters" at a minimum, where Revision D left the frequency to DMS25. Revision E allows an overdue observation to be extended by up to two calendar quarters; Revision D allowed one25. Applications and annual extension requests must also include a signed Code of Conduct2.

Why examiner capacity matters

In November 2024 the Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association reported that many pilots still struggled to book a checkride "at an affordable price, and wait times are all too often measured in months"7. The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 directed the agency to "establish an office to provide oversight and facilitate national coordination of designated pilot examiners", including "Developing a code of conduct for such examiners"8. In March 2026 the association wrote that "Checkride delays remain one of the most persistent friction points in pilot training"9.

What this means for student pilots and instructors

Compared with the draft, the most restrictive examiner limits will not apply as proposed: the five-hour rule covers only turbine-powered or Simplified Flight Control single-engine airplanes, and a candidate repeating part of a flight instructor test can be seen on the same day as another full initial CFI test12. Compared with Revision D, the experience rule also covers Simplified Flight Control airplanes25. The order says compliance "will be phased in by designee type(s)", with affected designees notified when each implementation begins and ends2. The FAA said the order is available on its orders and notices page, on the Dynamic Regulatory System and in the docket1; when checked on 12 October 2026, the orders page still listed Order 8000.95D with the status "Active"10.