online CFI renewal? Jeppensen the best?

[rumpletumbler]

my CFI goes belly up on the 12th. I've read some threads here and it seems that Jeppensen gets the best comments. Just wanted to ask again before I do it. Thanks.

 

[Lead Sled]

I hear Jeppesen is good, but for the past few years I've been using American Flyers. You pay them once and you get lifetime renewals. I'm on my 3rd one with them. It's not fancy, but it works and the price is more than right - I think that I paid them $100 back then, now it's $125 I believe. www.americanflyers.net and follow the prompts.

Lead Sled

 

[FL000]

my CFI goes belly up on the 12th. I've read some threads here and it seems that Jeppensen gets the best comments. Just wanted to ask again before I do it. Thanks.

Wouldn't it go belly-up on the 31st? I've used only the Gleim course and it was great. I think with AF you have to stay logged in to the lesson for an hour, whereas with Gleim, you can blow through at your own pace. However, the lifetime renewal with AF doesn't sound like a bad idea (is that your lifetime, or AF's'?).

 

[rumpletumbler]

Wouldn't it go belly-up on the 31st? I've used only the Gleim course and it was great. I think with AF you have to stay logged in to the lesson for an hour, whereas with Gleim, you can blow through at your own pace. However, the lifetime renewal with AF doesn't sound like a bad idea (is that your lifetime, or AF's'?).

technically yeah...but I don't want to push it that close. I thought about American Flyers going bye bye as well. Why would you have to stay logged in for an hour? That would be a pain. Don't you just answer questions?

 

[350DRIVER]

Jepp is the best by far, not even close. You get what you pay for so spend the extra bucks and you will be pleased with this course, the setup is far from dry material.



good luck,

3 5 0

 

[FL000]

technically yeah...but I don't want to push it that close. I thought about American Flyers going bye bye as well. Why would you have to stay logged in for an hour? That would be a pain. Don't you just answer questions?

I don't know. I think it has something to do with the FAA requirement for approving a renewal course...16 total hours or something. Not sure.

I hope someone will back up my assertion, because I've never taken the AF course. My recollection from 2 years ago was that some had taken AF and said that the one-hour rule applied. They just surfed the web in a different window until the time ran out.

As far as the 31st, that's the way I look at all expirations because I'm a professional procrastinator.

 

[CSY Mon]

I used Gleims twice.

Thought it was okay.

 

[English]

Gleim.

 

[A Squared]

I've never used the American FLyer's program, but I've read many comments from people who have. Some have said that in addition to being required to be logged on for an hour to each "lesson" you hade to be active in that window, ie: clicking, scrolling, doing something more than just surfing in a different window, I've also heard somone else say that no, all he had to do was open the window and leave it alone. Perhaps is depends on which browser you're using. Either way, I don't think I'd like being held to a required time period. I've also heard that the American Flyer's material is extremely poor quality. I've used the Gleims twice and you are allowed to go at your own pace, I was able to go through the Gleims course much faster than 16 hours.

 

[Lead Sled]

Some have said that in addition to being required to be logged on for an hour to each "lesson" you hade to be active in that window, ie: clicking, scrolling, doing something more than just surfing in a different window, I've also heard somone else say that no, all he had to do was open the window and leave it alone.

As far as how long it takes you to go through the material, well that's up to you; however, you do have to be logged on for the prerequisite number of hours. And no, there is nothing to prevent you from brosing in other windows at the same time.

Far and away the best method to renew is if you can just have one of your friendly local feds do it for you. If you're one of us that only occassionally exercises his instructor priviledges then, IMHO, the American Flyers route is the only way to go - even though it might not be the best format out there. So far I've got 3 renewals out of my initial $100 investment, next time I renew I'll be in them $25 a piece. That is something that you seldom see in aviation - a real bargain. Even if they fold up tomorrow, I've still got my money's worth. So what if it's not the best presentation, it works and the price is certainly right.

If your CFI expires at the end of this month you still have time, but you need to get going on it pronto.

Lead Sled

 

[FL000]

Thought I'd repost this from typhoonpilot since it is recent and relevant (posted on http://forums.flightinfo.com/showthread.php?t=34722):

I signed up for the American Flyers course last night ( my time ). When I went to start this morning the website was unavailable. I waited and waited, checking back periodically throughout the day. In the meantime I tried the free first lesson on Gleim's course. It was easy to navigate and interactive enough to not be boring. I scored 100% on the quiz at the end. When AF's website came back on-line I went to their first lesson and after 55 minutes of reading extemely boring material; FARs, Fundamentals of Instruction, etc. I was ready for the quiz, or at least I thought so. I had to wait another 45 minutes until I was allowed to take the quiz and then when I did the quiz didn't correlate well with the written material, nor could you reference it without having to start the quiz all over again each time. I didn't do well on the quiz so now I'm asking AF for my money back and I just purchased the Gleim course.


TP

 

[rumpletumbler]

Yeah...I read that. Doesn't exactly make American Flyers sound appealing or like they will be around a long time.

 

[eddie]

I've used both gleim and AF. Gleim was much easier to work with, I didn't have to stay on line to qualify for the time requirement.

If AF is still in business, I'll use them again though. Next time it will be free!

 

[rumpletumbler]

Well I started the Jeppesen course about four hours ago and with a few breaks and lunch, shower etc. have finished four sections. I thought if I can't fly I might as well enjoy the renewal and that is why I chose this one. Everyone who had tried it seemed to like it. The coolest thing about it so far has been this quote.....

"There I was, fog was so thick I couldn't see the instruments. Only way I knew I was inverted was my flying medals were in my eyes. But I knew I was really in trouble when the tower called me and told me to climb and maintain field elevation." Anon

 

[wil]

Just renewed on American Flyers last week. 2nd time. Boring material but a good review in the 91/61 world that you lose touch with when your flying the line and using Op Specs. Remember the basic equip for VFR flight? Stuff like that. This was my second time renewing and I enjoyed it. Long but I had 3 days off to complete, print the cert and drive to the FSDO 6 miles away and walk out with my CFII temp. I would probably turn my hair gray (or grayer) going up in 152 but I figured I worked too hard to give my CFII up!

Renewing for free is a plus. Will American Flyers be around? I remember looking into flying lessons in 95 and saw there ad. I am sure they will be around for years to come. And, with the second renewel my cost is down to 50 bucks!

Good luck, cheers- Wil

 

[ebaybob]

I used Gleim last month and was VERY pleased. It was straightforward and didn't take 16 hours to complete.

 

[typhoonpilot]

I just finished the Gleim course this morning and put everything in the mail for my renewal. I liked that I could save all the information they presented and can go back to review it at my leisure.

In regards to my other post which was quoted in this thread, I called AF and got a full refund so if you do try them and don't like it they are pretty good about giving you your money back.

TP

 

[rumpletumbler]

I'm done with my Jeppesen online renewal. It took me about 8 hours to complete it. I was not overly bored nor overly impressed. I imagine if Jeppesen is like Vegas compared to the others as reported by some then the others must be somewhat torturous in a visual sense anyhow. I think I was expecting something more but I don't know what. It wasn't disappointing by any means....I think I just thought it would be like getting typed in a Lear 23 with a keg of Jack Daniels and Cuervo in the back and Katie Holmes as my IP. I would do it again but since I thought there was going to be "more" (what again, I'm not sure) I'll probably try someone elses next time around. Thanks for everyones input and assistance....it was appreciated.

Edit: One thing I noticed in a prior post Gleim gives you access after you certificate expires and with Jeppesen my access will be cut off at the end of this month. They must update it frequently though because the section on the GPS was updated after I took the test but before I finished the course. I didn't have to take the new one but will probably go back and look at the new material to see what they added.

 

[cale42]

I had some of these same questions so I called around a couple of companies and asked. American Flyers referred me to AC 61-83E 5e which does clearly say that all FIRC courses must provide 16 hours of training to the applicant for renewal. Thus the timing method used on their course to ensure that the material is active for at least 16 hours. I have heard from other ppl that the FAA is considering making Jepp and Gleim redo their programs to enforce this rule. I think I remember from checking them out that Amercan Flyers has been around like 70 years so I don't think their is a huge danger in them going away. Just my thoughts... I found it interesting that there was actually a reason for the timer.

cale

 

[rumpletumbler]

When you begin the Jeppesen course it says that it takes the average applicant 50 minutes to complete each section (there are 16). That would be 13.3 hours but it is an "average" so maybe some folks take 18 hours, who knows. I found the subject matter and reviews much more in depth and difficult than the questions on the actual exams. It seems stupid to me to "require" that someone sit there for 16 hours though. If I finished in 8 that means that I would have to spend another 8 hours starting at the screen. What good would that do anyone? Were I to have to spend 16 hours just to spend 16 hours I would rather do it in like a 2 day classroom setting with exams or whatever.

 

[rumpletumbler]

Another cool thing I ran into while doing this that I hadn't seen before was the USPS e-mail update on certified mail. I sent my stuff in on the 13th and it arrived in Colorado on the 17th and I received an e-mail every time it hit a location. You do have to go to the USPS web site and put your number in from your certified mail receipt and your e-mail address but I thought it was nice.

 

[SpeedMetal]

i used american flyers and was pleased.

the pay once thing is cool too. if they go out of business in five years or not i feel i will have gotten my money's worth.

good luck!

 

[generaltso]

I just finished using the Jepp. It was good I recommend it. Once I finished and sent the paperwork in I had my temp in about a week. That is a pretty good turnaround.