Originally Posted by
Iowa Farm Boy
I was a 135 Pilot for eight years (2 yrs Chief Pilot and Check Airman), a 121 pilot now for 12 years, and a DPE for 14 years. I've had one unsat in my career. I can honestly say that in all that time, in all the checkrides I've observed, taken, or given, I've NEVER seen a checkride that was unsat because of one minor issue.
I guess it could happen, but I could win the Power Ball too. When I give a checkride today, I generally let it go long enough to where the applicant can see that it should be unsat. If they don't see it, well that says more about them then the task they've not done correctly.
Take a hard look at your failures in life, ask yourself what was YOUR part in it, and try to do better going forward. And don't go around blaming everyone else. If I was on a hiring board, that in a nutshell is the attitude I'd be looking for. Good luck with what will surely be a wonderful career (if that's possible anymore).
You are not all examiners though. On my CFI initial, my chandelles were in his opinion unsatisfactory. I got credit for every other maneuver. I got the required three hours of retraining, retested on the chandelles with a different inspector, and all was good. I learned nothing in the retraining, I did nothing different on the second ride, and never felt that my chandelles were unsatisfactory to begin with.
My point is that while it seems that you have the big picture in mind when you give your rides, you can't assume that every other examiner does.