CFI Training Materials

felixk

felixk

Well-Known Member
Hi,

I'm sure these questions have been asked before, but i'll ask again.

I'm starting CFI Training soon. I heard that it's best to take the written before you start flying. What are the best training materials to get to pass this test? Anyone know of a complete package that will give me everything I need to pass the written, as well as the practical?

Next, I have a full time job and I would like to teach nights and weekends, are there any CFI's here that do that as well? Is it reasonable to assume that flight schools would hire a night/weekend instructor?

One last thing: Is it better to have a multiengine rating before becoming a CFI, or do most people get that rating while being a CFI?

Thanks for the help!
Felix
 
Re: the written tests:

Prepare for these however you've prepared for written tests before--they're not a big deal. I like Gleim's software test prep., but do whatever works for you.

You'll need to take the Fundamentals of Instruction (FOI) test, which has a bank of about 200 questions, and the Flight Instructor Airplane test--which is very similar to the commercial written. I would recommend also scheduling the Advanced Ground Instructor test, as it's identical to the Flight Instructor Airplane test, plus ten questions.

As for the multi-engine, that totally depends on your situation. If you're looking to the airlines, it can be good to get it sooner rather than later but, on the other hand, unless you get your Multi-Engine Instructor rating and have access to multi-engine students, it can be tough to build ME time.
 
Thanks for the help...one more thing:

How long are the test results valid for? And on average with 1-2 times a week of flying how long does it take to get the CFI?

Thanks again!

Felix
 
felixk said:
Thanks for the help...one more thing:

How long are the test results valid for? And on average with 1-2 times a week of flying how long does it take to get the CFI?

Thanks again!

Felix
Click to expand...

For the written tests, 24 months.
I'm also interested in the answer to the second question...
 
charlie1017 said:
For the written tests, 24 months.
I'm also interested in the answer to the second question...
Click to expand...

per instructing nights/weekends, the question made me chuckle. when i quit my part 135 career, i took some time-off from flying and returned last year to instruct full-time for a year in general aviation. it had been since the mid-90's, so i had to re-learn much of the basic material. and not being as young, and not caring about building time, i didn't wish to wear myself completely out.

turns out..in my local market (central arkansas)..nights/weekends were almost the only times students were available. it was very rare to have a morning or even early afternoon student during the week. if you go to a school, especially one like in florida that does an awful lot of light training due to generally year-round favorable weather and an abundance of foreign students, you can expect to be able to work almost anytime. i think you'll find in most parts of the country, working out of a smaller fbo, nights and weekends will be your only real times that you may depend upon. good luck! :bandit:
 
I didn't think the flying took as much time as the preparation for the oral. If you can fly the commercial maneuvers well, then you really don't have far to go to be ready for the flight portion of the CFI ride. The only thing you will have to get use to is sitting in the right seat, and teaching the maneuver while flying the airplane (That was the hardest part to me).

I can't give you a specific number of hours that it will take you to prepare for the flight portion, but I think it would be relatively low. 10 hours or less maybe?
 
felixk said:
And on average with 1-2 times a week of flying how long does it take to get the CFI?
Click to expand...

The flying itself does not take long at all. Depends whether your doing it 141 or 61. 141 takes 25 hours for CFI. For 61, you only needs 5 hours PIC in the airplane your doing your check ride in, which you should already have from your complex time during your commercial. So, in essence, you have all the required flying time, you just need to learn how to do the manuevars from the right seat, then learn how to teach and talk your way through them while your doing it. At our 141 college, a CFI applicant does the flying portion in an average of 7 hours. We are a 141 college, but we put all the CFI applicants through 61 on the fact that it saves people money! The only part that takes the longest is all the oral information.
 
JulietBravo said:
you only needs 5 hours PIC in the airplane your doing your check ride in, which you should already have from your complex time during your commercial.
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The only 5 hour requirement in make and model that I'm aware of is for a ME aircraft and that's to give instruction for a certificate or rating, not to get your CFI. To get your CFI, you need 15 hours PIC in category and class, make and model irrelevant.
 
tgrayson said:
The only 5 hour requirement in make and model that I'm aware of is for a ME aircraft and that's to give instruction for a certificate or rating, not to get your CFI. To get your CFI, you need 15 hours PIC in category and class, make and model irrelevant.
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+1. see 61.183(j). also, remember there's a required spin endorsement, 61.183(i) and that your cfi sign-off must be from an 'experienced cfi', not someone who's only recently earned it. for those specific cfi requirements, see 61.195(h).
 
tgrayson said:
Which, I assume, means you agree? ;)
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see the +1? ;) just keeping your back..thought you were slippin'..no far reference? what's happened around here? i disappear a few months and all the anal referencing..just disappears? and is that fella ('butt' was it?) i think, still around? has the world tilted off its axis?? :panic:

:)
 
exleardriver said:
no far reference? what's happened around here?
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The activity in this section has seriously eroded in the past 6-8 months. Pretty much everyone has gotten 121 jobs and there appear to be few replacements. Not clear on whether that's because they're skipping the CFI phase and going directly to the commuters, or just that there are fewer pilots overall.
 
tgrayson said:
The activity in this section has seriously eroded in the past 6-8 months. Pretty much everyone has gotten 121 jobs and there appear to be few replacements. Not clear on whether that's because they're skipping the CFI phase and going directly to the commuters, or just that there are fewer pilots overall.
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ah, yes..the commuters have been sucking cfi's up like crazy around here. i've been asked by several examiners to give the chief cfi over at central a call, as he's been losing them at a fast rate to part 121. paul and i graduated high school together..just don't have the heart to call him and tell him i don't want a full-time gig..especially part 141. sounds like i haven't missed much then. your prediction was correct about me not lasting back in full-time instructing more than a year after so many years away..and actually having earned a living in aviation before.
 
exleardriver said:
prediction was correct about me not lasting back in full-time instructing
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Not much of a prediction. I've seen a number of people try it; the only ones who are able to manage it are women with a sugar daddy and men with a retirement income, such as from the military. Just doesn't work with the typical FBO-type flight training, particularly where we live.
 
tgrayson said:
Not much of a prediction. I've seen a number of people try it; the only ones who are able to manage it are women with a sugar daddy and men with a retirement income, such as from the military. Just doesn't work with the typical FBO-type flight training, particularly where we live.
Click to expand...

yes, i'd agree. i honestly could have done better had i lived right by the airport instead of half an hour away..that gas expense alone was piling up. and it's difficult work to earn enough so that you're in the same class with 'time-builders' who have a real motivation to spend most of their time up in the air..i didn't.
 
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