I am about to start my Commercial flight training, followed by my CFI. I am being told that it is easier if I were to get my Commercial in a ME plane, then my MEI followed by a CFI add-on??? Can someone set me straight as to the easiest path to my CFI? Is it better to just go straight for my CFI or get the MEI and a CFI add-on?
getting instructor ratings
- Thread starter Airmann
- Start date
Inverted25
Well-Known Member
Either way if you want to be a CFI you must have a commercial single engine as well not just multi engine. If you do the multiengine ride first you can do your commercial single in a fixed gear since you demonstrated the complex portion on your multi ride. Same with CFI. If you do your MEI first then you can use a fixed gear for the CFI ride.
Hacker15e
Who am I? Where are my pants?
This is the prime reason some places do it that way.
rframe
pǝʇɹǝʌuı
Just make sure you definitely have the money to cover all of the training if you go after the multi-engine first. It'd really stink to build 15+ hours of multi-engine time, get your Com MEL and MEI and then be short on cash, unable to finish your COM SEL and CFI-A, and be essential unemployable...
Websterpilot
Well-Known Member
No matter how you go about your CFI training, there really isn't an "easier way" to do it. It's going to be difficult and you will need to spend a ridiculousness amount of time towards your initial certificate.
Unless there is a reason (complex airplane availability) for completing your MEI as your initial, I would get your CFI-A first. You can always work on the other ratings later while making money and gaining experience. Like rframe said, if you run out of money you are going to be stuck. Also, I can guarantee you that if you are a new hire CFI at a school with a multi, you won't be touching it for a very long time if ever. Lastly, it's hard enough to figure out how to teach. Do yourself and your student's a favor and start slow. Figure things out first before you try and jump into a light twin while in IMC.
Many schools will let their CFI's rent the airplanes at cost; find a CFII or MEI who is willing to donate their time and you will save tons of money!
Unless there is a reason (complex airplane availability) for completing your MEI as your initial, I would get your CFI-A first. You can always work on the other ratings later while making money and gaining experience. Like rframe said, if you run out of money you are going to be stuck. Also, I can guarantee you that if you are a new hire CFI at a school with a multi, you won't be touching it for a very long time if ever. Lastly, it's hard enough to figure out how to teach. Do yourself and your student's a favor and start slow. Figure things out first before you try and jump into a light twin while in IMC.
Many schools will let their CFI's rent the airplanes at cost; find a CFII or MEI who is willing to donate their time and you will save tons of money!
Inverted25
Well-Known Member
Its cheaper. Your going to rent that multi anyways to do your MEL and MEI. If you do that first though you can rent the 172 instead of 182rg for SEL and CFI
drunkenbeagle
Gang Member
It can be hard to find a complex single these days. Since they are only really needed for a C-ASEL/CFI student, and those students aren't going to need many hours, it isn't a rental aircraft that will see a lot of use. Which means it is pretty expensive for an owner to want to put it on leaseback at a flight school. Plus the expensive insurance for when it gears up (it will eventually - probably with a CFI on board)
It's not like there were a ton of Arrows or 172RGs to begin with, and no one really makes new light singles complex anymore either.
Hacker15e
Who am I? Where are my pants?
Of course it is cost. You can either fly a complex for the CFI and a multi for the MEI, or a fixed gear for the CFI and a multi for the MEI.
Gotta pay for the multi either way, so you can save money on the CFI part.
I was glad to do it in a complex. It made it a lot easier not having to fiddle with the power settings all the time.
I didn't do it this way, but I would be interested to think what other people think of the following:
1. Study for your Commercial and CFI Oral at the same time. Attain instructional knowledge in all the CSEL areas.
2. Take your Commercial Written, CFI Writtens and AGI written all at the same time.
3. Prepare for the CSEL flying portion from the right seat and attain instructional knowledge/demonstration in all of the Commercial Maneuvers. Talk your way through all of the maneuvers from the start.
4. Take the CSEL Checkride from the right seat (a cfi-friend of mine did this), schedule your CFI ride the same day you pass the CSEL.
4. Prepare instructional knowledge of PSEL and CFI parts of the Oral (endorsements, etc.)
5. Practice the private-only flight maneuvers from from the right seat.
6. Take the CFI Checkride.
This assumes, you have a complex single available, have the money to pay for your CFI and Commercial at the same time and have completed all of the necessary written exams.
The CFI check is the hardest, in part because there is just so much you need to know. I took my CFI checkride about 15 years after my private and 5 years after my commercial. I wish I had done the commercial and the CFI much closer together. But then again, I never thought I'd want to get my CFI rating.
1. Study for your Commercial and CFI Oral at the same time. Attain instructional knowledge in all the CSEL areas.
2. Take your Commercial Written, CFI Writtens and AGI written all at the same time.
3. Prepare for the CSEL flying portion from the right seat and attain instructional knowledge/demonstration in all of the Commercial Maneuvers. Talk your way through all of the maneuvers from the start.
4. Take the CSEL Checkride from the right seat (a cfi-friend of mine did this), schedule your CFI ride the same day you pass the CSEL.
4. Prepare instructional knowledge of PSEL and CFI parts of the Oral (endorsements, etc.)
5. Practice the private-only flight maneuvers from from the right seat.
6. Take the CFI Checkride.
This assumes, you have a complex single available, have the money to pay for your CFI and Commercial at the same time and have completed all of the necessary written exams.
The CFI check is the hardest, in part because there is just so much you need to know. I took my CFI checkride about 15 years after my private and 5 years after my commercial. I wish I had done the commercial and the CFI much closer together. But then again, I never thought I'd want to get my CFI rating.
Inverted25
Well-Known Member
I have seen people do it that way. Some examiners though aren't keen on letting people take the commercial checkride from the right seat.
drunkenbeagle
Gang Member
I honestly can't remember which seat I did it from. That's about how much difference I think it makes.
Websterpilot
Well-Known Member
For starters you have to come completely prepared and ready for your checkride. You need to have passed the required written tests and have studied and know cold the packaged material they send you prior to your arrival. You review it all at the speed of light for the next several weeks while preparing for the checkride with an in-house DPE.
I have known great pilots and not so great pilots that have come out of these programs. No disrespect intended at all for those who went this route. However, there are a lot of flight schools that shy away from hiring ATP and AF grads and tend to hire CFI's that went the traditional FSDO route.
Where you win is if you get picked up by ATP or AF afterwards. You can build some serious time very quickly.
I have known great pilots and not so great pilots that have come out of these programs. No disrespect intended at all for those who went this route. However, there are a lot of flight schools that shy away from hiring ATP and AF grads and tend to hire CFI's that went the traditional FSDO route.
Where you win is if you get picked up by ATP or AF afterwards. You can build some serious time very quickly.