Event Details and Registration

Join Captains Wally Mulhearn and Jason Bolz—FAA Designated Pilot Examiners based in Houston and widebody captains for United Airlines—for an interactive seminar drawn from their popular YouTube channel “Checkride Chat.” With over 15 combined years as DPEs and thousands of hours in the Boeing 727/737/757/767/777/787, they bring a unique dual perspective: the examiner’s exacting standards and the airline pilot’s practical cockpit wisdom. Attendees will learn proven techniques to prepare for any FAA practical test—from Private Pilot through ATP and beyond. The session covers the top reasons applicants fail, how to structure a bullet-proof oral and flight portion, common DPE “gotchas,” and how airline-style Crew Resource Management and risk management elevate General Aviation safety.

Booth 354, east of hangar B - just behind the Garmin booth, white tent with a huge NAFI logo.

Wally took his first flight in a DC-3 with his father as his flight instructor when he was 3 years old. He was bitten by the aviation bug and never looked back. He earned his ratings and graduated from the University of Louisiana Monroe. Today, Wally is a Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) in the Houston, TX area. He has conducted over 1,200 General Aviation check rides. When not conducting check rides, he flies for United Airlines as a B-777 Captain and flies his Piper Saratoga. He is also the co-host of the “Behind the Prop” podcast.

Jason Bolz is an active DPE in Texas and a Captain with United, flying the B756.  He also serves United as a B756 Instructor and is actively involved with their pilot hiring. Jason grew up on airplanes – living between the US and the UK, with his first flight at 6 months old.  His primary flight training was at DAB.  He earned all his instructor ratings shortly thereafter.  He began teaching in 2001 at CXO and DWH.  In 2004, he went to fly at ExpressJet, and in 2007, he started at Continental/United.  After flying the B737 for a few years, he switched fleets in 2013 and began flying the legendary B757/B767. Living in Houston and based in Denver – his schedule is busy.  However, his goal is to simply give back to the general aviation community through quality instruction and fair evaluations.

NAFI is the National Association of Flight Instructors and is the largest association dedicated exclusively to flight instruction. NAFI’s vision is ‘Safer pilots through flight instruction excellence.’ NAFI’s mission throughout its 59-year history is to promote flight instruction excellence with education, mentorship, and advocacy. This is accomplished by providing instructors with tools and resources that help them deliver the best professional training and service possible. Anyone may join NAFI to take advantage of the many educational and flight tools, products, and discounts available. www.nafimentor.org. Contact nafi@nafimentor.org 866-806-6156.

PRESENTED DURING THE EAA AIRVENTURE FLY-IN.  NO FEE FOR THE NAFI PRESENTATIONS, BUT AN ENTRANCE FEE IS REQUIRED BY EAA AIRVENTURE TO ENTER THE GROUNDS.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON EAA AIRVENTURE ADMISSIONS, VISIT  https://www.eaa.org/airventure