MockDPE

MockDPE — AI-powered FAA Instrument Rating oral exam simulator

Mike ThompsonMike Thompson, your examiner today

“Given this forecast, are you required to file an alternate?”

“I’d apply the 1-2-3 rule, checking the forecast from an hour before to an hour after my ETA. If the ceiling drops below 2,000 feet or visibility under 3 miles, I’m filing an alternate.”

Start practicing344 checkride sessions completedExamined onweather & alternatesinstrument approachesholds & clearancessystem failuresemergency opsweather & alternates

Practice with real weather

MockDPE pulls live METAR and TAF data from airports of your choice, then works the weather conditions into scenario-based exam questions.

KPDK 231153Z 09006KT090° / 6 ktWind 2SM2 milesVisibility BR OVC006600 ftCeiling 14/13 A2989
Mike Thompson

“You’ve got a 600-foot ceiling and two miles of visibility in mist at your destination. Talk me through whether you’re required to file an alternate.”

Three examiners to practice with

Practice with the style that fits your real examiner, or train against a tougher one so you're prepared for anything the DPE throws at you on the big day.

Mike Thompson

Mike Thompson

Retired airline captain

“No rush. Walk me through how you're thinking about it.”

Reece Barrett

Reece Barrett

Active DPE

“Good. Now which regulation are you leaning on?”

Robert Chen

Robert Chen

Military background

“Be precise. What does the AIM actually say?”

Find your gaps before the DPE finds them for you

Every answer is scored against the FAA Instrument ACS. After each session, you'll get an area-by-area debrief so you know exactly where to focus your study time.

Your last session, by Area of Operation
IPreflight Preparation
IIPreflight Procedures
IIIATC Clearances & Procedures
IVFlight by Reference to Instruments
VNavigation SystemsRNAV approach setup
VIInstrument Approach Procedurescircling minimums
VIIEmergency Operations
VIIIPostflight Procedures

My AI philosphy

Kevin
Commercial Pilot & Backend Engineer · kevin@mockdpe.org

I’m Kevin, a commercial pilot and backend developer by trade. I built MockDPE for a few reasons. First, I wish I had something like this when preparing for my own checkrides. “Back in my day” (haha I feel old), I was stuck with YouTube videos and flashcards. At the time, these were great resources, but they weren’t interactive.

Second, AI has enormous potential, but I rarely see it being used the “right way.” AI has been instrumental (pun intended) in helping me build this project. From scaffolding, to styling, to DPE personas, to speech augmentation, this is not something I could’ve built alone even a few years ago.

Obviously everyone has their opinions related to AI, myself included, and I’ll be the first to admit that AI is far from perfect. However, I’ve taken great care to ensure that the application of AI in MockDPE is grounded in accuracy, quality, and user benefit. My goal is to harness AI in a way that adds value, not “slop” to flight training.

I chose instrument training as the “foundation” for MockDPE because it’s reliant on dynamic scenarios. This is a strength of AI, and I wanted to use this to my advantage. If there’s something I’m doing well, I’d love to hear from you. If there’s something I could (and should) be doing better, I’d be equally appreciative of hearing that too.

— Kevin

Frequently asked questions

What is MockDPE?
MockDPE is an AI-powered FAA Instrument Rating oral exam simulator. You practice with an AI Designated Pilot Examiner that asks scenario-based questions using live aviation weather and real US airports, then evaluates your responses against the FAA Instrument Rating Airman Certification Standards (ACS).
Is MockDPE a substitute for a real checkride?
No. MockDPE is a study and practice tool. Only an FAA-authorized Designated Pilot Examiner can issue a real Instrument Rating. MockDPE is built to help you arrive at the real checkride better prepared.
How realistic are the oral exam questions?
Every session pulls live METAR and TAF data from aviationweather.gov, builds a scenario around real US airports, and weaves the actual conditions into the DPE's questions. Answers are evaluated against the FAA Instrument Rating ACS with regulatory references cited where relevant.
Do I have to pay to try MockDPE?
No. You can run one limited mock checkride session for free without entering a credit card. Premium plans unlock unlimited checkrides, focused-area practice, diagnostics, lessons, and gouge upload.
What DPE personas are included?
Three: Mike Thompson (retired airline captain, conversational and patient), Reece Barrett (active DPE, thorough and fair, closest to a real checkride), and Robert Chen (military background, strict and demanding). Pick the one that matches your real DPE, or train against a harder one.
Does MockDPE cover the full Instrument ACS?
Yes. Every Area of Operation in the FAA Instrument Rating ACS is covered, and your performance is scored per area so you can see exactly where to focus your study time.

See if you're ready

Join the community of instrument pilots using MockDPE to prep smarter, not harder, for their checkrides and IPCs.

Start practicing