American Flyers CFI/CFII Academy

Coney

Coney

New Member
After finishing my commercial-ASEL, I plan to pursue a CFI/CFII. I found a program with an outfit named American Flyers that offers a 30-day program for the CFI/CFII for $3K. It supposed to include all ground and flight training. Seems like a good deal. Has anyone heard of this? If so, does anyone have an opinion on it? Thx!
 
fast track programs can be a waste of time. i would recommend taking your time and really getting to know the material. it took me 3 months of studying and prep to make my CFI binder and it was well worth it.

fast track programs are ok, but i have seen some good folks who went to them only to be checkride ready and nothing much else. i say take your time and be ready to teach and educate your students. after all, they are paying big bucks too and deserve a good CFI.
 
I agree... Just having the ticket, doesn't make a good CFI. I spent 3 months on my initial and still have no idea how much I don't know!! Take your time and do it right! You will feel much better about your ability when you are done.
 
30 days does seem pretty quick to do BOTH CFI and CFI-I. I don't remember exactly how long it took me to do both but 2-3 months comes to mind (at a big academy).

One thing I can tell you is that I initially started instructing at a small school with instructors from all sorts of places, (local FBO's as well as Florida/arizona/cali) and the one segment of instructors who seemed to struggle the most were those who did a "fast track" CFI program. I'm not sure if American Flyers falls into this category or not.

Bottom line...if you think you're going to be a CFI for a year or two, do yourself and your future students the favor of getting good training. Keep inquiring about the possible schools (what you're doing now) especally from people who have gone through the program.

Good luck
 
I work with a guy who did the fast track deal, I think he got all 3 instructor ratings in 3 weeks. When his students come to me for a stage check they're not as well prepared for the flights as some of the other instructor's students. My ground school for CFI was 4 nights a week, 2 hours a night, for 10 weeks. There's just no way to cover that amount of material (plus fly AND the CFII and MEI) in 3-4 weeks.
 
This all makes good sense. I appreciate everyone's input. I want to be a really good instructor -- not some guy everyone avoids. Hey, I've had that guy for an instructor (before switching). Anyway, I'll keep you posted on the progress. Thanks again!
 
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There's just no way to cover that amount of material (plus fly AND the CFII and MEI) in 3-4 weeks.

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Actually, there is. I like to call it studying, or preparing yourself ahead of time. College gives you a pretty good opportunity to hone this skill. That's how I learn a ton of information with only 40-50 hours of actual classtime.

If I wanted to be spoonfed information I could just as easily learn on my own, I'd go to FSI. Since I didn't, I went to ATP. Different strokes for different folks.
 
Gatechkid, taking your time and doing things right isn't necessarily being "spoonfed." At one school I taught at there was a quite senior WWII vet (P-51) who handled many of the CFI students, and while he did take a long time with them the applicants came out very well prepared. Was he spoonfeeding them the info? Not necessarily, he was making sure a capable CFI was being trained.

Let's face it, passing FAA written exams are not that difficult, passing an FAA flight test isn't that hard if you know exactly what the examiner is going to throw at you. What is hard is being an instructor day in and day out. You have to get into the job with the right set of tools.
 
Right on Baronman!
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What is hard is being an instructor day in and day out. You have to get into the job with the right set of tools.

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Whether you get the ratings done in 3 weeks or 3 months, you really can't start the actual learning until you get that first CFI gig. Until then, it's all book learning. How do you know if all the time you took was worth it? What if the person that gets it done in 3 weeks spends 6 hours a day studying and working on their CFI binder? Once again, it's about quality, not quantity. I've been studying for my CFI for the past two months, but I don't even have my CSEL or CMEL yet. Why? So I have the knowledge I need to get them knocked out quickly and still have a good foundation to teach from.
 
I actully did the American Flyers 30 day program. It actually cost me about 30% more than they quoted and took about 45 days for my CFI and CFII. I was a pretty good program for me since I was very current flying skill and knowledge wise. I had received my IFR a month before I started and my Commercial a week before. I did, however have my Canadian IFR and Commercial. I believe I'm a pretty good CFI. Gold Seal with a 16/17 pass rate. There were 3 of us in my class, one student didn't get any of his ratings then went to Comair academy for his ratings. He's a good guy but not a good CFI. I believe some are better CFI's than others. I really was excited about becoming a CFI. With that all said, I think there is a lot of wisdom with the previous posts. I liked the structured environment. It works for some and not for others. The key is what you put into it. Are you expecting to be spoonfed or really do your work. I really learned the most when I started CFi'ing...You learn so much in your first 200 hours. Best of luck to you! Getting paid to fly rocks!
 
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Actually, there is. I like to call it studying, or preparing yourself ahead of time. College gives you a pretty good opportunity to hone this skill. That's how I learn a ton of information with only 40-50 hours of actual classtime.

If I wanted to be spoonfed information I could just as easily learn on my own, I'd go to FSI. Since I didn't, I went to ATP. Different strokes for different folks.

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I'm very proud of you for learning study skills in college. I learned that in high school. I went to college to party.
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In my CFI ground lab, the students were required to get up in front of the class and teach the lessons. We supplied the information, the materials, and the lesson plans. The instructor was there to fill in anything we were missing or to take our lessons to another level. If that's your defintion of spoonfed, so be it.

Does ATP send their applicants to the FSDO for the CFI initial?
 
[ QUOTE ]
After finishing my commercial-ASEL, I plan to pursue a CFI/CFII. I found a program with an outfit named American Flyers that offers a 30-day program for the CFI/CFII for $3K. It supposed to include all ground and flight training. Seems like a good deal. Has anyone heard of this? If so, does anyone have an opinion on it? Thx!

[/ QUOTE ]

I recently went to American Flyers for my CFI ratings. I think they have a decent program at least at the Dallas location. In my class of 12, 9 got both ratings within 30 days. I was among the 3 that didn't. We had one person that used up all the alloted flying time to complete the CFII (they do the II rating first), one that never passed a written and I had to leave after the CFII due to a death in the family. I finished the CFI with a local DPE.

At Flyers, you will work 8-12 hours per day, 7 days a week for the duration of the course. You will not be spoon fed. You will have to work very hard and you will learn as much or more from your classmates as from the AF instructors. After my time at Flyers I felt pretty well prepared to start in the role of CFI when I got done, but as others point out for better or worse the CFI rating is where the learning really begins.

I'm currently working with a load of students inherited from another instructor and a few new ones of my own. I am very much still in the learning mode, but feel I am competent and my students are not at a disadvantage vs. any other recent CFI. I have a chance to compare myself with two products of the FBO route on a daily basis at work so feel I can make a fair assessment.

As others have mentioned, you should anticipate paying at least 50% more than the advertised price plus the costs of hotel and some office supplies etc. My classmates and I discussed the unexpected cost overruns and most felt the final price was worth it to get the ratings done in 30 days. Time is money to a lot of folks, and I needed to get the ratings done ASAP so overall I'd say the good out weighed the bad for me. Flyers does have a somewhat greasy feel but they got me and the majority of my class where we wanted to go pretty much on the promised schedule and at a price we were willing to pay even if it was more than advertised. Results like that are hard to argue with.

I have heard that Flyers lost their 141 certification since I attended. Still having seen the level of prep of CFI candiates through local FBO's, I think if you worked hard during your time at Flyers a FAA checkride would not be overly difficult.

Good Luck,

Tiger815
 
I did the American Flyers CFI academy in SMO in 1999. The price would have gone slightly over ($200-300 if memory serves), but didn't since I did only the CFI, not the CFII.

Keep in mind that the majority of posters above have no idea what the Flyers CFI Academy is like. Tiger above gave a great description. It is hard work. It is ridiculously long hours. It is not however, by any means, a short-cut, or sub-par route to the CFI. When I did it there was only one other student, he (who had been flying just over a year) and I (4-year aviation degree background) both passed our rides on the first attempt at a time when all initial CFI's were examined by FAA inspectors (no DPE's). He and I both got hired at large regionals at about the same time (only to both be furloughed the same week a few months later...
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)

Like any training program, you get out only what you put into it. You can coast through to the end doing the minimum required and you will have wasted your money. This kind of program is not for everyone. If you find it difficult to stay motivated when the going gets tough (or boring, as is often the case with the CFI) you should find a different program. Maybe an FBO with an instructor who will be happy to work with you for months at a time.

After spending nearly two years instructing CFI/II/MEI applicants at a big "airline prep" academy-style school, and a little over two years instructing at an FBO, I've seen many different teaching and learning styles. If you are up for an intense, immersive program, I would recommend the American Flyers CFI academy. If not, follow the advice of those above, go somewhere else.
 
Tiger815 said:
[ QUOTE ]
After finishing my commercial-ASEL, I plan to pursue a CFI/CFII. I found a program with an outfit named American Flyers that offers a 30-day program for the CFI/CFII for $3K. It supposed to include all ground and flight training. Seems like a good deal. Has anyone heard of this? If so, does anyone have an opinion on it? Thx!

[/ QUOTE ]

I recently went to American Flyers for my CFI ratings. I think they have a decent program at least at the Dallas location. In my class of 12, 9 got both ratings within 30 days. I was among the 3 that didn't. We had one person that used up all the alloted flying time to complete the CFII (they do the II rating first), one that never passed a written and I had to leave after the CFII due to a death in the family. I finished the CFI with a local DPE.

At Flyers, you will work 8-12 hours per day, 7 days a week for the duration of the course. You will not be spoon fed. You will have to work very hard and you will learn as much or more from your classmates as from the AF instructors. After my time at Flyers I felt pretty well prepared to start in the role of CFI when I got done, but as others point out for better or worse the CFI rating is where the learning really begins.

I'm currently working with a load of students inherited from another instructor and a few new ones of my own. I am very much still in the learning mode, but feel I am competent and my students are not at a disadvantage vs. any other recent CFI. I have a chance to compare myself with two products of the FBO route on a daily basis at work so feel I can make a fair assessment.

As others have mentioned, you should anticipate paying at least 50% more than the advertised price plus the costs of hotel and some office supplies etc. My classmates and I discussed the unexpected cost overruns and most felt the final price was worth it to get the ratings done in 30 days. Time is money to a lot of folks, and I needed to get the ratings done ASAP so overall I'd say the good out weighed the bad for me. Flyers does have a somewhat greasy feel but they got me and the majority of my class where we wanted to go pretty much on the promised schedule and at a price we were willing to pay even if it was more than advertised. Results like that are hard to argue with.

I have heard that Flyers lost their 141 certification since I attended. Still having seen the level of prep of CFI candiates through local FBO's, I think if you worked hard during your time at Flyers a FAA checkride would not be overly difficult.

Good Luck,

Tiger815
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WHy do you have to go to a big school to get your lisence in 30 days? I could do the samething at my FBO if I schedule the plane 7 days a week and the instructor all day. Whats the difference?
 
Some smaller schools don't have CFI's qualified to teach the CFI rating, or just don't do enough to be proficient at it. Otherwise, I'd agree that a smaller school that is willing to work with your every day can be just as "accelerated" as an academy.

The CFI is a tough license. I have a good friend that went to Sheble's and got it done in two weeks, written passed before hand. It was an intense two weeks but the folks doing it knew what they were doing and how to get you through.

What he may have lacked in experience, as a new CFI, he made up for in attitude and hard work. He was a good CFI. When he got his first 135 job he became a training Capt right away and soon after an FAA designee.

I agree that the longer CFI courses produce a marginally better beginning CFI. After you start instructing, though, is when the real learning begins.

Another aspect to consider is your experience and background prior to becoming a CFI. ATP has a program where you go from PPL to CFI in 90 days. I don't believe this is a good idea because there is no seasoning time, no "outside the academy" experience, between ratings. However, this is a very popular program and ATP somehow gets people through the CFI checkride with it.
 
N8404U said:
WHy do you have to go to a big school to get your lisence in 30 days? I could do the samething at my FBO if I schedule the plane 7 days a week and the instructor all day. Whats the difference?
Click to expand...

One major difference is having 8 or more other people to study with and practice your teaching. I learned every bit as much from my classmates as I did from any AF instructor. Even if your local FBO has a good instructor and enough airplanes so that there are no maintence delays, it would be very difficult for them to produce a study group for you to work with. Practice teaching is a huge part of American Flyers program that you will not get going the FBO route.


I'm not saying its for everyone, but if you apply yourself every hour you are at American Flyers I believe you will come away a prepared as any new CFI, and better than quite a few. (Though you may be somewhat "broker" than some others.) In reality, the cost of an academy may not be a lot more than staying home and taking a longer time to finish. Going to any academy will provide some advantages that few FBO's could duplicate. It's all in what fits your needs.

Good Luck
 
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