I haven't gotten too far into studying the Aviation Instructor's Handbook and the Gleim FOI book, so I don't want to give the impression I'm throwing in the towel right after the bell rings. But....I have a feeling a lot of this stuff just isn't going to "click" by sitting here staring at books. I can memorize performance figures all day, but this stuff just doesn't seem to be sticking. Can anybody recommend a good study course, be it software, books, DVDs, etc, that really dumbs down the CFI and FOI material? I'm not above watching John and Martha if someone recommends them.
CFI for dummies...
- Thread starter JordanD
- Start date
A150K
Well-Known Member
The King CFI checkride course on DVD is pretty good. Honestly, I did a two week course and found the ground school with two other applicants and then studying all night with them to be beneficial (though you have to go into it with a pretty good foundation on Commercial level knowlege to make it work).
rframe
pǝʇɹǝʌuı
When I first read the Aviation Instructor's Handbook I literally started getting really mad because it really sucks to read, and I'm someone who's addicted to learning things (anything really)... and I hated it.
The underlying information is fine and useful but it's all about learning their terminology and layout. I made outlines and it really helped. I think it's something you just have to use will power and plow through. Read it through once lightly. Read it a second time building an outline as you go. Review the outline until you can reasonably explain each topic, by re-reading just those sections.
Using a very structured approach and shutting off my emotions and I finally got most of the information locked in.
The underlying information is fine and useful but it's all about learning their terminology and layout. I made outlines and it really helped. I think it's something you just have to use will power and plow through. Read it through once lightly. Read it a second time building an outline as you go. Review the outline until you can reasonably explain each topic, by re-reading just those sections.
Using a very structured approach and shutting off my emotions and I finally got most of the information locked in.
drunkenbeagle
Gang Member
Don't think there is really any magic trick to the FOI - read it and memorize it as best you can. Even 15 minutes a day is probably plenty if you thumb through it every day. It really isn't such a terrible book - I have to read many far worse ones in my day job. And make lesson plans. When you do the checkride, you are going to be asked to teach one of them. Will be much easier if you have already thought through how you would teach it before hand.
I was lucky enough to take the FOI before it was made more difficult - so in my case, I flipped through a Gleim book in the parking lot for 10 minutes before taking it, and still somehow got a score in the high 80s. That probably would not work so well now
Screaming_Emu
Well-Known Member
Just put the time into it man. You'll get it. Its just putting big words to common sense concepts that I'm sure you can understand.
TwoTwoLeft
o- - - - - - -l
The thing is you really don't want ti dumbed down too much. Then you'll go into the checkride thinking you know more that you really do. What you need is structure. Try to find a way to organize the material in a way you can learn it best and stick with it. If you write you own lesson plans and make your own outlines of the technical subject areas, you'll know it down cold. This is something you cannot buy or copy from someone else. It only works because its yours.
scotland laddy
Well-Known Member
As everyone else has stated. Write up a lesson plan as you go. I tried making humorous situations with every chapter. It doesn't have to be related to aviation. It can be life experiences and how they relate to the subject matter. You just have to find a way to get through it and understand it, more importantly.
Mike H
Well-Known Member
You can always look up performance figures, endorsements, requirements for this or that rating, etc... . But FOI stuff has to be pretty much memorized (only to be largely forgotten after the checkride)
I'm not overly worried about a lot of that stuff, since I'm pretty fresh from just finishing the Commercial. Not saying I know it all (far from it) but a lot of it is stuff I've been using a good amount lately. But the new non airplane related stuff in here? Hooo boy...
flyingbum
Needz Re-Edjamacayshun
Get a copy of the old book... (seriously) it's way easier to read. The new book is full of filler and poorly written. Get out the PTS and make an outline as previously suggested. I literally went through each task area in the PTS and made my own outline. Two weeks later I knew the stuff cold.
P.S. The new book skips around quite a bit and is annoyingly redundant. You will read through the same concepts over and over. It was actually the most annoying book I have ever read.
GET A COPY OF THE OLD BOOK (FAA-H-8083-9)
P.S. The new book skips around quite a bit and is annoyingly redundant. You will read through the same concepts over and over. It was actually the most annoying book I have ever read.
GET A COPY OF THE OLD BOOK (FAA-H-8083-9)
flyingbum
Needz Re-Edjamacayshun
A150K
Well-Known Member
I got lucky on my checkride-the DE (I didn't get an FAA guy for mine) and I spent 5 minutes on FOI before moving on to endorsements.
Glad to know it's not just me. Thanks for the link!
flyingbum
Needz Re-Edjamacayshun
No prob man.... FOI is simple concepts, but the resources we have to learn them are twacked out...
Yeah, I think a lot of the problems with the FAA publications is the way they're written. Cheesy as he is, whenever I read Rod Machado's private pilot book a lot of stuff finally clicked because he has a way of explaining things simply.
Mike H
Well-Known Member
Actually the old book and the new book have exactly the same material. They just changed the order of a couple of chapters in the new one
flyingbum
Needz Re-Edjamacayshun
I agree and somewhat disagree.... you say tomato I say tomato.... you say gracias I say grassy ass....
flyingbum
Needz Re-Edjamacayshun
Part of the problem with the new books is that each chapter is written by a different person. The FAA wants more scenario based training and you can tell by reading the new FOI book. There is stuff on SBT just scattered about the entire book without rhyme or reason. MIKEH is right. the new book is way out of order compared to the old book. If you look at your PTS it will be synchronized with the old book and does in fact reference 8083-9. Them folks need to update this, maybe with the new PTS's...
I'm going to throw out a suggestion that may or may not make your check ride much easier. Get yourself an ground instructor certificate. It's one extra written and technically gets you around the FOI portion in the CFI PTS. The examiner can go through the entire FOI portion if they choose, so it's certainly not a guarantee to make things easier, but it has helped a few people including myself.
I did prepare for the FOI portion pretty well, I just sat down with the PTS, the instructors handbook, and a note pad. It's a lot easier to get through that book if you know exactly what you're required to know.
I did prepare for the FOI portion pretty well, I just sat down with the PTS, the instructors handbook, and a note pad. It's a lot easier to get through that book if you know exactly what you're required to know.