SALINA, KAN. -
Pilot students at Kansas State University Salina can now save time and money while earning one of their flight ratings, as the Federal Aviation Administration has granted the campus self-examining authority to award instrument ratings.
K-State Salina students can now earn their instrument rating after passing an end-of-course test administered by the campus's chief flight instructor or assistant chief flight instructor, rather than a separate practical test with a Designated Pilot Examiner, or DPE, as in the past.
Self-examining authority means that students gaining their instrument rating will no longer have to wait on DPE availability. Students can test when they are ready, not when an outside examiner has an opening. This means fewer delays and a faster path to the rating.
This designation also helps students save money on fees, since they previously had to pay DPE fees. Students no longer pay for a separate practical test, which in some cases can save each student up to $1,000.