Best CFI program

[moabmic]

Old question but does anyone have any reccomendations or opinions as to who has the best cfi programs? I'm looking at ALL-ATPS or Shebles at the moment. ALL-ATPS is $4995 for CFI, CFII, and MEI plus $900 for the three checkrides. Shebles is $6995 for all three and checkrides are included. What do you all think?

 

[pudnocker]

American Flyers

They can do their 30 day CFI/CFII course with no checkride! They can administer the CFIA Initial and CFII ride in-house as a proficiency review. I think it is something like $5495, supposed to take the edge off of those initial busts.

 

[flyboy]

Definitely American Flyers. So far the best training I've recieved. I even had Pudnocker as my primary instructor there. It's a very good opportunity to teach while you learn. Also, there are many locations with equal quality so you can chose what best fits you.

 

[guitarflyer]

Actually, Am Flyers' ad in Aug '02 AOPA mag says $2495 for their 30 day CFI Academy. included 10 hours in the "Gutless" (172RG). Does not include MEI, though.

It's a decent program. I did it in Florida a few years ago and liked the group setting. We all studied together and collaborated on lesson plans.

ALL-ATPS is a great school as well. I did my ME with them (also a few years ago) and the instructor was excellent.

I'm not sure what the deal is with ATP, but don't forget to include in your costs food & housing if you have to go out of town.

Good luck...

 

[bahjaus]

I would go to All ATPs, just for the opportunity to apply to be a CFI with them, that way you'll build a lot more multi time than other schools.

PS: I remember your posts on the MAPD yahoo board. Did you finish the program? Would you mind sharing your experience with us?
Did you get a class date with Mesa?
Good luck!

 

[moabmic]

MAPD was awesome! The pace program was everything it was advertised to be. I finished slightly behind schedule which was more me not rushing since interviews were far away more than anything. Interviews were on July 24 which I had to postpone since my wife was giving birth to our first baby. I will go to the next interview which should be in the next few months. All Mesa furloughees have been recalled and there are about 70 or so people ahead of me that have sucessfully interviewed but not started ground school. Maybe by december... I have always wanted to get my instructor ratings and figured now is a good time since it will help me keep current until I interview and such...

 

[bobbysamd]

Sheble's for CFI

I went there for my ATP thirteen years ago. In on Sunday afternoon, out by Monday noon. I am sure their CFI program is similar, but my question to you is that what you really want?

You may get your certificates, all right, but how much will you learn about teaching? Seeing that you finished MAPD, maybe that's not a major priority, but something worth considering.

Maybe there's someone at Four Corners who could work with you on your CFI.

Congratulations on finishing MAPD, by the way. Good luck with your interview.

 

[172driver]

Comair has a great CFI program but it's not cheap. Which are you looking for?

There are 23 ground briefs to be given which will give you about 50-60 hrs of teaching experience. To prepare the briefs will take five times that. So, that's 300 hrs of study and teaching time. The briefs are presented to either your CFI or any other CFI that you sign up with. This is the type of effort that should be put forth for any CFI initial rating but usually isn't if you look at the pass rate nationwide. I would put a 200 hr Comair CFI applicant up against any applicant nationwide as far as knowledge goes.

You also get the chance to tutor private-comm. multi students as often as you wish but at least once a week.

For all this hard work you are rewarded with an in-house checkride which may or may not be easier than riding with the FSDO... but at least you're not riding with the FSDO.

The program costs around $7000 but will prepare you to be a CFI. So, again, are you looking for cheap or quality. As with most things, you get what you pay for. If you have exceptional study habits and a partner to practice teaching with, maybe the structure isn't necessary, in which case any program will be fine.

 

[Pilotadjuster]

Another perspective

Depends on what you want out of your CFI. Yes, you can go to AM Flyers, et al and get your CFI, II and MEI pretty quick, but then what do you do?

Before starting the investment in time and $, I would find out where exactly you can actually work and get some kind of comittment as to whether they will refer students to you. A lot of schools dont want to touch you unless you trained with them or have a lot of dual given (learning from experience at the moment...). Look at how many instructors they have when you get these "committments" as well; if they have a few full-timers and a dozen part-timers, ask yourself how much they are all working and talk to the part-timers to see if anyone actually gets students.

Sorry to rant, but I'm workin on 6 months with no students and not a single referral. marketing ideas outside of passing out a few dozen business cards would be greatly appreciated as well...