CFI REnew.

[Scube3]

Right now, I am not working as a flight instructor, but my license expires at the end of the month.

Which would be the fastest way to renew my license? I saw at a magazine about a computer program that you can buy at American flyers. Have anybody bought a similar program on the internet?


Thanks for your info.

Scube.

 

[RUhiring?]

Every two years I attend an AOPA Air Safety Course for renewing my CFI certificate. Two days, 8 hours a day, in and out painlessly. You might have to travel since they don't come to every city every month.

 

[avbug]

American fliers is the cheapest...I mean that in terms of price and quality. Their program is absolute garbage, but it will meet the requirements, and it has lifetime renewal.

Stupid me let it expire...again. Reinstatement!

 

[cjh]

American Flyers is definitely poor quality. Be aware too, that there is a minimum amount of time you MUST spend in each section before you can take that section's test, and lest you think "no problem" I'll just minimize the screen and do something else" the clock stops running when there's no activity! So, at a minimum you must flip back and forth through the "pages". I guarantee you each hour you spend on it will seem like three. I have a lifetime renewal but don't plan on using it again.

 

[midlifeflyer]

Gleim has a decent one. The information is in pdf so that you can keep it and it's typical Gleim quality.

Also, once you take the pre-test for each section, the amount of time you spend reviewing the materials before you take the final test is entirely up to you.

 

[RedheadCFI]

Hey,..

Why not just take a ride with a local examiner? I work for a 141 university and we get to do our re-instatements for free. Free airplane and examiner. The ride is always rather easy. Most examiners doing re-instatements don't make it a life-altering experience. As far as the American Flyers thing goes I heard it was like getting teeth pulled. I never minded flying with examiners, I always seemed to learn something. Have confidence in yourself I am sure that if a green cfi can get through the checkride you can too with the experience you already have.
Just remember worse comes to worse the examiner cannot TAKE your ratings, just deny you the signoff for the re-instatment.
Good Luck
-Nick

 

[LittleDeuce]

CFI

If you know a Fed, just go into a FSDO , fill out the 8710, and get it for free in 10 minutes?

 

[midlifeflyer]

Re: CFI

If you know a Fed, just go into a FSDO , fill out the 8710, and get it for free in 10 minutes?

If you've made the "numbers" for certificate applications and passes, sure. If not, you'd have to know that Fed pretty well to get a checkride done in 10 minutes!

 

[A Squared]

Just remember worse comes to worse the examiner cannot TAKE your ratings, just deny you the signoff for the re-instatment.
Good Luck
-Nick

First, bear in mind, that it *is* a checkride, yeah he can "deny you the signoff", but it is a checkride failure, and it does go on your record.

Second, I'm not sure that it's accurate that you cannot lose your ratings. I pretty sure that if you performed badly enough on a checkride, a fed could require you to take a 709 ride, which means that the continued use of your certificates is subject to a sucessful passing of a checkride for those certificates.

regards

 

[avbug]

That is 100% correct, and it applies to every checkride and practical test you take. Technically, your certification and privileges may be reduced or revoked every time, based on the outcome of the ride. This certainly isn't the norm, but it can happen.

 

[Timebuilder]

The American Flyers online renewal was cheap, fast, effective, and lasts a lifetime.

I had no problem minimizing and doing other things, and the tests were easy. Far more material was presented than I thought was actually required.

Quick and painless.

 

[RedheadCFI]

Well, you are correct the examiner could write the FAA and request a 709 audit. However, anyone can write a 709 at anytime and request an audit. Meaning if I fly with some schmuck and I think he is a danger to aviation then I can write the local fsdo informing them. The only person that can revoke ratings after a checkride is a FSDO examiner. In that regard a designated examiner really pulls no more weight in text than any cfi, but thats not saying they aren't going to take his recommendation for a 709 before a regular instructor. Regardless, if you are really that scared of taking a cfi ride then you probably shouldn't hold a cfi ticket and definately should not be exercising the priveleges of it.
-Nick

 

[A Squared]

The only person that can revoke ratings after a checkride is a FSDO examiner.

agreed, I was speaking of an FAA inspector, I see that you were talking about a DPE

Regardless, if you are really that scared of taking a cfi ride then you probably shouldn't hold a cfi ticket and definately should not be exercising the priveleges of it.
-Nick

well, not necessarily true. I haven't done a Chandelle or a Lazy 8 in years. I doubt I could walk out to an airplane and perform one to commercial standards today. I don't get much opportunity to practice then at work. I'd be happy to go for a multi-engine instrument checkride right now, in the airplane I fly, failed engines, emergencies, the whole works.... But do chandelles in a small airplane? I'd want some practice. If I were to take a CFI checkride this afternoon with an inspector from the FSDO, I doubt that my chandelles would be meet the PTS, and theoretically, my pilot priveliges could be suspended based on my sub-par chandelles. Does that make me unfit to hold an instructor's certificate? or a pilot's certificate even? I doubt it. How many others on this board who no longer instruct full time could hop in a 172 today and do a chandelle to PTS standards?

 

[RedheadCFI]

A Squared,

How right you are that after being in the airlines for a long time it would be hard to go right into a checkride in a 172. However, I think in your situation you could very easily take a 172 out and get up to speed in a few hours. Also, if you look at the number of failures in CFI rides most of the failures never make it to the flight. I'm sure with your experience you could make through the oral no problem. Let me clear up what I was saying earlier, I believe if you are a CFI and you're doing everything possible to avoid a ride, (ie: online courses, aopa safety seminars, etc) that maybe you shouldn't hold that cert. If the FAA wasn't worried about proficiency of instructors they wouldn't put an expiration date on it as they don't on a commercial ticket.

 

[A Squared]

Readheadcfi,
I'm not saying your point of view is invalid, just tossing out a little different perspective to consider.

regards

 

[52vincent]

Gleim has a decent one. The information is in pdf so that you can keep it and it's typical Gleim quality.

I just received a flyer in the mail from Gleim to go through their program for $99.00. I have heard it is a pretty good program. You may want to go online or call them to see if it is a special deal or if that is the normal price.
Hope it helps.

 

[cjh]

The American Flyers online renewal was cheap, fast, effective, and lasts a lifetime.

I had no problem minimizing and doing other things, and the tests were easy. Far more material was presented than I thought was actually required.

Quick and painless.

When did you do the renewal? I had a friend tell me he had no problem with minimizing either, but he did his renewal about a year before I did mine. Every time I minimized and left for any period of time, the clock stopped. There were also several section tests with duplicate test questions, and a couple where the "right choice" was inadequate at best. I thought it was a terrible program, very dry, and very little I'd want to use later. I tend to judge aviation documentation by its usefulness as a reference tool later. I'd score this a 2, with 10 being the highest. Even though it's a lifetime renewal I'd have to be up against the deadline wall to use it again.

 

[Timebuilder]

I did mine about three weeks ago.

While far from perfect, I had no problems.

I may offer them a professional proofread and minor re-write, though.

 

[Lindy]

Gleim

I looked at both the Gleim and the American Flyers program. Even though Flyers was less expensive, I went with the Gleim because of the following:

1. PDF Files
2. Are NOT required to stay logged into the computer for any specific duration.
3. Easy to follow


Gleim lets you download one "Chapter" of the renewal for free to try. I was sold.

Good Luck


P.S. I was in a similar situation -- renewal due at the end of the month and had two weekends to complete it.......

 

[cjh]

I may offer them a professional proofread and minor re-write, though.

Yeah, I was soooo looking forward to the comment section at the end, but of course there wasn't one!

I did mine a year ago, btw.