CFI School - progress thread

ahw01

ahw01

Well-Known Member
Hi all, I am off to CFI school with American Flyers FL from tomorrow. I'm planning to do a day by day update on here to keep track of progress and let people know how AF perform too.

My aim is 3 writtens, 3 checkrides, within 3 weeks. It is a tall order but possible if I work hard (no beach). At the end of the day it is no big deal as the visa runs to November, but as a target it is a big one.

With ATP rules changing from 1st August, the written is one of the 3 I will take. I have the FIA/FII writtens prepared and lesson plans done, so will hope to hit the ground running.

Best,

Alex.
 
Thanks man, FOI already done as I have the AGI/IGI. Remembering all that stuff though...

Also to add I am doing 1-2-1 training, so not the 30 day academy, which is a different approach.

DAY 0:

Travelled from London via Newark, got businessfirst on United, and TSA Precheck, got to Fort Laurderdale at 6pm local. Found my home for 3 weeks and just scouting out the local area.
 
Have a good time! And I am sure you can find at least an afternoon for the beach. I suggest flying into KVNC, KEYW, KSPG, KCDK for lunch. All have food on something beach like, walking distance...
 
Thanks, no pressure then, I will do two posts per day, one on the prep, one on how it turned out,

DAY 1 Prep

8am show time, just finished a practice written. Have a 1pm meet with my instructor, so will do the written inbetween. It looks like FII flight instructor instrument initial, followed by the AFA flight instructor airplane add-on post checkride, so not too heavy on the writtens just yet.

Slightly nervous as I don't know what level they will expect, but I think Im as ready as I can be and am certainly motivated (I'll put the hours in to get up to speed).

Alex.

PS the heat is unbelievable, but it only makes me more determined to knock this out. Am used to PHX in August so this will take some adjustment, and fluids no doubt.
 
Hey Bro!
Good luck and keep the posts coming. I am curious how well you like it as your experience will likely dictate whether I go or not. Just one question, what is the 1-2-1 training vs. the traditional CFI academy.

Thanks!
 
Hey, 1-2-1 is costlier as it is effectively an accelerated program where I get one on one instruction. This fits with my leave from work. The 30 day academy is where there's a class of 10-15 etc all learning at once (on the ground at least). Two guys got their CFII initial today, me soon,

Day 1 PROGRESS 0745-1715

Showed up, met with school director, got in processed, a great facility, similar to DVT. Got a couple of writtens practiced and knocked out the FII (80). Then met my instructor for a review of the PTS, special emphasis areas and a preflight walk around.

My knowledge was there, but using the FAA definitions and the way they like to hear it is new. I'll get the hang of it. Homework, special emphasis lesson plans (to ward off the examiner) but mainly I'll be teaching instruments/related systems and BAI tomorrow. Then the Sim.

Alex.
 
DAY 2 Plan

FIA Written
Teach BAI and Instrument systems (Pitot, Gyro etc)
1st Sim lesson
Complete special emphasis plans
Get my employers queries out of the way so I can focus on planes

I also stocked up on food, there should be a thread on CFI food and recipes, I think Im gonna have to get inventive, no time for restaurants/bars hehe
 
Sounds interesting, am not far off, ham cheese sandwiches, muffins, tracker bars... Lunch is for wimps though, too much to study at present...

Day 2 Progress 0815-1715

FIA Written - DONE (72) - close but a pass, that was a tough one, glad I didn't 2nd guess more...

12-4 Teach BAI and Instrument systems - went fine, I got better at talking, drawing etc,
Also SIM - BAI skills came back fine, steep turns in the sim was new.
4-5 Review Wx and FOI for teaching tomorrow.
 
Day 3 Progress 0815-1915

Plan & Practice Sim 0830-1030
Revise Ground 1030-1430
Teach FOI 1500-1900 (Long.....)

Day 4:

0700-1100 for Weather Theory & Services!
 
Day 4 Progress 0700-1700

0700-0800 - completed intro to FOI, tough but a better idea of acronyms and examples to use.
0800-1100 - weather - theory and services - I did most of the teaching, so getting better.
1100-1200 - started the CFII Technical Subject Areas (Aeromedical, Systems, Nav Eqpt) all fine.
1200-1330 - Sim Practice (which is free to use solo) #2 - got holds down better now and steep turns in the Sim licked.
1330-1700 - solo ground study for the rest of the tech subject areas

Plan is to sit in on Day 1 of the CFII written ground school to take notes to help teach on saturday, then fly x2 on sunday.

Check-rides have been scheduled, CFII Initial 19th, CFIA Add-on 24th, MEI Add-on 28/29th.
 
Day 5 0800-1730

Sit in on CFII Written ground Day 1 - good review of systems, airspace, IFR charts, navigation etc. Lots of good info, ignore TO/FROM and right/left when using the VOR was a good one.

They had a BBQ and safety seminar. Had students ask me for advice on IFR flight planning, which is good for me. Now to fly tomorrow...
 
Day 6 0800-1830

Flight 1: BAI practice, compass, timed, steep turns, unusual attitudes, GPS approach.

Ground: Teach Holds, DME Arcs.

Flight 2: Some BAI, 3 Hold entries, DME Arc, GPS Approach.

Flew pretty well, some new skills in maintaining altitude/heading from the right seat but think I have the parallax sorted. Just gonna think about the nav systems and make sure I evade the gotchas, which means Sim Practice, which will happen with some ground tomorrow...
 
The 19th as in 5 days from now???? Sounds like its going great! thanks for the blog, keep it coming!!!!! post some pics as well if you get a chance...
 
BTW, can you tell me more about the 1-2-1 program. Do they do it just for the cfi as well? PM or post is good.. Thanks!
 
Yeah, knocking it out pretty fast at present. 1-2-1 can go for any program, I think they call it finish-up. Rates are higher because you're not in a group.

Alex.
 
Day 7, set as a solo sim practice day, I did some sim practice but holds still are a bit streaky, will hope to tie those up tomorrow, when I have more solo sim practice, along with ground study too.

I think the key is to own the airplane vs being the commercial student who is looking for direction. Hope I can polish off the rough edges over the next couple of days...

Alex.
 
ahw01 said:
Day 7, set as a solo sim practice day, I did some sim practice but holds still are a bit streaky, will hope to tie those up tomorrow, when I have more solo sim practice, along with ground study too.

I think the key is to own the airplane vs being the commercial student who is looking for direction. Hope I can polish off the rough edges over the next couple of days...

Alex.
Click to expand...
Demonstrate mastery of the aircraft is definitely part of it. Mastery of the material as well. It's a lot to absorb, which is why is good to start day one of your flight training with the goal of teaching it. When you can teach someone else, then you really know the material.

Keep up the good work. Self critique is a good sign that you are headed in the right direction.
 
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