Originally Posted by
Careercfi
Do you know what happens to the DPE when the person that just got the CFI from them screws up? Thats a bunch of responsibility I would not want to share. I don't see a perverse incentive for DPE's, they just spend anywhere between 6-10 hours with an applicant and 500-600 dollars for that doesn't sound like they are milking the system. The FAA comes free for the applicant but the burden is with the poor taxpayer. FAA Inspectors don't work for 20K a year either.
You obviously don't understand what a "perverse incentive" is. It is a financial motivation that does not belong in a process because it affects the process adversely. Remove this motivation, and the PTS moves a bit further forward in line. Many schools don't work with examiners who charge more for a recheck, and I won't either.
What happens to the DPE when the CFI screws up? He says, "Gosh, he performed perfectly throughout the entire checkride with me, which I executed according to the PTS, word by word." He answers to the government, not to the liability lawyers. What happens to the CFI is something completely different. What happens to me as a physician if I screw up is also completely different. You won't get far sobbing at me about how much responsibility DPEs have: they make more per hour than most family physicians I know, and they have much less responsibility.
I said nothing about "milking the system," nor did I make any remark about whether DPE compensation is fair or not. I happen to think it's just fine what DPEs get paid. Feel free to have your very own opinion, but don't put words in my mouth when you express it.