How long did you wait for the CFI ride?

[drunkenbeagle]

You're right it is a short list, but they have to give you one of them...I would take the DE over the inspector everyday of the week for an extra 500 or so dollars.

I got an email from the Orlando FSDO within 72 hours referring me to a DPE.

I thought it would be much tougher than it was. Everything was straight out of the PTS (private/commercial/CFI all are fair game).

I honestly would have preferred to save the money and do it with the Feds. But doing the Initial CFI with a DPE definitely takes some of the stress out of it.

Being a CFI is an awesome responsibility - I was more worried about my ability to train safe pilots than passing a checkride. Having that attitude will help you.

 

[KSCessnaDriver]

I got an email from the Orlando FSDO within 72 hours referring me to a DPE.

I had a very similar outcome with the Orlando FSDO. About 3 days on the initial email, then about a week to get something scheduled with the DPE. Not that I wanted to spend $550 on the checkride, but I can't complain, I guess, since I passed first try.

 

[drunkenbeagle]

I had a very similar outcome with the Orlando FSDO. About 3 days on the initial email, then about a week to get something scheduled with the DPE. Not that I wanted to spend $550 on the checkride, but I can't complain, I guess, since I passed first try.

Ended up costing me $175. I am a cheapskate...

 

[Mike H]

My understanding was that IF it is beyond THEY have the option to send you to a DE of THEIR choice. Could be wrong though

At the Denver FSDO, apparantly at one time, they used to automatically refer all CFI candidates to a DPE. Eventually, they gave you a choice of waiting for an available inspector or scheduling with your choice of 2 or 3 DPE's. Lately, it's been the choice of scheduling with the next avalable inspector, or calling whichever DPE's turn it was- (choice of DPE's limited to one). Apparently, word got around which DPE's were fair and which ones were horse's asses and the horse's asses started to complain that they weren't getting enough CFI rides (and re-tests).


I decided to schedule with an inspector because there was no fee involved. I think I made the right choice

 

[Niuflyer22]

I heard back from the DuPage FSDO just a couple of days after submitting the paperwork and took the test within a week. Unfortunately when I went for the test we had to discontinue it after the oral due to an issue with the airplane. Scheduling the second time took about a month.

 

[Douglas]

If I remember correctly, I scheduled the ride for about one week after I initially called.
I was weathered out, and he gave me a name of a local DPE.
The DPE couldn't do it sooner than the FSDO so I rescheduled with the FSDO for the following week.

2 1/2 weeks to 3 weeks total.