Best CFI Program?

matteo

matteo

Well-Known Member
Who has the best CFI program out there?

I felt like I came up short with my commercial and I just learned what I had to to pass the checkride... looking back I wish I hadn't done that... I want to make it up with my CFI and be the best friggin CFI I can be... whats the best school out there for getting ur initial CFI?
 
matteo said:
haha I don't get it... :rolleyes:
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No school will make you what you want to be. You will mostly have to teach yourself. Go back to all the source documents that define what "good" is, master the content, then find someone to fly with who will hold you to those standards.
 
matteo said:
Who has the best CFI program out there?
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Boy, throwing this blanket of an opinion based question out there is not going to produce good results, I am afraid. This would be like throwing out a general question like....Who makes the best airplane?

I think Mr. Grayson is saying that "you" make the best CFI program. That is, by taking the FAR/AIM and wearing it out. After all, that is where almost everything comes from. Even if you go through a CFI program that knows all of the ins and outs of what the FSDO is going to ask you, you will still end up with a freshly minted CFI ticket and not much more than that. The only way to make sure that you really "get it right" as a CFI is to put in tons of extra effort in educating yourself as to the regs. Mr. Grayson is probably one of the most respected CFI question answerers on this board. Him and Midlifeflyer.

As for going through a program to get your CFI ticket....it all depends on your criteria and what you think fits you. As you explained in your justification as to "just getting enough to get through the commercial," I think you are looking for a program that really shows you what you need to learn as a CFI and how to get you through a checkride with knowledge that is better than most other programs. I went through the American Flyers program which is 30 entire days. And, you get the CFI/CFII tickets at the end. I liked the program and feel that I learned a very good bit of information and was really able to knock the oral out come checkride time. But, getting the ticket is only the beginning. Now I am going back through all of the stuff that I accumulated from that academy and am just beginning to fill in the hundreds of blank pages. There were many times that we would sit in the academy and scratch our heads at people that do it in any quicker time and without the major coddling that this program provides. So, I recommend the American Flyers CFI/II academy. It will cost you from $4.5 - $5.5k and lasts 30 full workdays. :)
 
tgrayson said:
No school will make you what you want to be. You will mostly have to teach yourself. Go back to all the source documents that define what "good" is, master the content, then find someone to fly with who will hold you to those standards.
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:yeahthat: its not about schools, fancy equipment, great classrooms or any of that. Its all about your desire to learn and having a good teacher to keep you on track and guide you.
 
tgrayson said:
No school will make you what you want to be. You will mostly have to teach yourself. Go back to all the source documents that define what "good" is, master the content, then find someone to fly with who will hold you to those standards.
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If you can find a place around you with a qualified CFI and a complex aircraft, this is the best bet. I took the PTS and developed my lesson plans based on that. The flying is easy at this point. I did a few hours of ground with the CFI and 2 flights, and took my checkride.
 
Matt,

PTS, FOI, Pilots Handbook of Aero Knowledge, and a couple of hours with a decent CFI, then go take the check-ride... This one is all about what you put into it studying on the ground. Even a monkey can fly the manuevers.
 
Its not only what you do to get your ticket.. its what you do after you get your ticket.
Seth
 
I would recommend American Flyers not only for the CFI-II program. Private, instrument and commercial-the best instructors, the best of customer service, good airplanes. They stand behind their word and they make it happen! I got my private, instrument, commercial and multi at the flyers and starting my CFI-II academy tomorrow. Can't see myself anywhere else but with the flyers!
 
To answer your question, Matt, I'd say ATP knew how to get people through. But they quit taking outside folks, so no point in recommending them. I've known a few guys who did Sheble's with no complaints. One is a UPS pilot, now, and the other a checkairman at Amflight.

My feeling on the CFI is that if you have a good background and are competent, it shouldn't be that hard to get. I almost feel like it's the rating where you can skimp by at min standard, get the paper, and go from there. I know that's sacrilige, especially from me, but the CFI is such a license to learn that it doesn't really matter what school you went to, or whatever, you just need to jump in with both feet and a good attitude. All new CFI's will suck. But you catch on fast, if you care to, and can be an old pro at 200 hours training time given.

Instructing is a great experience. I think it's one thing that every professional pilot should go through for a lot of reasons. It's like the thing that nobody WANTS to do but everyone SHOULD do because of what you get out of it.
 
It's amazing how people these days think that everything about flying should be done in an 'academy' or through a 'program'.
Getting your initial CFI is very important step. Should not be taken lightly. This is something that is coming from a guy who did 8 hrs of oral, passed and failed the ride by Fed.
I think these ATP and other 'get in get out' places do you a disservice to all flying public.. I have seen it in the applicants that i get from ATP. Their flying skills suck. They also have some problem adjusting in to the real world of flying outside of their memory drills, etc.

In a nutshell, I think no school will give you the 'program' that you are looking for unless your Aircraft Flying Handbook, FOI book, FAR/AIM looks like the bible of a shady tele-evangelist. :) Only you will get this done; nobody will be able to get this thing to you.
 
I have been in the American Flyers CFI program. Not bad at all. I am at the Pompano (KPMP) location. The instructors are very knowledgeable. The price is $2995 for the 30 day program. If you aren't prepared before coming to the CFI academy, expect to have that price go up to $4000-$5000. The $2995 figure doesn't include books. I have been able to get my first check ride done in the 30 days. The only thing holding me back from getting both my CFI and CFII in 30 days is because the FAA only gave me 2 DE to use for my initial. One wouldn't answer his phone and the other had a pretty packed schedule.

If you prepare by making your CFI binder and getting some written tests out of the way, you will do just fine in the coarse and also know what you are doing when you get your first job as a CFI. Being prepared will also keep costs down as AF is very expensive, but in this case, you do get what you pay for.

Ami, which location are you at? The new Pompano, Fl CFI academy just started today.

For the people that think it should take a year to finish your CFI, I can't believe that. Unless you only work on your CFI two days a week, or you can't grasp the new concepts well, it should not take a year to complete your CFI courses.
 
If you intend to get a job right after you get your liscense. The answer to your question about which one has the 'Best CFI Program' lies in the program that offers you the best possibility of getting employed at once you have your ticket. Its the best chance to get to know the management of that particular flight school or academy. When a school looks to hire a new instructor or frequently in today's case a class of instructors, it always look internally before looking externally and publishing job advertisements. The best is to envision your flight instructor training as a job interview.
 
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