The quality of the DPE system is assured by constant FAA oversight and annual re-certification of all Pilot Examiners.
[3] The FAA tries to assure that no applicant need wait more than a week or travel more than 100 miles (160 km) to obtain their flight test.
[citation needed] The first step in the examination process is making sure the applicant is qualified for the flight evaluation.
If correctly performed, this is a scenario-based discussion that leads the applicant through mental challenges similar to what any pilot may encounter later in their flying career.
Many tasks in the FAA evaluation are mandated due to previous accident analysis of pilot errors.