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Training for CFI rating

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Apache Driver

New member
Joined
Apr 5, 2005
Posts
4
I'm trying to decide whether I should try to obtain my CFI on my own, or break down and just go to one of the expensive cfi schools. How difficult is it to do at your local fbo. I already own a plane, and have an instructor to work with, but he's never trained anyone for a cfi rating. Also, my plane is a twin, so I would be trying to get my MEI first probably, then go back and get a single engine add on eventually. It seems that at the CFI schools, the majority of the time spent there is in class, and not much flying. I hate to spend those big bucks, just to sit in class, if I could learn the material on my own somehow. Any ideas or suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
 
Personally, I would shop around the local fbo's and find an instrctor who 1) has taught cfi's already and 2) you like. If you find an experienced CFI instructor, you will probably spend less money than if you go to one of the big training academies. CFI training includes a lot of ground training on subjects like fundamentals of instructing, developing lesson plans and presenting them to your student, logbook endorsements, effective communication techniques, weather, FAR's, flight planning, etc. You must learn how to present each maneuver required for private and commercial students both on the ground and in the air. This isn't a quick and easy task. You must first learn how to present these items on the ground so you can effectively teach them in the air, so be prepared to spend a lot of time in the classroom. After you get your initial CFI, you can get your add-ons at someplace like ATP in a couple of weekends.

Hope that helps.

C425Driver
 
Apache Driver said:
the majority of the time spent there is in class, and not much flying. I hate to spend those big bucks, just to sit in class, if I could learn the material on my own somehow. Any ideas or suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

It isn't about the flying, 'Pache Guy, although the flying skills factor heavily into it, the focus is on teaching skills. The guy who can nail a steep turn with no altitude variation but no teaching during the demonstration will not be as good at teaching as the guy who drops a hundred feet, and says,"See there? I lost that because I rolled in to fast and didn't hold in enough back pressure, now, see how U have to pitch the nose up and add a little throttle..." and so on...

Having the book knowledge, ie., being able to quote paragraphs and verses from the book is not the test. Can you explain complex aerodynamics in a simple, easy to understand way that the person you are talking to can understand? If he/she can understand the book, well, you don't have a job.
It isn't about being a safety pilot while the newbie student teaches himself how to fly.

Get with some of your friends and/or relatives who don't know squat about flying and sit down an hour or two while trying to teach basic aerodynamics, or weather, or regulations, and such.

As a matter of fact, use the Flight Instructor PTS to list the knowledge areas for each maneuver/procedure, along with common areas, and see how much you think you know, aaaaaaaand can teach to one of your no-flying friends.
 

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