If you do the course part 61, then the $2995 covers:
120 hours ground instruction and sim time (we were told unlimited solo use of simulators)
10 hours in the airplane
1 hour dual sim time
You can buy additional hours in the airplane on an as-needed basis once you reach the 10 hours.
The way it works is you show up (hopefully there are others in your class to practice with and split the work with -- see Bernoulli Fan's post) everyday for 30 days straight. Some days will be all-day ground sessions with an instructor, going over the material for the three written exams:
1. FOI
2. CFI-A
3. CFI-I
All other days are usually 4 hours of classroom time with an instructor, where we practiced teaching in front of the class. The rest of the day was self-study with the others in the class, where we wrote lesson plans and practiced teaching on our own. Flights are scheduled randomly throughout the 30 days to practice teaching in the airplane and flying from the right seat.
Teaching in front of other classmates and asking questions from the instructors was the most beneficial part of the program. Honestly, the written tests you can prepare for and take before you start the course, and I encourage you to practice flying from the right seat before you get to the Academy so that you aren't using the 10 hours to learn to land from the right seat, but instead to learn to teach and fly. among other things, commercial maneuvers from the right seat.
Since I passed on my first try, I'd say the academy prepared me well for the checkride. But remember: you get out of it what you put in. If you ask as many questions as you can in class, from the mechanics (who are there every day opening up planes and fixing them) and don't screw around during the day and do your lesson plans so you can practice teaching in the classroom and in the sim and in the plane, you can get ahead real fast and feel ready right at the end of the 30 days. My checkride was scheduled 2 days after the end of the course, and I felt ready based on how they prepared us. But like I said how ready you will be depends on how much effort you put into it as well. Go with the mentality that you are already a flight instructor and you are in charge of each flight, and you will do well. Make a plan of action for each flight you do -- figure out what you are going to practice teaching and in what order.
I paid:
$2995 (see above)
3x$90 for the 3 written exams
$320 for the American Flyers "course materials"
$120 for my own materials (FAA books, charts, PTSs, etc.)
$300 for two extra hours of dual plane time that I felt I needed and wanted
$550 for the checkride
I passed the CFI-A 2 days after the end of the course (the first person in our class went the day we finished the academy and passed) and then I did my CFI-I independently at a different airport (and passed). The classroom time and flights cover material for both checkrides, in the reverse order (CFI-I first, then CFI-A).
I got to the academy around 8 AM every day and left between 7-10PM every day.
I am a better pilot because of the initiative I took to get the stuff done and the environment provided by American Flyers helped me with getting it done on time, to PTS standards.
It was worth it based on the alternatives:
1. do it yourself at an FBO and take your time (it might take forever), or 2. do it elsewhere where you end up paying even more (Sheble or ATP for example).
Based on my desire to get these ratings done quickly and efficiently yet not "ATP-style" (i.e. in 7 days and then not really know anything) yes, I would absolutely do it again.
It is a good compromise if you can take 30-40 days of your life off and dedicate all of that time to eating, sleeping, dreaming and doing aviation 24/7.
Hope this helps,
SKYGRABBER
