CFI renewal online, which one???

[saabtrash]

I'm going to have to renew my CFI again in February, two years ago I did it with gleim, it worked fine. I noticed for the same price though, I could do it through American Flyers, and the one time fee is good for life. I was just wondering if anyone has used them and if so, what do you have to say about the quality of it? Is there an actual test at the end, or is it a gradual review like the gleim renewal? Any other companies out there people have used?

Thanks in advance.

 

[ILLINI]

I did the American Flyers online FIRC last November. I got it done in about a day and a half. The quality at that time was about average... nothing special, but I think they may have improved it a little since then. They don't have a final test at the end, but rather several short quizzes throughout the process. In order to comply with the required 16 hours, you have to spend "X" amount of time on each chapter which can be a little bit of a pain if you already know the subject matter pretty good. I would have rather gone to one of those weekend classes where you can meet different people and hear some great stories, but for some people that really isn't an option because of time constraints. The online thing worked great for me, and you really can't beat the lifetime renewal deal from Flyers. I'd have to say it's the best bargain out there, and really don't have a problem recommending it as an alternative to actually going to one of those seminars.

 

[avbug]

If money is the only issue, then the american flyers course is better than nothing, and probably the cheapest. Otherwise, it's an fine example of a piss-poor product.

I'd recommend anything, but.

Personally, if you have the time available, go for a sit-in refresher course. The truth is that we all need recurrent training, weather it's in a sim, or in a classroom. We do proceedures on a reguar basis, systems on a regular basis...studying the nuances of instructing and issues relevant to instructing should be reviewed from a quality source on a regular basis.

The american flyers program doesn't give that to you. It has the appearance of being something a drunken schoolkid threw together. The material is old, outdated, and much of it non-relevant. Even for an initial CFI applicant. Certainly for someone who has any teaching experience. Poor graphics, poor organization; I'd be deeply ashamed to have created such a program.

However, it's cheap.

 

[1800 RVR]

My two bits...

I personally would recommend Jeppesen's Online renewal. It's not as cheap as the others, but I thought the content was current, good presentation, and good support. Flying 121, I don't use my CFI anymore, so I really don't bother with the weekend courses, however, this is a cheap way to stay "current" and not have to do a checkride all over again.


www.cfirenewalonline.com

 

[USC***]

I did the American Flyers renewal this past September and if money is you main concern, this is the best bargain. You can't beat $100 for a lifetime.

There was nothing new on it. Most of the stuff came straight out of some the books I read while doing my initial CFI. Don't expect anything more than review out of it. It was good for me because I could spend an hour a day on it during one of my layovers and do it when I had time at home. The tests weren't difficult and if there was a question I didn't know I could look it up.

Once you finished reading a section you still had to burn off the required time which was sort of a pain.

I got what I wanted out of it though so I'm definately not complaining. As for learning more and recurrent training as some other posters noted, the FAA puts on free clinics you can always go to at many local airports on different subjects. Many commericial pilots also have to go through recurrent training in the way of a (135 or 121 PIC checkride) every 6 months. So I feel I get my share of recurrent training.

 

[E120ASA]

Hey if you are 121 and a capt. with a airline (ATP) the FAA will renew your CFII for free.. Best way to go. Ask your POI.