Atlanta FSDO CFI Initial

BULL

BULL

Well-Known Member
Well... the time has come. The ride is scheduled for the end of the week. Any last minutes tips or advice (especially any ATL specifics) are greatly appreciated! Wish me luck!
 
I didn't know the FAA went back to doing CFI intials at the FSDO, I had mines scheduled when the government shut down at the end of August, and they sent me off with an local examiner like 3 days before I was supposed to go for the checkride, of course this was with the OKC FSDO though so things are different. Idk if they started sending guys/gals back out to OKC, they stopped for a couple of months, but I would talk with your instructor or try to find an instructor at your school who has flown with the examiner your going with also. Studying is definitely a must, but its good to get a feel or preview of what your walking into before you go.
 
BULL said:
Well... the time has come. The ride is scheduled for the end of the week. Any last minutes tips or advice (especially any ATL specifics) are greatly appreciated! Wish me luck!
Click to expand...
Hi:

So your Initial CFI test in on Thursday. Glad you are asking what to study etc.

The main areas of concentration on the initial will most likely be the following. Remember that almost every Area of operation has one or two tasks the inspector/examiner must choose and then at least x others. Because most people who give the test want to get it over with in a single day there are certain areas that are more likely for you to get as opposed to others. For example, it's not not likely that you will get much or anything on the weather except the results of your weather briefing. Also, Cross country flight planning is usually not selected as much. These areas can take a long time and they don't impact the real nature of what you are going to be doing right away that is potentially dangerous or places where you might have an issue with regulations etc. So most of us concentrate on the stuff that is happens close to the ground (landings, go around, stalls, emergencies, etc., and less on areas that are in high up safe places for the flight). On the ground if I were betting I would guess you'll get approximately the following:

FOI - Most DPEs and Inspectors don't know that much about it. In addition to what you know, I'd have certain things memorized like the laws of learning, levels of learning etc. You can find a FOI cheat sheet with a bunch of acronyms on the internet somewhere, or if not I can send you one.

Expect concentration on regulations and endorsements concentrated on Student pilots, Private Pilots and flight reviews. Also expect a far fetched scenario like a guy with a Commercial balloon certificate that wants to add Airplane Single Engine Land to it. If you are using "canned" endorsements be sure that you have personally verified that each is complete and addresses the correct regulations. Many are incomplete, including AC61-65 which omits the 61.39 required logbook endorsements. It also has an endorsement for the pre solo knowledge test which is not required by the regulations.

Airspace will be on especially Class E and G.

Aerodynamics is also high on the list

Aircraft systems typically focus on the constant speed propeller system, landing gear system, fuel system and electrical system. Here is an example question about the propeller. "Why does the propeller need to be at a low pitch during takeoff, but then at a higher pitch during cruise flight?"

You will be given at least one flight maneuver to teach using your lesson plan. To impress your examiner ask him/her at what level are you in your training. Are you a student who has done everything up to this point and this is the first time you are going to do this lesson, are you a person who is finished training and I will be determining if your knowledge or skill is test ready, are you a pilot coming for a flight review, or should I teach this to you as if you were a student who has never seen this and also embellish it with what I know about it? This sets the tone saying that you recognize you would teach this differently depending upon what kind of student this was. It also eliminates the need to do a lesson as if the DPE is a student and then feel compelled to tell them everything you know about it as well, unless this is what they indicate they want.

Ok. Last, go get the samples from my new workbook that is not out yet. It has a flow chart in it for soloing a student and scenario questions in key sections. This is not for sale for a while, but you could benefit from getting scenario questions and seeing the flow chart etc. I also put a syllabus in that so in case you don't have one, you could use this to integrate your own lesson plans into it.

The link takes you to a page where you can get it. There is nothing for sale there as it's out at key flight academies and universities now for comments which is where it will be sold initially. Anyway, I just thought you could benefit from what I released as your test is close.

cfiworkbook.com/sneak-peek

Good luck on the test and I hope the above helps you

- Mike S
 
mike shiflett said:
Hi:

So your Initial CFI test in on Thursday. Glad you are asking what to study etc.

The main areas of concentration on the initial will most likely be the following. Remember that almost every Area of operation has one or two tasks the inspector/examiner must choose and then at least x others. Because most people who give the test want to get it over with in a single day there are certain areas that are more likely for you to get as opposed to others. For example, it's not not likely that you will get much or anything on the weather except the results of your weather briefing. Also, Cross country flight planning is usually not selected as much. These areas can take a long time and they don't impact the real nature of what you are going to be doing right away that is potentially dangerous or places where you might have an issue with regulations etc. So most of us concentrate on the stuff that is happens close to the ground (landings, go around, stalls, emergencies, etc., and less on areas that are in high up safe places for the flight). On the ground if I were betting I would guess you'll get approximately the following:

FOI - Most DPEs and Inspectors don't know that much about it. In addition to what you know, I'd have certain things memorized like the laws of learning, levels of learning etc. You can find a FOI cheat sheet with a bunch of acronyms on the internet somewhere, or if not I can send you one.

Expect concentration on regulations and endorsements concentrated on Student pilots, Private Pilots and flight reviews. Also expect a far fetched scenario like a guy with a Commercial balloon certificate that wants to add Airplane Single Engine Land to it. If you are using "canned" endorsements be sure that you have personally verified that each is complete and addresses the correct regulations. Many are incomplete, including AC61-65 which omits the 61.39 required logbook endorsements. It also has an endorsement for the pre solo knowledge test which is not required by the regulations.

Airspace will be on especially Class E and G.

Aerodynamics is also high on the list

Aircraft systems typically focus on the constant speed propeller system, landing gear system, fuel system and electrical system. Here is an example question about the propeller. "Why does the propeller need to be at a low pitch during takeoff, but then at a higher pitch during cruise flight?"

You will be given at least one flight maneuver to teach using your lesson plan. To impress your examiner ask him/her at what level are you in your training. Are you a student who has done everything up to this point and this is the first time you are going to do this lesson, are you a person who is finished training and I will be determining if your knowledge or skill is test ready, are you a pilot coming for a flight review, or should I teach this to you as if you were a student who has never seen this and also embellish it with what I know about it? This sets the tone saying that you recognize you would teach this differently depending upon what kind of student this was. It also eliminates the need to do a lesson as if the DPE is a student and then feel compelled to tell them everything you know about it as well, unless this is what they indicate they want.

Ok. Last, go get the samples from my new workbook that is not out yet. It has a flow chart in it for soloing a student and scenario questions in key sections. This is not for sale for a while, but you could benefit from getting scenario questions and seeing the flow chart etc. I also put a syllabus in that so in case you don't have one, you could use this to integrate your own lesson plans into it.

The link takes you to a page where you can get it. There is nothing for sale there as it's out at key flight academies and universities now for comments which is where it will be sold initially. Anyway, I just thought you could benefit from what I released as your test is close.

cfiworkbook.com/sneak-peek

Good luck on the test and I hope the above helps you

- Mike S
Click to expand...


Wow, thank you very much Mike for the great write up! It is really appreciated. I got an update the ride is being moved to next week. I will keep you guys updated. Thanks again!
 
Fsdo inspector, I'll PM the name. I know there is a list of them per office, I'm just not comfortable saying over an open forum. I will say he was very nice, professional and personable. My failing was nobody else's fault but my own. I expected an 80 year old "faa monster" and got nothing of the sort.
 
I passed!!! 2 more hours of oral this morning and a 2 hour flight. I am so glad it's over. Now it's time for a nap.
 
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