Terms of Service | flyPIREP

1. Purpose and Scope

flyPIREP is a preparation-focused information platform designed to help pilot applicants prepare for FAA practical examinations (checkrides). This site collects structured observations about checkride procedures, examiner expectations, and testing styles.

What This Site IS:

✓ A resource for understanding examiner testing methodologies
✓ A preparation tool for checkride applicants
✓ A structured observation platform focused on procedures

What This Site IS NOT:

✗ A complaint platform or venue for grievances
✗ A pass/fail rate tracking system
✗ A platform for character judgments or personal opinions

2. User Obligations

2.1 Truthfulness and Good Faith

Users must provide truthful information and submit observations in good faith. Knowingly false statements may result in account termination and legal liability.

Certification of Participation

By submitting an observation, you certify under penalty of perjury that you personally completed the checkride described. Submitting a false or fabricated account of a checkride you did not take constitutes fraud and may expose you to civil and criminal liability. flyPIREP reserves the right to pursue legal remedies against users who submit knowingly false reports.

2.2 First-Hand Experience Only

Users may only submit observations about checkrides they personally experienced. Second-hand reports, rumors, or hearsay are prohibited.

2.3 Preparation Focus

All submissions must focus on helping future applicants prepare. Observations must address:

• What topics or procedures to study
• How expectations were communicated
• What the testing structure and emphasis were
• Observable behaviors and procedures

2.4 Prohibited Content

The following content is strictly prohibited:

Profanity and vulgar language - Any offensive or obscene language
Personal attacks - Character judgments, insults, or name-calling
Outcome complaints - Statements like "out to fail me," "power trip," "rigged"
Discriminatory language - Comments based on age, gender, race, or protected class
Emotional overreactions - "Never use," "avoid at all costs," "nightmare"
Defamatory statements - False statements harming reputation
Threats or harassment - Any threatening or harassing content
External links or URLs - No links to outside websites in reviews or responses
Impersonation - Claiming to be another user, DPE, or FAA official
Commercial solicitation - Advertising, spam, or promotional content

2.5 Acceptable Uses

The following activities are the intended and acceptable uses of flyPIREP:

✓ Submitting first-hand checkride observations for examiners you have personally tested with
✓ Searching examiner profiles to understand testing styles and prepare effectively
✓ Upvoting helpful reviews to surface high-quality preparation content
✓ DPEs responding to observations about their own checkrides to clarify or add context
✓ Reporting policy violations through the flag system or by contacting moderation
✓ Verifying your identity as a DPE or CFI to access additional platform features

2.6 Account Security

You are responsible for maintaining the security of your account credentials and for all activity conducted under your account. You must not share account access with others or use automated tools to interact with the platform without express written permission from flyPIREP.

3. Content Moderation and Weighting

3.1 Automated Content Filtering

All submissions are automatically screened for prohibited content. Submissions containing banned phrases or framing will be rejected with guidance to resubmit.

3.2 Observation Weighting

flyPIREP uses algorithmic weighting to ensure balanced perspectives. Observations are weighted based on reliability signals (not shown to users):

• Reflection time: Reviews submitted 7+ days after checkride receive higher weight
• Completeness: Comprehensive observations receive higher weight
• Outcome consideration: Failed checkride observations receive adjusted weight to account for potential bias
• Cool-down period: Minimum 72-hour waiting period required before submission

3.3 Human Review

Flagged content is reviewed by administrators. Users may appeal moderation decisions.

4. Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) Rights

4.1 Profile Verification

DPEs may verify their profile through email confirmation matching FAA records. Verified DPEs receive:

• Access to review notification settings
• Right to respond to observations (one response per review)
• Verified badge on their profile

4.2 Response Rights

Verified DPEs may submit one response per observation within 90 days of posting, subject to:

• 48-hour cooldown period after observation is posted
• 750 character limit
• Same content standards as user observations
• Categorization (additional context, factual correction, acknowledgment)

4.3 Removal Requests

DPEs may request removal of content that:

• Contains factually false information
• Violates site policy
• Is defamatory under applicable law

Removal requests must be submitted via email with specific identification of problematic content and legal or factual basis for removal.

5. Disclaimers and Limitations

5.1 User-Generated Content

All observations are user-generated opinions and do not represent the views of flyPIREP. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy of user submissions.

5.2 No FAA Affiliation

flyPIREP is not affiliated with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or any government entity. Information on this site should not be construed as official FAA guidance.

5.3 Preparation Tool Only

This site is a preparation resource only. Checkride success depends on applicant knowledge, skill, and adherence to FAA standards—not information gathered from this platform.

5.4 No Guarantees

Important: flyPIREP makes no representations or warranties about the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information on this site. Use at your own risk.

5.5 Section 230 Protection

flyPIREP is a platform for user-generated content. Under 47 U.S.C. § 230, we are not the publisher or speaker of user-submitted observations and are not liable for user content.

5.6 Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, flyPIREP, its owners, officers, employees, agents, and affiliates shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, punitive, or exemplary damages arising from your use of or inability to use this site, including but not limited to damages for loss of profits, goodwill, data, or other intangible losses—even if flyPIREP has been advised of the possibility of such damages.

This limitation applies regardless of the theory of liability (contract, tort, negligence, strict liability, or otherwise) and regardless of whether flyPIREP has been informed of the possibility of such damage.

5.7 Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless flyPIREP and its affiliates from any claims, liabilities, damages, judgments, awards, losses, costs, or expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from your violation of these Terms or your use of the site, including any content you submit.

5.8 External Links and Third-Party Services

flyPIREP may link to third-party websites or use third-party services (such as Google reCAPTCHA). We are not responsible for the content, privacy practices, or terms of any third-party service. Your use of third-party services is governed by their respective terms and policies.

6. Designated Pilot Examiners as Public Figures

Designated Pilot Examiners (DPEs) are individuals who have been formally designated by the Federal Aviation Administration under 14 C.F.R. Part 183 to perform official government functions on behalf of the FAA Administrator. Their names, designations, and testing locations are published in public FAA records.

In their capacity as FAA-designated representatives exercising public authority, DPEs function as limited-purpose public figures with respect to the performance of their official duties. Observations submitted to flyPIREP pertain solely to DPEs' exercise of their official, government-designated roles — not their private lives.

What this means for users:

• Factual observations about how a DPE conducted an official checkride are protected speech
• Opinion statements clearly framed as personal experience are protected under the First Amendment
• Users must still comply with all content standards in Section 2 — this protection does not extend to false statements of fact, personal attacks, or content unrelated to a DPE's official duties

7. Privacy and Data Usage

7.1 Outcome Data

Checkride outcomes (pass/fail) are collected for weighting purposes only and are never displayed publicly or used to calculate pass rates.

7.2 Email Confirmation

Users must confirm their email address before submitting observations. Email addresses are not publicly displayed.

7.3 Data Retention

User observations are retained indefinitely unless removed for policy violations or at user request (subject to verification of account ownership).

7.4 Google reCAPTCHA

flyPIREP uses Google reCAPTCHA to protect against automated abuse, spam submissions, and bot-generated accounts. reCAPTCHA is active on the account registration form and the review submission flow.

What reCAPTCHA collects:

• Hardware and software information (device type, browser, installed plugins)
• Mouse movements, keystrokes, and interaction timing patterns
• IP address and network characteristics
• Cookies and usage data from Google services if you are signed in to a Google account

This data is transmitted to and processed by Google LLC under Google's Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. flyPIREP does not control Google's data practices. By using this site, you consent to Google's processing of data for reCAPTCHA verification purposes.

7.5 Cookies and Tracking

flyPIREP uses session cookies required for authentication and site functionality. We do not use advertising trackers or sell user data to third parties. Third-party services embedded on this site (including Google reCAPTCHA) may set their own cookies subject to their respective privacy policies.

7.6 User Account Data

When you create an account, we collect your email address, first name, last name, and any optional verification information (FAA certificate numbers for DPE and CFI verification). This information is used solely to operate the platform and is never sold or shared with third parties for marketing purposes.

8. Legal and Enforcement

8.1 Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the United States and the State of California, without regard to conflict of law principles.

8.2 Dispute Resolution

Disputes shall be resolved through binding arbitration in accordance with the American Arbitration Association's rules, except for claims seeking equitable relief.

8.3 Account Termination

We reserve the right to terminate accounts for violations of these Terms, including but not limited to:

• Submitting false or misleading information
• Repeated policy violations
• Harassment or abusive behavior
• Attempts to manipulate weighting or gaming the system

8.4 DMCA and Copyright

Users retain copyright in their submissions but grant flyPIREP a perpetual, irrevocable license to display and distribute content on the platform.

9. Data Scraping and Automated Access

9.1 Prohibition on Scraping

You may not use automated means (including bots, scrapers, crawlers, or data mining tools) to access, monitor, or copy any content from flyPIREP without our express written permission. This includes but is not limited to:

• Extracting examiner profiles, reviews, ratings, or user-generated content
• Systematic downloading or archiving of site content
• Using scraped data to create derivative databases or competing services
• Republishing our content on third-party sites without attribution and permission

9.2 API Access

Our API endpoints provide public access to basic examiner information (name, location, designations, aircraft types). Detailed data such as ratings and reviews require authentication. Rate limit violations or abuse will result in IP blocking and potential legal action.

9.3 DMCA Compliance

User-generated content on flyPIREP is protected by copyright. We will respond to valid DMCA takedown notices for unauthorized republication of our content. To report copyright infringement, contact us at [email protected].

9.4 Enforcement

Violations of this anti-scraping policy may result in:

• Immediate IP address blocking
• Account termination
• Legal action under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA)
• Claims for damages under applicable copyright and contract law

10. Contact and Reporting

For questions, concerns, or to report policy violations:

Email: [email protected]

Response Time: Within 5 business days

Terms of Service & Site Policy