Getting a Commercial for insurance purposes

[max1201]

Getting a Commercial for insurance purposes

Evening all,

I need to get my Commercial for insurance purposes and the question I would like to pose to all, is just what school(s) in and around the SE USA would be able to accommodate me, for the most complete yet quickest route to a Commercial M/E and S/E IR license?

I known that Flight Safety in Lakeland FL will customize a syllabus (more or less) for you, but I’m wondering if so just how much more towards the total cost.

Any recommendations would be most welcomed.

 

[groundpointsix]

Assuming your profile is accurate, you meet all the requirements for the commercial. Save yourself the money, just go to the local FBO/flight school/flying club etc and find a CFI who can teach you the commercial manuevers (there's only 3 of them) and give you some ground school refresher on the airplane, regs, aerodynamics etc. No sense in spending however many thousands FSI or one of the other big schools is going to gouge you for, especially if you own your own airplane (I'm assuming that's why you say you need it for insurance purposes.) A good (or even an average) CFI should be able to create a syllabus to fit your needs.

 

[mayday1]

your profile indicates that you have an IR, but your question includes the need to get a S/E IR.. If you're just needing the commercial license for SE & ME, follow groundpointsix's advice and do this at the local FBO -- it should be relatively quick, painless and much less expensive than going to large academy (especially if you even own your own plane).

if you need your instrument rating as well, you might consider one of the larger flight schools... not necessarily for $$ or quality, but more in the interest of time. They can design a program for you that would get you your IR, and commercial licenses, most likely quicker than your local FBO.

 

[Lead Sled]

Assuming your profile is accurate, you meet all the requirements for the commercial. Save yourself the money, just go to the local FBO/flight school/flying club etc and find a CFI who can teach you the commercial manuevers (there's only 3 of them) and give you some ground school refresher on the airplane, regs, aerodynamics etc. No sense in spending however many thousands FSI or one of the other big schools is going to gouge you for, especially if you own your own airplane (I'm assuming that's why you say you need it for insurance purposes.) A good (or even an average) CFI should be able to create a syllabus to fit your needs.

Max1201...
If you spend any time at all on this forum you'll get the idea that the only good instructors out there are in the major flight schools. That's definately not the case. Groundpointsix hit it square on.

Get yourself some books and review for the test and go for it. The commercial written isn't a big deal; in fact, most guys who score 85%+ on thier private written are capable of taking and passing their commercial written with no further study. The medical is no big deal either - for a 3rd class you have to be warm, for a second class you have to be able to fog a mirror. Forget that, you don't even have to hold a 2nd class medical to take the checkride.

Go for it.

'Sled

 

[wakeboard]

Max,

Here is what I did to get my Commercial/Multi. My dad taught me the commercial manuevers and I took my commercial written at the local FBO. As soon as my maneuvers were polished up, I went to the ATP location in Jasper, AL (near Birmingham). I did the four day multi course, but in addition I took my commercial checkride there. Doing the multi showed complexity for the commerical. I took my Multi/Com and orals all in one day but it was worth it and worked out perfect for me.

 

[joeg252]

Check out Sunstate Aviation at KISM. They have a great accelerated commercial program at a fair price. Website is sunstateaviation.com.

 

[minitour]

I'm gonna go with groudpointsix on this one...

If you've got the mins for Pt61 met, just go up with a CFI and learn the maneuvers, take the written, and take the checkride.

The written (as was said) was the easiest written I've taken to date (PPL, IR, COM, CFII) so you should have no problem. Its mostly performance charts with a few questions thrown in about carrying passengers. Certainly nothing that a week of 1 hour a day studying won't have you ready for (IMO).

From what I understand the checkride is pretty tight, but if you've got almost 1,000 hours (unless you've been REALLY lucky), you shouldn't have a problem.

Some landings and takeoffs, some maneuvers, some hood, if you're doing a CMEL I think you've got to do a SE approach and landing. I've been told that doing the SE first (in something complex) makes the ME ride easier.

Again, I don't really know because I haven't looked at a PTS or anything, but I guess my ME ride is supposed to consist of a Vmc demo, SE approach and landing, and a ME landing. Maybe some steep turns and a chandele. No biggie.

Should be able to get it done pretty quick...

Good luck with it!

-mini

PS
If anyone has any input on the SE v ME ride (as far as which one first) let me know.

I always thought (pt 61) if you did the CMEL first you could do the SE in a simple single (152) since you already demonstrated complex in the ME. Any truth to that? Or even a place in the regs where I could look and find it myself? Thanks

 

[mayday1]

I'm working on my CMEL first, then will do the single add-on. The multi time counts as your complex, as well as all the other commercial requirements (night, long xcountries, etc.) and you can do the checkride in a c172. I'm doing the multi first (it is a bit more costly), but I need the dual multi time anyway, and after my checkride I will meet the minimums at my flight club to rent the twin. Either approach is appropriate.. just depends on what you're looking to do..