Sean what you described is exactly what I did / am doing (almost done, too!
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Can someone give me a realistic expection of the traininng that will be required(not the requrements, but what people have really had to do). I am just wondering about cost, time period, how much ground school, how much time in the right seat before it became second nature? I plan on flying 2-3 days a week. Right now i have 181 total time in sel
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Cost... tough to say as always. Average of $100/hr works out really well, which would mean it's gonna be around 7 grand, maybe a bit more because of the complex time.
Time period, well if each flight is 1.5 and you fly 3 times a week and you need 69hrs...
For training required... much of the CFI is ground stuff, so if you start making lesson plans and teaching now you'll lessen the cost signifigantly in terms of ground time.
Right seat took a few flights, but I felt just fine after the 3rd or so.
I suggest making sure you meet commercial reqs by doing the XCs. Then go out and do something fun... you don't need to train all 70 hours, do a tailwheel or aerobatics course; it probably won't add much to the total cost. You'll also get way better at flying than you would if you did the same amount of time doing chandelles. Plus if you do aerobatics there's your spin sign off right there.
Then spend the rest of your flight time by working toward the CFI by doing commercial maneuvers fromt the right seat and explaining as you go.