Definition
A section of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR Part 183) that establishes the Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) as a private individual appointed by the FAA Administrator to conduct pilot certification tests on the FAA's behalf, including practical tests for pilot certificates and ratings.
Plain English
This is the federal rule that gives a DPE the legal authority to give checkrides and issue pilot certificates on behalf of the FAA. Without this rule, only FAA inspectors could conduct practical tests.
Context Anchor
Seen when the FAA handbook explains where a designated pilot examiner’s authority comes from.
Derivation
Section comes from a word meaning “to cut.” In a regulation, a section is one numbered piece cut out of a larger set of rules. The number 183.23 points to Part 183, section 23, so it works like an exact legal address for that rule.
Why Pilots Care
Pilots benefit from knowing the limits of an examiner’s authority so they understand what to expect during a practical test.
Analogy
A regulation citation is like a street address. “Section 183.23” tells you exactly where to find the rule inside the larger federal aviation regulations.
Intuition Check
Do not read “section 183.23” as just a section of the handbook. Here it means a specific numbered FAA regulation.
Example Sentence 1
Her checkride was administered by a DPE designated under section 183.23, not by an FAA inspector from the local FSDO.
Example Sentence 2
Applicants can look up section 183.23 to understand what the examiner is permitted to evaluate.