"Mark Hansen" wrote in message
...
As I understand it the DE on the checkride is the students first
passanger
evaluating the student.

I don't think that's true. According to the FARs, you cannot carry
passengers until you have the certificate. Therefore, the examiner
is still the instructor and the student is still logging dual
instruction time.

According to the FAA, the examiner is not a "passenger". Nor is he an
instructor. The pilot being examined logs PIC as if he were the only person
in the airplane.

Strange, but true.

Pete