How long to be CFI

[giannifly]

I am interested in knowing how long it took for you to earn your CFI. I am interested in how long (weeks, months) and how much ground and flight training. I am interested in those who did it on their own at a local flight school.

Any of this information would be helpful.

Thanks for any responses.

 

[tcco94]

45 days CFI/CFII at American Flyers. They have a class (about 4-5 days a week for a couple hours) but a lot of it was on your own. I did 6 days a week, 9-6pm at the airport. Flying wise I did 3 practice flights before the checkride and then spin endorsement. It was plenty to make me feel comfortable and ready.

 

[Jordan93]

I did it in about 3 months at my local part 61 flight school. I flew/did ground about once a week. You can self study for most of it.

 

[BigZ]

Self-study at a leasurly pace, didn't count.
Ten hours of ground, mostly hangar flying and cautionary tales for young CFI
3-4 hours in my plane, planned to rent an Arrow for half hour to practice, schedule didn't work out.
Ended up doing the ride 2/3 in my plane and landings in the Arrow, DPE fee was $50 more due to that, but I figured my chances were better in the plane I had 150 or so hours in vs arrow and the 10 hours in it half a year ago.

PS I did do my commercial asel and ases with the same instructor earlier though and had good raport/never failed a ride, so he felt comfortable signing me off with the above.

PPS So figure a week with the instructor after I was done with the self study.
CFII was an hour and a half flight with another CFI with whom we did good share of my instrument 40 hrs.