CFI Program Las Vegas

DenverPilot8

DenverPilot8

Well-Known Member
I will be doing the CFI Program starting the 21st of this month. Anyone else going at that time or have experience with this program at this location? I got the schedule and it looks like I'll be in class from 5AM till 5PM.
 
DenverPilot8 said:
I got the schedule and it looks like I'll be in class from 5AM till 5PM.
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Frank V will show up early, not always 5am. He'll do about 5-6 hours of class then leave around 3pm usually. You'll be expected to be there as long as it takes to get it done. At the end of the day, you'll get endorsements from him, if not at the begning of the day. If you want to do go, ask him about his Mooney. He wears the same jumpsuit everyday. Overall, if you stay awake, you'll do just fine. The whole class is a review of the pre-test you should have recived before the start of the program. Don't let Frank intimidate you in the airplane. And I hope you did your spin endorsement before you make it to Vegas. I hear his spin training leaves a lot to be desired. PM me for specific questions. I went to their CFI program a little over two years ago.
 
I went through the program about 5 months ago. The "ground school" is pretty much just going through the pre-test you received. As mentioned in the previous reply, as long as you stay awake you'll do fine and Frank does wear the same grey jumpsuit everyday....classic. Don't worry if Frank doesn't sign you off after your flight with him. Only one person in my class of eight actually got signed off by Frank for the flight. He will just have you go up with one of the instructors. Its pretty funny, Frank will tell you he's 200 lbs for the weight and balance, but thats b.s he's pushin more like 280-300. On the first day you will also find out if your going to take your checkride with a D.P.E. or the Feds. If you get Bill Lewis for your checkride and need a gouge or you need anymore info on the program you can PM me. One more thing you will find that North Las Vegas is pretty ghetto, especially where the put you up.
 
Make the best of it please. There is no other place where you can walk out with everything, for that amount of money, in that amount of time. I finished April 20th. Frank V is an abrasive, wanna be Soprano with the same grey and black wind breaker suit every single day. He is an ass, but is very smart, and I learned a bunch from him. First week, the ground school is going over the pre test you have to fill out, depending on if you are a 7 hour or 15 hour guy, you will start flying pretty quickly. Dont expect to get Frank to sign you off, but you will fly with another CFI and get signed. The checkrides start coming pretty quick one right after the other. I did a checkride every other day, with prep in between. People in my class, I had 8, liked to party and not take it seriously. Just take it seriously, buckle down and you will walk away successful. Please let us know how it turns out!

I did mine with Bill Lewis as well, but I can give gouge on Andy Montoya as well.

I had my spin training done already but did it with ATP for giggles. And I didn't like spinning the 172's they were not very good at spinning.

Make sure make sure make sure, all your paperwork is in order, your logbook totalled and all that. It is important, even if you think its good, make sure right now that its truly ok.

The airplanes were the nicest part of VGT. Newish Seminole's that seemed to fly great. The Cessna's were horrible. Expect some 4am, 5am flights, then class. A typical day was a 5am crank, class till 4 or so, then studying till 10. Every single day till I left. For flights they dont give you a time to be there, they give you a time to be in the seat to press the button so you want to get there about 30 min before. Dont take offense, or let your pride or ego get in the way of getting your tickets. ATP's way of doing things is different from the rest of the world, the only ones that are used to it are ATP's complete program students. I had to suck it up for the sake of getting the sign offs to do the checkride, and the ATP instructors make you do it their way or highway, as long as you can get passed them, do the checkride how you always fly, hit the standards and you will walk away a winner.
 
And north Vegas is super ghetto. Don't drive your own car unless you don't mind getting your window shattered.
 
My advice to you would be prepared to have no life for 2 weeks of so. I would also advise that you stay under the radar as much as possible. Frank will be looking for perfection during your first flight with him, just relax and do the best you can and you'll be fine. I would also suggest that you team up with the other pilots to study with.
 
Study with as many of your peers as you can. Use the dry erase boards in your apartments. Dry fly whenever you feel the need to sharpen your skills. Drink plenty of fluids as it's the hottest right now there. Stay alert and get plenty of rest. Cranking at 5am is standard operating procedure with Frank. Frank is extremely intimidating and will not sympathize with you if you are struggling. Use every resource there to your advantage and quiz each other on the oral stuff. When you get done you will know SMACFUM backwards and in your sleep! It is an intense course but well worth it, best luck and let us know how you're progressing!

On a side note, is Frank still the only instructor that can sign you off for your initial CFI ride? I went there 2 years ago and Keith was just about to get his 2 year endorsement for CFI.
 
If you get Bill Lewis you don't need a gouge, it's a free ticket.

Andy is fair, so be prepared and you'll be fine.

The experience there sucks if you're looking for fun, but it's quick and you'll have that CFI ticket without a job to use it on before you know it.
 
mkeeg001 said:
If you get Bill Lewis you don't need a gouge, it's a free ticket.

Andy is fair, so be prepared and you'll be fine.

The experience there sucks if you're looking for fun, but it's quick and you'll have that CFI ticket without a job to use it on before you know it.
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Sounds like you did your tickets with Andy, which would explain the Bill bashing.

Bill is not a free ticket, he was failing people left and right when I was there. Be prepared no matter who you have.
 
Well I'm into week two of the CFI course in Las Vegas. Pretty much everything stated so far has been SPOT ON. We have been flying at 5AM and class till 5PM. I've been studying till 11PM and reapeat everyday I've been here. There is only myself and another student in this class so its just been me and him hitting the books everyday. Frank didn't sign me off the first time for pattern work but I got my sign off from him this morning. He gets on you quickly but it does make you more vigilant. It has been Hot as Balls everyday here (106F) and North Las Vegas is a misearble place. It's pretty much a living nightmare right now. I was supposed to take my checkride today with Bill but he was unable to make it so I might be going with Andy or a guy named Gary. It's true there is no life whatsoever when you are doing this program. I am in a bubble from the Partment to the flight school that's it! I can see the Las Vegas strip from here but it might as well be a million miles away:). Anyway I've been progressing ok and I think I'm ready to go for MEI Initial. I'm a little worried about II as I've done little to no IFR flying in the last year. But right now I'm looking to MEI then will go to the SIM all night the next day and then check ride the following day. There really is nothing like this program. It's as intense as it can get for a two week timespan. Now back to studying.....
 
I had Gary. If you know your stuff and dont him it is a breeze. That being said you need to know your stuff. Keep up the good work and dont let Frank get to you. He called me a yum yum and a cupcake everyday in class. Then told me in front of my class that I wasnt going to pass. Well I did pass and I never looked back!
 
I had Gary. He may act like a student and mess some things up to see if you are paying attention and correct him. He may have you walk him through a take off and/or unusual attitudes. Just watch him if he takes the controls.
 
Honestly, most of the examiners ATP uses for CFI initials are looking for a CFI who creates a safe pilot. The signoff here is usually not easy to get!
 
amorris311 said:
He called me a yum yum and a cupcake everyday in class. Then told me in front of my class that I wasnt going to pass. Well I did pass and I never looked back!
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:D HAHA!!! i totally forgot about that phrase! oh jeez, you just made my day! ...on a side note, i never did exactly figure out what a "yum yum" is. always just assumed it was a bad thing. huh, maybe Frank was actually paying compliments. hmmm....NOT!
 
Would you guys recommend Vegas over Jacksonville or Atlanta? I will be scheduling mine in a month or so and am trying to figure out if the locations really matter that much.

Is 30 days enough study and prep time or should I try to give myself more time than that?
 
DenverPilot8 said:
Well I'm into week two of the CFI course in Las Vegas. Pretty much everything stated so far has been SPOT ON. We have been flying at 5AM and class till 5PM. I've been studying till 11PM and reapeat everyday I've been here. There is only myself and another student in this class so its just been me and him hitting the books everyday. Frank didn't sign me off the first time for pattern work but I got my sign off from him this morning. He gets on you quickly but it does make you more vigilant. It has been Hot as Balls everyday here (106F) and North Las Vegas is a misearble place. It's pretty much a living nightmare right now. I was supposed to take my checkride today with Bill but he was unable to make it so I might be going with Andy or a guy named Gary. It's true there is no life whatsoever when you are doing this program. I am in a bubble from the Partment to the flight school that's it! I can see the Las Vegas strip from here but it might as well be a million miles away:). Anyway I've been progressing ok and I think I'm ready to go for MEI Initial. I'm a little worried about II as I've done little to no IFR flying in the last year. But right now I'm looking to MEI then will go to the SIM all night the next day and then check ride the following day. There really is nothing like this program. It's as intense as it can get for a two week timespan. Now back to studying.....
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Good luck on your initial. Take Bill Lewis cancelling as an opportunity to study a little bit more! I know how you feel about seeing the vegas strip in the distance...it's certainly intimidating! When you pass your MEI, go out and have a beer :beer: and then move all your belongings into the sim :sarcasm: and fly those approaches as much as you can.
 
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