Still Working on My CFI

N

njboeingfan

Well-Known Member
Hey all,

I must say how envious I am of those of you who have your CFI. I have been struggling to finish my initial for about a year. I started training with a friend in Kansas City two weeks ago but I had to return home b/c of weather and dr. appointments. I will go back in December to finish...I hope. My CFI says I am about 80% there and my teaching is good, so I just need to be more CFI-like. I just need to fine tune my landings and maneuvers. I decided to go with the FSDO instead of a DPE, so if all goes well, I hope my mid-Dec. I will be finished. I can't imagine ever being finished with it.
 
nosehair said:
Aaa, but Grasshopper, first you must imagine your self as the CFI.
Be the CFI.
Click to expand...

This finally clicked with my new CFI. I was flying ok, but he said your student will copy you, and my poor habits. Flying to thr right of the centerline, lack of smooth control, etc.
 
nosehair said:
Aaa, but Grasshopper, first you must imagine your self as the CFI.
Be the CFI.
Click to expand...

Gave another member if this site the same speech on the phone yesterday. Biggest obstacle? Realizing that you are the one that is in charge, no matter what. Be calm. Know what to do and when. Act like it. You can't have confident students without being a confident teacher.

Noonan. Nana nana nana. (It went into the lumberyard)
 
njboeingfan said:
Hey all,

I must say how envious I am of those of you who have your CFI. I have been struggling to finish my initial for about a year. I started training with a friend in Kansas City two weeks ago but I had to return home b/c of weather and dr. appointments. I will go back in December to finish...I hope. My CFI says I am about 80% there and my teaching is good, so I just need to be more CFI-like. I just need to fine tune my landings and maneuvers. I decided to go with the FSDO instead of a DPE, so if all goes well, I hope my mid-Dec. I will be finished. I can't imagine ever being finished with it.
Click to expand...

I can sympathize with your sentiments all too well. It took me roughly about a year to finish my CFIs because of degree requirements, income status and so on. Finally I graduated and just recognized that I had to set everything else aside to make it a priority or else it would never come to pass. It can be a hassle against your training goals having other matters to take of first, although retrospectively you ought to keep in mind that this is a much more common situation for many than you might think; so don't feel too negatively about it. At the end of the day you'll be a CFI so long as you don't let your goals slip out of your sights, and so long as you believe that you are capable of doing it. The mere fact that you believe that you are capable will go a long way, and it'll be noticeable to you as well as to others. It's wise that you established a date to take the checkride both not too far ahead and not too soon. Get familiar with everything in the PTS, know it by heart. Teach as many of the maneuvers as you can in the mean time to persons willing to play student for your benefit. Stay motivated above all. The sky is no limit, my friend.
 
njboeingfan said:
I can't imagine ever being finished with it.
Click to expand...
I feel your pain. Took me about 2 years due to other commitments.my instructor almost fired me. I had a friend, terrified of flying, who said he would go up with me once I get my instructor certificate. The bet was he would always remain safely on the ground.
 
I am glad to hear I am not the only one who feels this way. My current CFI out in MO is great; he finally got me to start acting like a CFI. On our second flight, he just sat there, and when I asked him a question, he replied that he is just a student. The light finally went on.

My biggest problems are my lack of flying and ability to train without distractions. I hardly fly unless it is training, and I have to re-learn the basics. I chose to go out of state to get away from work, wife, etc. I know I will pass eventually (hopefully in Dec when I go back). People think I exaggerate when I say training for the CFI is harder than the bar exam.
 
Hopefully you're wrong because the bar exam SUCKED!!!! Just starting my CFI... god help me!
 
njboeingfan said:
I am glad to hear I am not the only one who feels this way. My current CFI out in MO is great; he finally got me to start acting like a CFI. On our second flight, he just sat there, and when I asked him a question, he replied that he is just a student. The light finally went on.

My biggest problems are my lack of flying and ability to train without distractions. I hardly fly unless it is training, and I have to re-learn the basics. I chose to go out of state to get away from work, wife, etc. I know I will pass eventually (hopefully in Dec when I go back). People think I exaggerate when I say training for the CFI is harder than the bar exam.
Click to expand...

Indeed. It's almost unavoidable that you must spend more than what is normally needed because of the intervals between resumption of training. It truly hurts, man. Just keep plowing along, it will be over soon, and the rewards shall bear fruit.
 
Cloud Surfer said:
I can sympathize with your sentiments all too well. It took me roughly about a year to finish my CFIs because of degree requirements, income status and so on. Finally I graduated and just recognized that I had to set everything else aside to make it a priority or else it would never come to pass. It can be a hassle against your training goals having other matters to take of first, although retrospectively you ought to keep in mind that this is a much more common situation for many than you might think; so don't feel too negatively about it. At the end of the day you'll be a CFI so long as you don't let your goals slip out of your sights, and so long as you believe that you are capable of doing it. The mere fact that you believe that you are capable will go a long way, and it'll be noticeable to you as well as to others. It's wise that you established a date to take the checkride both not too far ahead and not too soon. Get familiar with everything in the PTS, know it by heart. Teach as many of the maneuvers as you can in the mean time to persons willing to play student for your benefit. Stay motivated above all. The sky is no limit, my friend.
Click to expand...

Working on my CFI too. thanks for your encouragement!!
 
njboeingfan said:
Hey all,

I must say how envious I am of those of you who have your CFI. I have been struggling to finish my initial for about a year. I started training with a friend in Kansas City two weeks ago but I had to return home b/c of weather and dr. appointments. I will go back in December to finish...I hope. My CFI says I am about 80% there and my teaching is good, so I just need to be more CFI-like. I just need to fine tune my landings and maneuvers. I decided to go with the FSDO instead of a DPE, so if all goes well, I hope my mid-Dec. I will be finished. I can't imagine ever being finished with it.
Click to expand...

What school you at in KC?
 
njboeingfan said:
This finally clicked with my new CFI. I was flying ok, but he said your student will copy you, and my poor habits. Flying to thr right of the centerline, lack of smooth control, etc.
Click to expand...
Lord help them if they imitate me and my wicked ways! ;)
 
Call John Schmidt at Leavenworth Aviation Services. He will have you there in no time and you will be a first time pass with the FSDO...like every one of his CFI applicants.

http://kflv.net/
 
I conduct Initial exams and the number one reason for unsat's with me, applicant does not have a clue about equipment required in the aircraft per FAR's AND equipment list. Know your POH/AFM. Example.....per regulation when is manifold pressure gauge required. Now, per POH is it required for CE-172RG/CE-182RG?
Had one applicant tell me the balance weights on the right aileron were to counter left turning tendencies. Admitted he was guessing when he discovered the left aileron had them also.
And contrary to popular belief, most ASI's don't automatically fail you on first try, we don't have time to conduct numerous retest. Just be prepared and for crying out loud, use the most current PTS and know it well. And good luck.
 
Crop Duster said:
What school you at in KC?
Click to expand...
I was training at ATD. I live in NJ so I try to take a week at a time there, but it is tough with work, wx, etc. My issue is I don't fly enough; flying 10 hours a year is no enough. I have to re-learn the basics before I can teach...or so it feels.
 
I feel your pain. I did the American Flyers academy w/ @jskibo back in August...still haven't scheduled my ride...Life has gotten in the way, my son was born and father in law died within 26 hours of each other. Then you add the holidays and winter in Chicago, I'll wait till the new year and keep trying to study.

I also don't "feel" like I assume one should feel to take a CFI-A ride...Probably a confidence issue.
 
njboeingfan said:
I was training at ATD. I live in NJ so I try to take a week at a time there, but it is tough with work, wx, etc. My issue is I don't fly enough; flying 10 hours a year is no enough. I have to re-learn the basics before I can teach...or so it feels.
Click to expand...
If you've been liking it at ATD, I'd stick there. Well run op. Good guys. Good instructors. They'll teach you how fly AND how to teach. If Albertson is still DPEing 'round those parts, use him for spin training and use him for the ride if you can. The KC FSDO always seemed pretty squared away, though, so using them will likely present no issues if you need to do a FSDO ride.
 
Crop Duster said:
If you've been liking it at ATD, I'd stick there. Well run op. Good guys. Good instructors. They'll teach you how fly AND how to teach. If Albertson is still DPEing 'round those parts, use him for spin training and use him for the ride if you can. The KC FSDO always seemed pretty squared away, though, so using them will likely present no issues if you need to do a FSDO ride.
Click to expand...
I like it there, too. Probably the best instruction I have ever received; a very well-run place. The FSDO has been a pleasure to deal with so far. I am scheduled to go back at the end of jan. to finish up...I hope. I am going to fly my club's trusty (cheap) 152 to get the rust off and hopefully finish in a week. My wife is sick of me obsessing about it.
 
ozziecat35 said:
I feel your pain. I did the American Flyers academy w/ @jskibo back in August...still haven't scheduled my ride...Life has gotten in the way, my son was born and father in law died within 26 hours of each other. Then you add the holidays and winter in Chicago, I'll wait till the new year and keep trying to study.

I also don't "feel" like I assume one should feel to take a CFI-A ride...Probably a confidence issue.
Click to expand...


I'm in the same boat.......
 
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