Worth it to renew CFI?

[midlifeflyer]

Sory, meant to say July 3rd. So it sounds like there is no grace period...fair enough. I might as well get cracking on applying on-line.

Um, have you looked on the back of your CFI certifciate? It carries a specific expiration date which is calculated in =calendar= months and might not have anything to do with the current certificate's issuance date. An expiration of June 3 or Jul 3 makes no sense.

 

[CopilotDoug]

Um, have you looked on the back of your CFI certifciate? It carries a specific expiration date which is calculated in =calendar= months and might not have anything to do with the current certificate's issuance date. An expiration of June 3 or Jul 3 makes no sense.

I'm aware of the calender months. My certificate expires at the end of June. July third was an arbitrary date of no signifigance other than to ask my question about a theorhetical grace period. In retrospect, I had a brain fart and couldn't think of the term 'grace period' so I chose July third (after the end of June) to form the basis of my question pertaining to the grace period. My mistake.

 

[JAFI]

You may want to read the Inspector guidance for a Renewal - Reinstatement. From FAA Order 8700 General Aviation Operations Inspector Handbook:

http://www.faa.gov/library/manuals/examiners_inspectors/8700/volume2/media/2_011_00.pdf


It is spelled out, step by step.

 

[Mooneymite]

I had a CFI, got a job with a 121 carrier and let it expire. Many years later, when my son started taking lessons, I thought it would be nice to be able to put an entry in his logbook, so I got renewed while I was a company check airman and made a single entry.

I have no intention of ever using my CFI...but I now keep it current with a one-time/life time subscription to American Flyers. The course doesn't make me a proficient CFI, but it does keep my CFI from expiring. It is very cost efficient. If I ever want to start instructing, I'll get some real training.

Keep that CFI current. Your son might want that logbook entry someday!

 

[acaTerry]

I let mine (CFII/MEI) lapse a few years ago, after giving about 2,000 dual. I really didn't think I would ever use it again. Big mistake. I did a reinstatement a couple of months ago with a DPE. No, it was nowhere near as bad as the original, but it was a heck of a lot more expensive than if I would have just renewed it.

I agree 100% with woutlaw, I will never, EVER let mine lapse again.

I second that....

 

[midlifeflyer]

I'm aware of the calender months. My certificate expires at the end of June. July third was an arbitrary date of no signifigance other than to ask my question about a theorhetical grace period. In retrospect, I had a brain fart and couldn't think of the term 'grace period' so I chose July third (after the end of June) to form the basis of my question pertaining to the grace period. My mistake.

Ah. Gotcha. My mistake - I couldn't figure out what yo were talking about!

 

[VW Pilot]

Don't you mean Richard Collins??? or Dick Carl????

I'm still pretty fresh as a CFI (passed the checkride last July) but the day I passed the ride I swore I'd never let mine lapse no matter what job I eventually wound up in.

Reason being, I have no desire to take the CFI checkride again, which is the only way to get that bugger back once you let it expire. Once was enough of that noise.

So, as long as I'm still sucking air I'll renew. Good ol' Dick Collins at Flying Mag wrote a while back that the best refresher he gets is when he renews his CFI every two years, and I'd bet Dick hasn't given more than a few hours of dual in 30 years.

 

[avbug]

I have let my instructor certificate lapse twice in the past. Just gone on extended assignments, etc, unable to get back to do anything about it. Today with the online refreshers, there's really no excuse not to hammer it out, anywhere you are.

The online can be done on your schedule, for less money, and is a simple process. I did the Jepp course a couple of years ago while doing a FSI course at the same time...just in my spare time in the evening, and had the refresher done by the time I finished my recurrent in the aircraft. Easy.

Don't let it lapse.

 

[Black Hawk]

You never know what the future may hold but it's certain that a reinstatement ride will be more expensive and time consuming than taking one of the online classes. If you have a checkride of some kind just tell the examainer your CFI is coming due and ask the examiner if he is able to renew it as well.

 

[woutlaw]

Don't you mean Richard Collins??? or Dick Carl????

Collins. (Dick is a common nickname for "Richard." Guess I've seen it both ways in Flying.)

 

[orcfi]

How much money and time do you have invested in it? You can never have too many options for work. Maybe you need to use it for work someday. Maybe you have a son or friend someday that might want to learn to fly. 100 bucks every 2 years is a lot easier than re-issuance

 

[CoolSidePillow]

I did about 600 dual given before starting 121 flying. I am currently out of regionals and now flying jets. I dont plan on going back to instructing in pistons, but the CFI ride was the toughest one I have taken. I keep mine current online, just so that I dont toss it all away. You never know when I might need it. I think it also looks good on resume that shows you keep current on your different skills. I dont know where the person who posted this is from, but I would think with all the regionals desperate for pilots that they will hire anyone who has experience. A friend of mine runs a flight school, and he is ALWAYS looking for instructors, and says they are very very hard to find.

 

[acaTerry]

There were some pretty good replies here. Here is my opinion:
First, ask yourself the BIG question...Do I LIKE instructing?
If you hated instructing, it would be only fair to not do it again. Nobody deserves flying with someone who hates instructing.
Now how to renew...
I suppose you are an FO at a regional. Money is tight, I know. But consider at least doing the Gleim renewal. I have been renewing for over 10 years and each time I come out glad that I spent the 100 bucks because so much changes every 2 years.
If you liked instructing, by all means renew. I find it both pathetic and amusing that a CFI with 300 dual given, but flies as a pro can't get any action as a CFI. You have seen "the big time" and have a lot to offer I am sure, but oh no, you are not a career CFI so you are not good enough. I think that's BS. The schools are doing a disservice to their students by blocking experienced pilots from instructing. Maybe it's because it's easier to convince a career CFI that they are only worth 12 bucks an hour. Maybe its because they think you'll quit (which as a PT CFI shouldn't matter). In any case, it's wrong, and each generation of pilot that comes up is weaker, both in professionalism and flying skills because of this.
I hope you renew, and I hope you get to do some instructing. Maybe put a dent in the idiot population.

 

[pgcfii2002]

Renew it.....you might not know when you will use it again.

Build a man a fire and he will be warm for a day.
Set a man on fire and he will be warm for the rest of his life.

 

[Prof. ATP]

... If you fly 135, the POI can reissue it at his/her discretion...

Easiest renewal ever: I was a 135 instructor and our POI was around, so I asked him about renewal. Sure, he said, is that your student? Yes, I said, we were talking about the Ops Manual, as I held it up for him to see. Great, he says, give me your certificate and I'll go type up a renewal.

 

[CopilotDoug]

Done, and passed

Wrapped it up in 2 evenings with Jepp. Not that bad and would recommend it to others. Next time, I'll take advantage of the 3 month window they give you.

I find it both pathetic and amusing that a CFI with 300 dual given, but flies as a pro can't get any action as a CFI. You have seen "the big time" and have a lot to offer I am sure, but oh no, you are not a career CFI so you are not good enough. I think that's BS...Maybe it's because it's easier to convince a career CFI that they are only worth 12 bucks an hour.

I agree, Terry. It is what it is, and in the meantime, I will keep marketing myself to people who already own aircraft. I've had it with these a**hole flight school owners who think they're doing you a favor. "Yeah, how 'bout you work line-service for 6 mos and we'll make you an instructor then?" No thanks

 

[Hung Start]

Renew it.

American Flyers has a program, pay once and never again. I'll be doing my fourth free renewal in a couple of months. So, it just takes 16 or so hours of my time in front of this computer, no big deal.

Hung

 

[old*art]

Not to be the skunk at the party, but I know people who let theirs lapse after getting decent flying jobs. Their thinking was they could not afford the liability of private instructing any more. As long as they were just a starving CFI the odds of being sued by a former student's estate were slim and none. Now with a decent job it was a certainty they would be named in any accident/violation lawsuits by the former student or his estate. The new TSA record requirements were cited as other reasons to just let it go.

 

[acaTerry]

Not to be the skunk at the party, but I know people who let theirs lapse after getting decent flying jobs. Their thinking was they could not afford the liability of private instructing any more. As long as they were just a starving CFI the odds of being sued by a former student's estate were slim and none. Now with a decent job it was a certainty they would be named in any accident/violation lawsuits by the former student or his estate. The new TSA record requirements were cited as other reasons to just let it go.

In many ways I agree with you. But the nice thing about being "at the big time" and instructing on the side is that you can afford to be selective of who you take to instruct.

 

[old*art]

I agree - but I must admit TSA was the reason I let mine go. I hate paperwork and I get my instructing in with my current job. To each his own.