American Flyers CFI Academy

[UndauntedFlyer]

Really the most important thing is the school's relationship with the FAA. If they use the same DESIGNATED EXAMINER most all the time then that is the school to use without doubt. If they use only the FSDO then it is a gamble as to which inspector you'll get. The examiners maintain a closer communication relationship with the schools so they are your best best.

 

[Alamanach]

Really the most important thing is the school's relationship with the FAA. If they use the same DESIGNATED EXAMINER most all the time then that is the school to use without doubt. If they use only the FSDO then it is a gamble as to which inspector you'll get. The examiners maintain a closer communication relationship with the schools so they are your best best.

I don't suppose you could tell me whether the PWK location has such a relationship with an examiner?

 

[xshuttlefa]

Just got through with the CFI Academy at Morristown. I feel it was well worth the time and money I spent. Some examples:

1.) Derry Galbreath is such a calm and cool individual and I learned more from him in a month then from all my previous instructors. This is not a dig at my previous instructors, you can only do so much with a 2 hour (or less) block of time). It really does prove that to really learn something, you should learn how to teach it.

2.)The director at Morristown, Lucas, is very sharp, knows his stuff and talks a mile a minute. Quite a character and a fine instructor. The assistant chief, Rob, is excellent too.

3.) The instructors I had while I was there covered a wide range, from a 20 year old guy in college to a retired state trooper. They had all been through American Flyers CFI course, so the instruction was mostly the same. It is a bit odd to be "passed around like a sorority girl" as one poster here put it, but since I rarely had a schedule block of less then 4 hours, giving plenty of time to "read" that instructor. It also teaches you how it is to fly with different people.

Sometimes, you would ride along in observation, land somewhere, and then you would fly. To those who did ERAU or another "academy" school, that's nothing new. But it really makes a difference to someone coming from an FBO-type environment.

In general:

1) If you do go for the CFI academy, be sure your instrument skills are sharp and that you fly from the right seat once or twice prior. My first day was 3.2 hours Hobbs, first time right seat, and was in actual IFR, something I hadn't done in a long time. Overwhelmed is an understatement But using the sim at American Flyers ( for "free", since it's included in the CFI course) really helped me get back on track.

2.) The reason for #1 is money. The only downside is that AF is expensive if you go "over" on the included time, compared to the prices I am used to anyway. All told, I spent about $5500 for the CFI course, for a total of 23 hours of flight time, slightly more then the 19 or so in the course price. With food and lodging for a month, a little more then $7000. In my previous post, I figured it was nearly even between staying home or going to AF. And it only took 30 days, not months it possibly would have taken me at my local school.

3.) Go to the AF locations with a CFI Academy, don't do "one on one" if you can avoid it. AF is very expensive in that regard, almost $200/hr for plane and instructor.

4.) If you go to any location in a major metro area, make sure your ATC skills are sharp. Trying to learn proper ATC and how to teach in a totally unfamiliar area was very daunting for one guy in my class.



American Flyers might not be for everyone and every location is different. But personally, it worked out well for me. Any questions, either post here or PM me.

PS. AF does not rent airplanes, they only use them for instruction. The R models are in good shape and I was never stuck on the ground by a maintenence problem. The 172 RG they use for the commercial, well, that's different. Safe, yes. Old and tired, most definitely. But since it is 20 years old and has been used as a trainer since day one, the old bird still worked well enough. 14,000 hrs. TTAF is a lot of hard landings, especially for an RG.

 

[Mazdarx7]

How was the CFI-A ride? What manuevers did they have you do, etc...

 

[iflyabeech]

I went to the AF in ADS for CFI rating back in 1999. The groundschool was good, The flying was a ripoff and they didn't get checkrides for anyone in our class for aroun d 2 months. . .Long story. . .they ripped us all off! Mike Simmons sure talks a load of crap though!

 

[skycaptain11]

Academy

Hey everyone. I just recently graduated college and I'm looking to start the cfi academy in january in fort lauderdale (PMP). Anyone recently done this at that location? I have open ears and wanna hear the good, the bad, and the ugly. thanks in advace.

 

[iflyabeech]

I went to the AF in ADS for CFI rating back in 1999. The groundschool was good, The flying was a ripoff and they didn't get checkrides for anyone in our class for around 2 months. . .Long story. . .they ripped us all off! Mike Simmons sure talks a load of crap though!

That pretty much sums it up. Find somewhere else to go and don't listen to the line of crap they spew

 

[fussle]

I would say just do it at your local FBO. The oral is 70% of the CFI checkride ride anyways. So that is just going to require you to do a lot of studying on your own. You aren't going to need any new technical knowledge, just how to teach. All you need is a local flight instructor for this. The amount of flying shouldn't take long either since you are just off of the commercial, therefore all of the maneuvers are fresh.

 

[bogey383]

I am a current employee at american flyers. I have been on and off their for a while. The CFI academy is the best bang for your buck, if you don't want the flyers manuals tell them no. Most important is know your stuff before you get their. The academy is set to teach you how to teach, what you already know. Use the free frasca time. At the PMP location there is only 4-5 two year instructors with the least senior being myself (4 years at the company). The rest of the cfi instructors are the chief pilots. Its totally worth the money you spend. If you don't like something speak up, or if you need help just ask. however keep it simple, don't try to overwork yourself. One of the examiners, the FSDO selects for you for the initial, will cover the whole PTS, so be familiar. Hope to see ya around PMP, hope this helps.

 

[Way2Broke]

The only two complaints I had about the program were:

1) The cost of the flying, insane!

2) The inspector I had at the LOV FSDO use to be a American Flyers CP that they FIRED! Good luck passing that ride!