Interesting stats from U.S. Civil Airmen Statistics

jbarrass

jbarrass

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I came across this info from Grok and thought it was interesting FWIW. Source info here.

The FAA publishes checkride pass/fail rates as part of its yearly U.S. Civil Airmen Statistics. These statistics provide data on practical test pass rates for various pilot certificates and ratings, such as Private Pilot, Commercial Pilot, Flight Instructor (CFI), and Airline Transport Pilot (ATP). The data is typically aggregated at a national level and does not break down pass/fail rates by individual Flight Standards District Offices (FSDOs) or distinguish between initial attempts and retests unless specified.

Here are key insights from available FAA data, based on recent years:
  • Overall Pass Rates:
    • In 2022, the overall pass rate for FAA practical exams was 80.6%.
    • In 2023, this dropped slightly to 79.3%.
  • Specific Certificate Pass Rates (2023):
    • Private Pilot: 74.5% pass rate (25.5% fail rate), the most-failed checkride in 2023.
    • Flight Instructor (CFI): 76.1% pass rate (23.9% fail rate), dispelling myths of a 50% or higher failure rate.
    • Commercial Pilot: Historically stable, with pass rates around 79% in 2020.
    • Airline Transport Pilot (ATP): 90% pass rate in 2020, the least-failed checkride.
    • Add-on Ratings (e.g., Instrument Rating): 88.6% pass rate in 2023, significantly higher than initial certificate checkrides.
  • Trends:
    • Pass rates for Private Pilot checkrides have trended downward, with a notable increase in disapprovals (46.78% more in 2023 compared to 2022), though the failure rate itself rose by 3.5%. This is partly due to a 30.9% increase in Private Pilot certifications in 2023.
    • CFI pass rates have improved since 2019, rising from a historical 68–69% to around 76% in 2023, possibly due to changes in training requirements (e.g., no longer requiring complex aircraft skills).
  • Examiner Differences:
    • In 2023, FAA Inspectors had a higher overall pass rate (90.5%) compared to Designated Pilot Examiners (DPEs) (79.2%). However, for Private Pilot checkrides, DPEs had a higher pass rate (74.6%) than FAA Inspectors (59.1%). Sample sizes for FAA Inspector-administered tests are small (e.g., 590 checkrides in 2023).
  • Accessing the Data:
    • The FAA makes this data publicly available through its website, specifically in the Civil Airmen Statistics reports, under the Aviation Data & Statistics section (faa.gov).
    • For example, the 2022 and 2023 data can be found in tables like Table 19 of the FAA’s reports.
    • Note that the FAA does not typically provide granular breakdowns (e.g., by FSDO or first-time vs. retake pass rates) in public reports, though overall initial pass rates are estimated to be lower (e.g., 66% initial vs. 75% overall).
  • Critical Notes:
    • Pass rates can vary by region, examiner, and training quality, but the FAA data debunks myths like the CFI initial checkride having an 80–90% failure rate.
    • Anecdotal reports of higher failure rates (e.g., 65% for PPL in some regions) may reflect local trends or examiner strictness but are not supported by national data.
    • The FAA tracks CFI pass rates for oversight (e.g., low pass rates may trigger surveillance or a 709 ride), but there’s no fixed pass rate requirement for CFIs to avoid scrutiny.
 
jbarrass said:
I came across this info from Grok and thought it was interesting FWIW. Source info here.

The FAA publishes checkride pass/fail rates as part of its yearly U.S. Civil Airmen Statistics. These statistics provide data on practical test pass rates for various pilot certificates and ratings, such as Private Pilot, Commercial Pilot, Flight Instructor (CFI), and Airline Transport Pilot (ATP). The data is typically aggregated at a national level and does not break down pass/fail rates by individual Flight Standards District Offices (FSDOs) or distinguish between initial attempts and retests unless specified.

Here are key insights from available FAA data, based on recent years:
  • Overall Pass Rates:
    • In 2022, the overall pass rate for FAA practical exams was 80.6%.
    • In 2023, this dropped slightly to 79.3%.
  • Specific Certificate Pass Rates (2023):
    • Private Pilot: 74.5% pass rate (25.5% fail rate), the most-failed checkride in 2023.
    • Flight Instructor (CFI): 76.1% pass rate (23.9% fail rate), dispelling myths of a 50% or higher failure rate.
    • Commercial Pilot: Historically stable, with pass rates around 79% in 2020.
    • Airline Transport Pilot (ATP): 90% pass rate in 2020, the least-failed checkride.
    • Add-on Ratings (e.g., Instrument Rating): 88.6% pass rate in 2023, significantly higher than initial certificate checkrides.
  • Trends:
    • Pass rates for Private Pilot checkrides have trended downward, with a notable increase in disapprovals (46.78% more in 2023 compared to 2022), though the failure rate itself rose by 3.5%. This is partly due to a 30.9% increase in Private Pilot certifications in 2023.
    • CFI pass rates have improved since 2019, rising from a historical 68–69% to around 76% in 2023, possibly due to changes in training requirements (e.g., no longer requiring complex aircraft skills).
  • Examiner Differences:
    • In 2023, FAA Inspectors had a higher overall pass rate (90.5%) compared to Designated Pilot Examiners (DPEs) (79.2%). However, for Private Pilot checkrides, DPEs had a higher pass rate (74.6%) than FAA Inspectors (59.1%). Sample sizes for FAA Inspector-administered tests are small (e.g., 590 checkrides in 2023).
  • Accessing the Data:
    • The FAA makes this data publicly available through its website, specifically in the Civil Airmen Statistics reports, under the Aviation Data & Statistics section (faa.gov).
    • For example, the 2022 and 2023 data can be found in tables like Table 19 of the FAA’s reports.
    • Note that the FAA does not typically provide granular breakdowns (e.g., by FSDO or first-time vs. retake pass rates) in public reports, though overall initial pass rates are estimated to be lower (e.g., 66% initial vs. 75% overall).
  • Critical Notes:
    • Pass rates can vary by region, examiner, and training quality, but the FAA data debunks myths like the CFI initial checkride having an 80–90% failure rate.
    • Anecdotal reports of higher failure rates (e.g., 65% for PPL in some regions) may reflect local trends or examiner strictness but are not supported by national data.
    • The FAA tracks CFI pass rates for oversight (e.g., low pass rates may trigger surveillance or a 709 ride), but there’s no fixed pass rate requirement for CFIs to avoid scrutiny.
Click to expand...
The 2024 data is also available:

 
F.A.A. Inspectors give very few PP, CP, Inst or CFI checks.

Most Inspectors give 121 or 135 checks, which DPE’s can’t do. Airlines do have APD’s to issue types and ATP.
 
jbarrass said:
Flight Instructor (CFI): 76.1% pass rate (23.9% fail rate), dispelling myths of a 50% or higher failure rate.
CFI pass rates have improved since 2019, rising from a historical 68–69% to around 76% in 2023, possibly due to changes in training requirements (e.g., no longer requiring complex aircraft skills).
Click to expand...
This wasn't a myth... But it's no longer true. When all initial CFI checkrides were required to be done with the FAA, there was supposedly an 80% failure rate of *initial* checkrides.

So, you take five people, four of them fail the first ride and retake it, now you have 5 passed rides out of 9 given and you're "above 50% pass rate". Fun with data.
 
flyingcheesehead said:
So, you take five people, four of them fail the first ride and retake it, now you have 5 passed rides out of 9 given and you're "above 50% pass rate". Fun with data.
Click to expand...
Yup. It's also the kind of chicanery that captures even more consequential measures of social order, namely GDP, CPI (itself a tool to further cook GDP) and Unemployment (U3 in particular, and we defend that nonsense...).
 
flyingcheesehead said:
This wasn't a myth... But it's no longer true. When all initial CFI checkrides were required to be done with the FAA, there was supposedly an 80% failure rate of *initial* checkrides.

So, you take five people, four of them fail the first ride and retake it, now you have 5 passed rides out of 9 given and you're "above 50% pass rate". Fun with data.
Click to expand...
"Initial" CFI checkride has a connotation different from "first attempt" at CRI checkride.

Assuming your four retakers pass the second attempt, I don't understand the statistical gripe.

Nine tests were administered with five passing scores. That's a 55% passage rate.

Five airmen took tests and passed. That's a 100% passage rate.

One airman of five passed on the first attempt. That's a 20% passage rate.

Which of the above is the "most accurate"?
 
Lindberg said:
"Initial" CFI checkride has a connotation different from "first attempt" at CRI checkride.
Click to expand...
Sorry, you are correct. I meant "first attempt" because that's what everyone used to fail with the FAA. (Yeah, I know, not everyone, but 75-80%.) I'm merely pointing out that the stats here don't necessarily disprove that as the poster I quoted said. However, I think the first-time pass rate has improved significantly now that DPEs can do those rides.
 
Lindberg said:
"Initial" CFI checkride has a connotation different from "first attempt" at CRI checkride.

Assuming your four retakers pass the second attempt, I don't understand the statistical gripe.

Nine tests were administered with five passing scores. That's a 55% passage rate.

Five airmen took tests and passed. That's a 100% passage rate.

One airman of five passed on the first attempt. That's a 20% passage rate.

Which of the above is the "most accurate"?
Click to expand...
As my high school statistics teacher told me: "tell me what you are trying to prove, and I will help you frame the question to support your conclusion."
 
billsgs126 said:
As my high school statistics teacher told me: "tell me what you are trying to prove, and I will help you frame the question to support your conclusion."
Click to expand...
That’s why I don’t do surveys.

I also find it interesting that when we set goals at work, the outcomes at our annual employee evaluations are some level of “met expectations” rather than some level of “goals achieved.” The reason I find it interesting is that apparently “met expectations” means “failed miserably.”
 
What’s the process of becoming a DPE? Is it a path to follow or luck of the draw?
 
every year when these statistics come out...i compare to my own experience and determine that either the statistics are heavily skewed or there are some real santa claus dpe's out there. but then i talk to other dpe's and read reddit and i seriously think that the faa statistics about pass rates are not what you and i think of when we talk about pass rates.

you can apply to be a dpe at designee.faa.gov. the guidance material that describes the process is available through a link on that page.
 
MauleSkinner said:
I suspect it’s the other way around…pass rates improved enough that the FAA allowed DPEs to do initial CFI rides again.
Click to expand...
As I understand, it was because the FAA was simply too understaffed to do them in-house any more. Based on more recent experiences with the FAA, that is completely plausible.
 
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