CFI Checkride Notes/Advice

[BoDEAN]

Wondering if anyone has recently taken their initial CFI checkride, and can pass on a debrief, or some tips on a successful/non-stressful outing. It would greatly be appreciated!

Thanks

 

[350DRIVER]

giz-
The best advice I could give is just go into the ride relaxed and at ease- At this point of the ball game their is nothing that should "surprise" you. As long as you are up with all the FAR's, CFI PTS, CFI oral guide, as well as other study material you should do fine. I thought it was a "fun" ride as well as somewhat of a "challenge" if you can even call it that. I enjoyed my CFI ride to the utmost but I have heard a "few" horror stories so guess it all depends on which fsdo you will be doing it at...I would suggest doing a few mock check rides as well as a few mock orals and with that being said then you should be well prepared and be A-OK... I would study as much weather as you can since my Inspector asked quite abit regarding this aspect of aviation as well as many "scenario" type questions-

good luck-
350

 

[bobbysamd]

Be prepared

Study, study, study. Know the material cold. Have your instructor give you a practice oral. Know the FOI cold and be able to speak authoritatively on it. Know your airplane inside and out. If you're just coming off your Commercial-Instrument, a good review should be all you need.

Above all, just answer the question. Don't volunteer information. Come to the point. Don't ramble. Don't be a know-it-all or come across as a know-it-all. Trust me, the examiner knows far more about it than you and there is no way you can snow him/her.

 

[ksu_aviator]

One more thing I would do is mark topics in the books you take with you to your ride. I use those little red, yellow, or blue self adhesive tabs that you can right on, they are perfect for quick referencing.

The reason I say this is because on my first CFI ride, I told the examiner what I knew about a tetrahedran, and was right, but when he asked me to prove it to him. I looked in the index of two books before finding the right one. As I was turning to the right page I was handed a pink slip. I know now that he shouldn't have failed me, but I didn't know better then. Now I would protest it. The point is if I had found it quickly we would have continued on and maybe passed. So mark your reference material well.


Also, take many many books and keep in mind that the FAA isn't too hot on books that aren't written by them. I should say some FSDO's aren't too hot on books not written by them.

 

[Traumahawk]

As you have heard, try to be familiar with looking things up and where to find them.

Don't forget simple stuff. IMSAFE..they'll ask.
Know endorsements cold also. One of the most annoying things to any examiner is having a student show up with incorect/incomplete signoff's, 8710 problems etc...so they definately try and stop it at the source. Know part 61 PVT, IFR and Comm Minimums, and endorsememnts. Especially solo.

One more thing is try and look through the far's and be familiar of where things are. Theres a few no brainers....req'd equipment for day night and ifr 91.205. You can bet the ranch they'll ask for them.
But just know what you'll find in part 61, 91, ntsb 830. Etcc.
We can all go on and on....if theres anything you can take away from this, and you'll swear you won't do it but then you're in the hot seat and you just don't want to admit not knowing, so don't don't don't BS the guy. Huge thing. If you really don't know just tell him. "Hey, if you were a student right now I'd suggest we both look it up" Instructors aren't anywhere near perfect

Good luck!
---T-hawk

 

[snoopy]

I think the key to a good ride is what others have said be confident and relaxed. One more thing I wanted to mention is when your asked to teach, really teach. Demonstrate for the examiner then make him do the task -- just like a real student. In my ride, I was asked to teach the examiner how to get a compass heading when planning a x/c. I showed him how to measure the course with the plotter on the isogonic line, then said OK mr. examiner, your turn on the line you drew. Then we went through the calculations with me doing an example and letting him work on the real x/c problem. I was told that I was one of the very few that actually tried to teach, not just show. Anyway, hope this helps and good luck on the ride!!

--- Snoopy

 

[BoDEAN]

Thank you for the great replies!

 

[cletislj04]

Question??

When you get your CFI ticket should you move somewhere where you can istruct a lot (florida, california, etc.) or stay where you are? If you get your cfi ticket at your college do they usually let you instruct there even after you have graduated? Thanks for your time.

Tyler

 

[BoDEAN]

I will probably stay in Michigan, or move to Florida.
I know at Western Michigan, they will hire you (but right now, they are back logged due to the aviation industry not hiring).

 

[newmei]

If your coming to Florida, I would'nt count on getting a job......Its hard down here these days with a saturated CFI market....Heck I have 1200 TT and I'm gonna have a hard time finding a job....Its tough, but good luck.

 

[flywest]

Just passed my CFI initial on 5/4. If there is one piece of advise that I can pass along, it would be KNOW YOUR FOI's!!! My examiner was placed a HUGE emphasis on this topic (1.5-2 hours). Also, I told him (as a student) that I am not perfect and I will make mistakes, but I will be the first one to admit and point out the problem and what should be done to correct it.

As a side note, my FAA examiner was not there to fail me. He wanted me to get my ticket and was very accomodating with his time (due to mx problems). Go into the ride trying to relax and remember to TEACH him the material.

Good Luck!
FlyWest

 

[BoDEAN]

The best way to study the FOI's is by the Oral exam guide and the Written Questions?

 

[bobbysamd]

FOI

The best way to learn the FOI is to eat, sleep, breathe and practice the FOI. I always thought it was just one of those things you have to struggle through en route to your instructor certificates. Then, I started teaching CFI students and actually took time to read the book. The principles work. The FOI really is a way of life for flight instructors. Learn it, apply it, and you'll be a better flight instructor.

 

[Cardinal]

http://forums.flightinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2181
http://forums.flightinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1380
Two very good (and recent) threads on CFI checkride experiences.

 

[BoDEAN]

Thanks!

By "the booK" are you refering to the Oral Exam Guide?

 

[Cardinal]

I think he meant the "Aviation Instructor's Handbook", H-8083-9.

 

[Timebuilder]

Once you pass this initial, and I'm sure you will, don't shove that FOI material under your bed. My examiner, the same one who praised me on my initial, pinked me for not having reviewed that material when I went to him for the II ride. It was the first time I had heard of an examiner doing that, and I haven't heard of another such event since then.

 

[ShawnC]

Just a question, when an examiner pinks you, do they write in your logbook?

I went though my friends logbook, and for his first private checkride the DE wrote in big black letters "PRIVATE PILOIT UNSATIFACTORY." I was wondering is that normal, I have yet to get picked.

 

[PUflight]

What I did which turned out for the best is too try and get a DOA letter from the FSDO. When they try to schedule the ride with you, come up with an excuse why you can't take it with them, school, work, available only on weekends, etc. Then go and find a DE who can give the rides and I can almost guarantee you that it'll be shorter and easier. Especially if you know the DE My oral lasted about an hour and a half and my flight was a little over an hour. Hope that advice helps.

 

[JediNein]

I've tried to pass on as much as I've learned on my CFI page:

http://pages.prodigy.net/jedinein/cfi.html

and posted some CFI checkride comments at:

http://www.studentpilot.net/cf/msgb...id=0&msgkey=&msgforumid=2&messageid=23846&g=0

Hope these help!

Fly SAFE!
Jedi Nein