American Flyers CFI/CFII Academy

EDUC8-or said:
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.
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I did American Flyers CFI academy and would recomend it to anyone. According to the numbers you privided, you did 80 hours of ground school. At American flyers we had 30 straight days of ground from 8 am to 12pm. We flew the sim and 172's in the afternoon. At night you make your assigned lessons for the next day. The instructor for the program was exclusivly a CFI instructor. He had if I remember correctly about 14 years of experience as a CFI. I have never had a better instructor. I actually started a CFI ground school at an FBO. I only attended the first 2 weeks of the program. I think it may have been the same one you went too EDUC8-or and it was complete crap by comparison.
American Flyers program is advertised as a 30 day program. While the ground portion lasts 30 days, everyone in my group (myself included) actually finished in 5 weeks. I ran $750 over the advertised price. Still well worth it in my opinion and I would do it all over again. Patrick Connell kicks ass.
 
*** Necropost with a purpose / Not a joke this time *****

Alrighty folks, been 10 months or so since the CFI/CFII academy thread has seen action, and I am strongly considering attending this place in October and I would love to hear some opinions about the CFI/CFII academy ONLY. I think it is well established that the PPL-CSEL is not a good option at this place, but have been hearing the CFI/CFII academy is a different story. Here are my considerations:

1. VA approved for 141 for the CFII rating, which will not require a checkride after the initial CFI-A is achieved. Just a graduate of the program certificate and bingo...you have your CFII.

2. Unlike ATP which is 14 days for CFI/CFII/MEI, this program seems to be more focused on the academic aspect of getting the CFI/CFII and is 30 days, everyday, instead of 14 days for all three. Not bashing ATP at all, they are really good at what they do. However, I do like the idea of spending 30 full days in a classroom perfecting the ability to becoming a CFI/CFII, instead of a full-fledged crash course.

3. The guy on the phone at AF said that the pass/fail percentage rate on the initial checkride is around 70% pass for the first time. Please debate this, if you know any differently.

4. Total cost for the program was around 6k and all of the CFII part would be 141 and 60% full reimbursed. The CFI-A is done part 61 and requires the FAA checkride for the initial.

I am interested in both the positives and negatives of the CFI/CFII AF academy. Those of you in the know, help me out here. Not too interested in troll posts. So, please keep those in the ATP threads. There is a similar post on a different board, but some dude trying to sell his books and doesn't provide a true objective debate about the program.

Thanks in advance.
 
I've been talking to the Santa Monica location... price is still the same as quoted on the website, and the chief said he'd love to hire any and all people that are going through the program - they are very short staffed. First ride is done by the FAA (no word on pass rate), the second ride can be done with a DPE depending what package you pay for.
 
From what I noticed, the training has a hard-stop at 30 days, although it might take an additional week or two to schedule the FSDO guy to write you off.
 
Had a brief chat with American Flyers today, here's a few more bits of info which might be helpful:

2-week CFI-A program is at their Atlanta location only. Cost is $2495. Next class dates are 11/29 and 12/27.

Next 30-day courses: 11/8, 12/13, 1/10.

Their quoted costs include: classroom ground (65 hours for the 2-week, and 120 hours for the 4 week CFI-A/CFI-II), 3 hours individual ground, up to 10 hours of dual, and 11 hours FTD time.

Knowledge exam fees, books, checkride fees, and any dual over 10 hours is not included in the cost. Dual over 10 hours is $150/hour. Books include a "reading list" of commonly available publications plus four books specially published by them. You are not required to purchase books from them if you have them already.

When these add'l costs are factored in, the average cost tends to be more like $4200-$4500 for the 30-day, and $3200 for the 2-week (their estimates).

For 30-day students, there is an option to do the CFII portion under part 141 (no checkride) for $5070.

You do not need your writtens or lesson plans done, prep for those is included in the ground portion of the class. You do need to have your commercial maneuvers down cold before starting; the emphasis is greatly towards the ground/teaching portion.

Initial CFI-A checkrides are with the FSDO unless the FSDO specifically authorizes a DE. According to the gentleman I spoke to, about half of the checkrides at the Santa Monica location are DE, half are FSDO. FSDO of course would be free, DE checkride fee varies but is around $400.

I requested "more information", hopefully that will yield more useful info.
 
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