CFI

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N8389P

Well-Known Member
Looks like I should be getting my CFI sometime in March!!!!!! About Time. Im taking my com written on Firday and the flight test in about 2 weeks. Where should I go for my CFI. No multi time yet so I dont know if ALLATPS will work. Do they have a program for the CFI and CFII or do you need the to get the MEI too? I was thinking Shebles. Had a friend goto shebles for his com, multi ir and com, CFI and II. Also another person I know went there for his II and MEI. What do you guys say. If I goto Shebles I would be flying home everynight. I also like Airmen but its kinda far and would spent alot more money there. I have a CFI job setup already so the faster I get this done the faster I could start making money. Where would you guys go if time and money was a big factor?
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As long as you have you initial commercial, you can get the rest at ATP. I've heard good things about both them and Shebles, so it's gonna be whichever school you like better.
 
I haven't started the CFI yet, but here's what I've gathered about those places. Both ATP and Sheble have programs which are designed get you to pass the checkride and little else. Personally, I decided that I'd rather find an instructor and location where I would really learn to be an instructor, not just to scrape by and get the certificate. This comes from hanging out at the FBO and seeing one after another fresh ATP and Sheble grads walk in with their resumes only to be told that there were no positions available, even though I knew that to be false.

Recently, I heard a rumor (rumot?) that Sheble's DEs had their Certificates yanked because of poor quality flight training (I must stress rumor).

ATP seems to be more of a crap shoot. My instructor is an ATP grad and he feels that his training there was very good, (and I think he is an excellent instructor) but that he also got lucky by being given a very thorough instructor at ATP. I've read some posts here on JC where people who did the CFI at ATP say that they didn't feel totally ready to get right out there and start instructing.

Good Luck with whatever you decide.
 
I've been a CFI since 1980. Of all my flight training, I think my preperation for the CFI was the worst but I still passed the checkride. 25 years later, I'd say just get the ticket any way you can and don't worry about it. In my opinion, you can't really train a good CFI. You could spend 10K at some fancy school and you'd only be a marginally better CFI than doing it at minimum cost. The way you become a good CFI is by doing the job and gaining experience, it's something that you can't teach. The FAA should set up a mentorship program where by new CFI's are mentored or tutored by experienced CFI's, but that will never happen. Just go out and get the ticket and don't worry about it. I have a friend that did Shebles and it was a lot of hard work. The CFI ticket is one the FAA doesn't give away. If Shebles knows how to get guys through the training at minimum time and cost...then more power to them.
 
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I've been a CFI since 1980. Of all my flight training, I think my preperation for the CFI was the worst but I still passed the checkride. 25 years later, I'd say just get the ticket any way you can and don't worry about it. In my opinion, you can't really train a good CFI. You could spend 10K at some fancy school and you'd only be a marginally better CFI than doing it at minimum cost. The way you become a good CFI is by doing the job and gaining experience, it's something that you can't teach. The FAA should set up a mentorship program where by new CFI's are mentored or tutored by experienced CFI's, but that will never happen. Just go out and get the ticket and don't worry about it. I have a friend that did Shebles and it was a lot of hard work. The CFI ticket is one the FAA doesn't give away. If Shebles knows how to get guys through the training at minimum time and cost...then more power to them.

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For the record, I always value Don's opinion and his posts here have helped me a lot.

The big problem I see on an almost daily basis is fresh-minted CFIs from shebles, ATP, Air Desert Pacific, etc., being unable to find employment. This is probably changing as hiring at regionals picks up, but most of the time it seems like a good idea to do your CFI at the place you would want to work in order to have a decent shot at being hired (sort of a networking thing I guess).
 
For a while a lot of places were only hiring CFIs that had trained with them, especially smaller FBOs. Air Orlando got REALLY stingy on hiring CFIs for a while. Then Airnet and the regionals started taking their CFIs......
 
Dude, it's Tabb! Do like some others in here have said and try to get it local unless you have a fo sho job lined up. I see tons onf CFI resumes come in every day, from all over the place and they dont get hired. Like it was said earlier, most will hire those who they train. It's a feeling out process for the school. If they train you and see that you are good, they will hire you. It also helps to have taken the ride with an examiner that is known around the area where you want to work. At least he can testify as to how you did etc. That's my 2 cents worth, now when r we going up in the comanche anyhow???? LAter bro
 
Whats going on Tabber LOL havent seen you in the zone for months hahahahha

I got a job
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When ever I bang out this CFI I can start the next day. Thats why I was looking for a place to go get it done.

We need to meet up at L70 one day and pimp the FBO girls.
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Amen to that. I'll cruise up there one day when the WX gets better and we can pimp out the 'manche. WHere did you get a job? Do the CFI out at shelbe's. I hear its a good place, cheap and good. Keep me up to date. Been off the zone for a bit, cause I've been backed up with students the last month or so due to the wx. Take care , Tabb
 
The fbo at Apple Valley. Kinda like a freelance thing. They put my name in the book and start giving me students that walkin. The fbo doesnt pay me but the students do. 20$ an hour. I hope I can get it in march before I turn 19. We will see We just sold one of the sandrails so I have some extra money, but the plane needs a paint job
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pochos be asking about you HAHAHA
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The 18-year old MEI I know did his training at ATP...and even they won't hire him. Well...what can you do?
 
We'll. I can sort of understand that. Many students paying good money for instruction might have a hard time taking an 18 year old seriously....even if he's a great CFI. If he was 18, but looked 23, it would probably be different.

This is a situation where, if a kid trained at a local FBO, had a good reputation, and folks around there knew him, he would probably be okay. But I wouldn't want to be running around the country at 18 looking for a CFI job.

I think it's great that someone so young could accomplish so much. Maybe he could grow a beard or something....
 
I started instructing full-time right after my 20th birthday (got my CFI at 19). The look on some students (mostly student's parents) faces was priceless when they found out that I was to be their instructor. Each time, I offered to schedule them with an "older" instructor, no hard feelings, if they so desired. Never had anyone take me up on the offer and had a decent load of students. It's all about professionalism.

(BTW, I am 22 now and still look 18...so I definitely don't look old for my age!
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No, just CFI/CFII. When I got my first instructing gig, the place didn't have a multi and they wanted me to start ASAP. So I finished my II and started instructing.

I want to get my MEI sometime, but can't afford it right now. I don't really need it to get multi time anyway, so I'm not in any hurry, it would just be nice to have.
 
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