Looking to start my CFI training (advice please)

Ajax

Ajax

¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I'm looking at officially starting my cfi this week. I was looking at American Flyers and a CFI school in Houston that offers a 10-day CFI-A,CFI-I, and MEI course. I've nixed American Flyers for various reasons, and I'm leaning towards my local FBO where I did my instrument rating and my multi-comm over the accelerated course. The 10 day school is about $5,000 but since it's so fast-paced I'm concerned about the possibility of it focusing more on rote memorization than actual understanding. I talked to the chief flight instructor at my local FBO(who I have known for a few years) and he said he was happy to see that this is one of my primary concerns and promised me that he won't sing me off until he is certain I have a degree of understanding and ability to go for such a checkride.

So I was wondering if any of you guys have any experience with the accelerated CFI courses. I know it's been talked about a lot, and I'm sorry to rehash somethings if it seems unnecessary.

Also, another thing that runs through my mind is that I have absolutely no chance to get hired on at the CFI school because that's all they do. On the other hand, my local FBO knows me well and have even used me to help ferry some of their planes before, and there is the possibility that I could get hired there as they seem to like to hire their previous students. They have CFI's that are about to move on to better things and they just hired their most recent CFI student after his checkride.

Any advice or comments would be very helpful.
 
It is probably better to do a thorough course, rather than an accelerated course. It sounds like you have already made your decision, which is probably the right one. Also, remember that any accelerated course cannot guarantee that the FSDO can schedule the checkride in a timely manner.
 
Ajax BU said:
LOL, sorry about the typo. I'll sing to him after I pass my checkride if it helps...
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Haha no problem. Just thought it was a funny typo.

Anyway if it helps you the KPMP location of American Flyers offered me a job when I went through their program. Accelerated courses don't always mean no job just depends on time and place, just like anywhere else.

I would actually recommend going to AF (KPMP) for an accelerated course. The KPMP location is great so long as you take their advice. just expect the price to be around $5-6k total when you are finished. I finished just over $5K for two ratings in the time period they advertised for the most part. Only thing that took me over the 30 days was scheduling a DPE and the weather for my second checkride.

As far as studying, get the FAA manuals and study those as they are the main source AF uses. Also take the FOI and maybe one other written test before going.
 
+1 for FBO. Sounds like you already have the hard part out of the way of getting your foot in the door, so with a little hard work and dedication you shouldn't have the problem of getting hired.

AF (KPMP) has a really great program from what I've heard but your chances of getting hired are slim. I was going to do the CFI-A & CFI-I 30 day program but when I got the loan paperwork and saw 12% I tore it up. Which reminds me, AF is still one of the few remaining schools that offers Sallie Mae in case your looking to finance. On a side note I recently visited there site and noticed a price/investment increase from $2995 to $4995, so unless they've increased the flight hours you're probably looking at 7k. http://www.americanflyers.net/flightinstructor/default.htm

One last thing, if you have the time and a community college with a flight program you may want to check out that option. Last semester I enrolled in a CFI ground school and was very pleased with the results. IMO the best ground i've ever received. We had our main instructor + 3 different highly experienced instructors from the local FBO alternate and cover FOI, lesson plans, presentations and tricks of the trade. It really opened my eyes as to how much there really is to know if you want to be a good instructor. The best part, it only costs $250 and I was able to maintain a full time job to save for my upcoming flight lessons.
 
PlayaSteelo said:
AF (KPMP) has a really great program from what I've heard but your chances of getting hired are slim. I was going to do the CFI-A & CFI-I 30 day program but when I got the loan paperwork and saw 12% I tore it up.
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That's about how all flight training loans are these days. The small loan I got for my training at AF is currently sitting at 3.5%. Right now is not a time to get a loan for flight training.

PlayaSteelo said:
On a side note I recently visited there site and noticed a price/investment increase from $2995 to $4995, so unless they've increased the flight hours you're probably looking at 7k. http://www.americanflyers.net/flightinstructor/default.htm
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They might have just put it up to the realistic level of hours, but their website doesn't exactly spell out the program anymore.

In the end, a FBO or accelerated course will get you to the same place. Go to the one that will cost the less and you can learn the most from. If you are a good self study, the accelerated route could be for you. If you like a more personable approach to learning, the FBO would be a good route.
 
fly with me in the 182RG with all glass panel...you know you want to...


Actually, that would be a much better aircraft for the II addon. I can teach you all about fancy avionics!
 
I got my BS in aviation science and took a CFI ground school course through that. Financially, my parents are picking up the tab for this one. I think my dad is officially in "whatever it takes to get him off of my payroll" mode.

And Roger, I appreciate it but another bonus of doing it up here in Waco is that I don't need to get housing, I can crash in my old bedroom at my parents place.

BTW, what kind of avionics? I love the glass cockpits though, I did almost all of my time building xtries in the g1000. We used to have a 182 but someone neglected to check fuel and ran outta gas just 100 miles outta town and put it in a ditch. Luckily no one was hurt though, the plane as a total loss, however.
 
Ajax BU said:
I got my BS in aviation science and took a CFI ground school course through that. Financially, my parents are picking up the tab for this one. I think my dad is officially in "whatever it takes to get him off of my payroll" mode.

And Roger, I appreciate it but another bonus of doing it up here in Waco is that I don't need to get housing, I can crash in my old bedroom at my parents place.

BTW, what kind of avionics? I love the glass cockpits though, I did almost all of my time building xtries in the g1000. We used to have a 182 but someone neglected to check fuel and ran outta gas just 100 miles outta town and put it in a ditch. Luckily no one was hurt though, the plane as a total loss, however.
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Garmin G500 PFD/MFD combo, Garmin 530W, and JPI EDM 930 Engine management (read: no mechanical engine gauges).
 
I'm wanting to get my CFI training finished as well, if I had a pocket full of money ( or my dad was picking up the tab) I would do American Flyers.
 
the only thing i might add is that every accelerated course I've ever been a part of has not been accelerated.

I +1 the fbo route, because if it takes a little longer, you're probably going to save $$
 
Thanks for the comments. I had my first session today at my local FBO. I'm on the schedule once a day and had the chief flight instructor tell me that upon completion of my CFI if he has any openings he'd love to have me on board. :cool:
 
if anyone is still reading this... i was told earlier today that American Flyers are "reorganizing" their financial aid program. They do not offer financial aid at the moment. So I have to find the $$ from somewhere else. Anyone have a suggestion as to where to go for a loan? My bank has an unsecured personal loan at 13.1% Is there anything a little more friendly or more centered around aviation ??
 
robofos said:
if anyone is still reading this... i was told earlier today that American Flyers are "reorganizing" their financial aid program. They do not offer financial aid at the moment. So I have to find the $$ from somewhere else. Anyone have a suggestion as to where to go for a loan? My bank has an unsecured personal loan at 13.1% Is there anything a little more friendly or more centered around aviation ??
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If you have good standing with a credit card company you can likely beat 13 percent with them. Still probably looking at 10 percent, but still better.
 
robofos said:
if anyone is still reading this... i was told earlier today that American Flyers are "reorganizing" their financial aid program. They do not offer financial aid at the moment. So I have to find the $$ from somewhere else. Anyone have a suggestion as to where to go for a loan? My bank has an unsecured personal loan at 13.1% Is there anything a little more friendly or more centered around aviation ??
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My recommendation would be not to go to AF...Go at your pace at your local FBO!!
 
Roger said:
Garmin G500 PFD/MFD combo, Garmin 530W, and JPI EDM 930 Engine management (read: no mechanical engine gauges).
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Brian Z & I both did our CFI training in this

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  • NEW!! Garmin G600 PFD/MFD System
  • Century HSI Garmin MX20 Multi Function Display
  • Garmin GMA340 Audio Panel with 4-place Intercom
  • Garmin GTX327 Transponder
  • Dual Garmin GNS430 Nav/Com / GPS / Moving Map's / WAAS Enabled
  • Garmin GDL90 ADS-B (displays traffic & weather)
  • It even has "SAFE TAXI" & much more!!
Would be even nicer if the ADS-B stuff was on-line around here. Still has the mechanical engine gauges though
 
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