CFI Renewal

[AlabamaMan!!]

Anyone know of the best way to go without spending too much time or money? American Flyers has a $125 lifetime renewal, but I hear it is a 30 hour course online. I wouldnt mind doing it, but thats a lot of time and I feel like I'm giving money to the NY Yankees of aviation or similiar.

Any suggestions? Due at the end of the year.

 

[mar]

Two thumbs up for Jeppesen

For the last four years (two renewals) I've been using Jeppesen online.

There are cheaper programs out there but I've been really satisfied with Jeppesen. The program is only 16 hours long, the graphics are pretty good and the pages load pretty quickly.

I might even go so far as to say I learn a thing or two.

 

[StrykerFL]

I did mine through Gleim 18 months ago and it took around 8 hours to go through all of the modules. It was really easy and relatively pain free.

 

[LittleDeuce]

Every 2 years since 1978, I fill out an 8710 and give it to my current POI and get it for free.

 

[MrScary]

Renewed mine recently through http://www.aviationseminars.com/
Did the live seminar. Was relatively painless. Even ran into a few people I knew.

 

[User546]

Every 2 years since 1978, I fill out an 8710 and give it to my current POI and get it for free.

Is that just a "favor" type deal, or can anyone of us fill out an 8710 an hand it to an examiner? How's that covered by the regs?

 

[BeeFCaKe]

I do american flyers. This is my second renewal, so it actually is free. I don't think its 30 hours, probably more like 16. No matter what you need to meet the minumum time of instruction as required by the feds.
The American Flyers course is pretty dry, a lot of reading and a few videos. All tests are multiple choice. Unless you are a complete idiot, you should have no problem passing.

-CaKe

 

[asolo]

Is that just a "favor" type deal, or can anyone of us fill out an 8710 an hand it to an examiner? How's that covered by the regs?

I do know that if you are a current 135 instructor, you can do this and renew your CFI w/o a course.

 

[scarface]

FAR 61.197 tells you how to get your certficate renewed by presenting records of your instructional activity in the past 24 calendar months to an authorized FAA Flight Standards Inspector. No charge involved.

 

[kaj837]

I did American Flyers earlier this year and found it to be pretty painless, and informative, especially since I am retired and do not instruct on a regular basis anymore. You do have to stay online for the required hours, which I believe is 16 or so. That is the only way they can verify the time required by the FAA. I looked at Gleim and did not like the layout. Just my opinion though.

 

[na265]

Did Gleim this time. Last time it was American Flyers. I perferred Gliem. It only took about 10 hrs to get it done.

 

[coolyokeluke]

Renewed mine recently through http://www.aviationseminars.com/
Did the live seminar. Was relatively painless. Even ran into a few people I knew.

I did it this way too, and I'll do it through aviation seminars again. I met a lot of really interesting men (there were no women in the 40+ individuals there) with backgrounds ranging from young CFI's, AK bush pilots, senior citizens who teach a few students for fun at the local FBO, guys who are so not -current that they don't understand class B,C,D, E airspace, retired military, and airline. A good opportunity to tell hangar stories, learn a little, even network.

 

[Purpledog]

American Flyer's lifetime renewal is the way to go. Price is right.

 

[Chronic Jetlag]

If you fly as a captain for a 135 or 121 carrier you can just fill out an 8710 and give it to your POI or an FAA inspector at FSDO...free of charge.

 

[Spaceball1]

With american flyers, the computer has to be logged on for the 30 hrs. You don't have to actually be sitting in front of it. And as stated above, "the price is right".

 

[LittleDeuce]

If you fly as a captain for a 135 or 121 carrier you can just fill out an 8710 and give it to your POI or an FAA inspector at FSDO...free of charge.

That's exactly correct. Also, if you are a Check Airman at your airline, it's a no brainer.

If you are an active CFI and have any kind of relationship with the FAA FSDO it can be done very easy.

I would never suggest that one of these courses are not valuable, just not really necessary.

 

[casper1nine]

i just did the jeppesen course. took all of four hours. good links and materials included too... i guess i should go back and look at them.
-casper

 

[av8er23]

I did Jepp last year but think I am going to try american flyers next year.

 

[Lead Sled]

With American Flyers, the computer has to be logged on for the 30 hrs. You don't have to actually be sitting in front of it. And as stated above, "the price is right".

I'm an American Flyers user as guy (next spring will be my 3rd or 4th renewal with them so my original $100 expenditure was paid off a long time ago. Yeah, it's dry and yeah, you have to "run out the clock" but the price is definitely right. Besides, you guys are going to spend that amount of time in front of the monitor anyway. You just have to have the American Flyer's window minimized.

'Sled

 

[av8er23]

so you can simply minimize the window while you are browsing the net?