Cfi Renewal

[STLCFII]

Hey all,

I'm coming up on my 2 yr CFI mark and am looking into ways to renew my certificate. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to go about this the best way? I was thinking of doing the online ASF AOPA CFI Renewal, any oppinons on that? Any info would be appreciated. One place I can't seem to find online is that American Flyers place. I remember seeing that you pay once and get the renewals for life or something. Any info on them?

Thanks,
Brian

 

[ERfly]

I used the Gleim course and was very impressed with it. Very simple. Not too expensive. I'd go with them.

 

[KeroseneSnorter]

My wife did the online renewal, she liked it Ok but it would have driven me crazy. Have to spend a set amount of time reading each section, and you can't just leave the puter on you do have to enter keystrokes to keep it active. It was something like 3 hours to read 10 minutes worth of information.

I prefer to do the weekend class. I used aviation seminars last time. Pretty good, good information, Sat and Sun, take the written and your done. I think it was $190 if I remember correctly. But you get all the coffee that you can pour down your neck!!! Free coffee ain't bad (Man you know you have been a pilot too long when you get amped about free coffee!)

 

[avbug]

Forget American Flyers. Beyond pitiful. And they haven't improved it any, either. I just read a review in the Aviation International news, in which the editor took the American Flyers FIRC online. He said that despite having paid once and being able to use it for life, he'll pay the hundred fifty to Jeppesen next time, because the AF course is so bad.

Having used it once, I fully concur. I spoke directly with the gentleman in charge, who told me if I wanted the course any better, then I should change it myself. I agreed to do so, and never heard from him again. That was a few years ago, and obviously they're not interested in improvement, because it's still just as lousy.

 

[ERfly]

My wife did the online renewal, she liked it Ok but it would have driven me crazy. Have to spend a set amount of time reading each section, and you can't just leave the puter on you do have to enter keystrokes to keep it active. It was something like 3 hours to read 10 minutes worth of information.

This was the nice thing about Gleim. There is no set time limit. When you're done reading, you take the test. Very simple.

 

[KeroseneSnorter]

how much did Gleim charge?

It sounds like Gleim is much better than the crowd she used last time.

 

[TZRav8r]

I recently completed the AOPA/Jepp renewal and was not entirerly impressed. The lessons were a little long and not exactly overflowing with info. It was fast and cheap and I got the ticket renewed so thats good. I had a couple buddys use Gleim and were very pleased. Oh yea, that crap they're advertising about still being able to continue flight instructing even after you've sent in your old ticket, I'm not buying that one at all! Don't the regs still state "...on your person or readily accessible in the aircaft?" Maybe I'm reading it wrong. It was about 3 months from the time I mailed in my old ticket until my temp finally showed up! If I recall correctly they charge $119.

 

[Northern Lights]

Gleim is $99.95 and is 16 lessons. I've done it twice, and a friend of mine did it in two nights. For an extra $25 they will process your new certificate and send you a temp without having to deal with the FAA. I have always chosen to save the $25 and go to the FSDO.

 

[FADECtoBLACK]

I have to second (or third?) the Gleim course. I just took it in February and felt it was straight-forward, simple to use, and I learned a few things.

I know there is some 16 hour requirement for these renewals, but I didn't notice any method with which they could check that. After the introductory true/false quiz, you download the outline that covers all the material for that module. After reading the outline for more than 20 minutes or so, you would automatically be logged out of the course and have to log back in to take the final quiz.

I did the Automatic Certificate Renewal thing for the additional $25 where they collect your paperwork and certificate and send you a temporary certificate with Dr. G's signature on it (maybe it'll be worth some money someday). The afidavit you print out along with a copy of your certificate serves as your temporary certificate until the FAA temporary from Gleim comes in the mail (which took about a week).

 

[starvingcfi]

i really liked american flyers. $125 once to renew for life. it was kind of a joke. makes for a cheap and easy renewal if that's what you're going for.

 

[midlifeflyer]

I have to second (or third?) the Gleim course.

Fourth.

Another thing I really liked about the Gleim is that the materials were up to typical Gleim standards - simple and to the point. And, since they are in pdf format, you can save them for later reference .

 

[BWatz]

I renewed my CFI certificate based on activity. (80%pass rate)
My trip to the FSDO was not fun. The guy did not know you could renew your certificate that way. I had to show him in the regs, then he had to ask his buddy. Scary. Don't you think?

 

[mizzouguy]

I have to take a checkride with the FSDO twice a year anyway so thats how I renew, but I do have to take some sort of CFI refresher course every year for 141. Usually I go to a weekend deal, which is ok except it is mostly non active flight instructors who don't bother keeping up with things. I did the American Flyers thing last year which was not very good. I plan to go to a weekend deal this year.

 

[hydroflyer]

I prefer to do the weekend class. I used aviation seminars last time. Pretty good, good information, Sat and Sun, take the written and your done. I think it was $190 if I remember correctly. But you get all the coffee that you can pour down your neck!!! Free coffee ain't bad (Man you know you have been a pilot too long when you get amped about free coffee!)

Has anyone else done the Aviation Seminars renewal? I just got a card in the mail for one and was thinking about taking it. I thought I might be able to commit better to a 2-day course rather than online. For some reason I have this picture in my head of a bunch of 70 year old flight instructors sitting around still trying to figure out Class B from TCA at one of these clinics. Please tell me it is better than that.

 

[KeroseneSnorter]

Oh yea much better, The last one I did had a bunch of furloughed 30 somthing's all trying to figure out how to run an E6b again!!! Plus your token 70 year old retired guy.


I guess it depends on the class. Had a retired fire bomber pilot teaching us last time through. Pretty good, with good stories and some (Shock!!) new videos that I hadn't seen. Then of course was the standard FAA vids that you see every year in recurrent.

I guess it depends on on the person, get out and meet some folks or hibernate on the computer. Its required training, so it is what it is. I have no complaints with the class. And I only like sitting in front of the computer when I don't have to!! It's a whole mental thing.




Hey buddy, pass the coffee would ya?




By the way, the avatar....dude that thing is freaking me out!!!!! It's like looking in the mirror!!!!!!

 

[hydroflyer]

Unfortunately I'm as great with a computer as some of these other guys. The original was animated with blinking eyes, but I couldn't figure out how to make that work.

 

[English]

I just did the Gleim today...took about three hours. I recommend it. I was able to save all the pdf lessons for later review. It's a good way to go if you are a good self-study.

 

[bobbysamd]

I'm coming up on my 2 yr CFI mark and am looking into ways to renew my certificate. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to go about this the best way?

Why don't you just haul your student records, with your 80% pass rate, hopefully, and completed 8710 to FSDO? All it will cost is your time.

Just stay away from the MCO FSDO.

 

[Tooslow]

Gleim!

 

[flyboy]

I can't remember what records you need to renew based on performance. One instructor here told me all he did was right down each student that had taken checkrides, the date they took them, and the first time result and that was sufficient. Any other insights?