Which training route to take?

CameronF

CameronF

Well-Known Member
Currently finishing my BA and will be done early July this year. See my signature for current certs/ratings. I'm wondering what I should do about my CFI/II/MEI. For years I have always planned on going to ATP's two week CFI program. However, the other day I got to thinking about hireability (sp?) and wondered if training through a company for these ratings would make me more appealing to them than having gone through an accelerated program. I was planning on calling FBO's who I would like to work for and see which they prefer, if they prefer either at all. Do you think that would be a bad idea?

This has been stressing me out kind of so I finally decided to post this question up for more input and thoughts. Right now, I am getting really stressed about my future after college and being able to compete with the thousands of pilots trying to get jobs. For once I am actually glad I still have a few quarters ahead of me to figure my future out.

Please post all thoughts/input/advice/anything you want. I appreciate the time you take to read this and help me out.

Thanks again,
Cameron
 
I wouldn't stress it out too much. Get your CFI the way you want to and make yourself the most prepared CFI you can be. CFI training is about making you the CFI, get it?? CFI work has historically been supply and demand. I've heard of FBOs training CFI's and not hiring them and I've heard of FBOs hiring their students. IMO, there's more chance a potential employer is going to find something else they don't like than what type of school you went to. Maybe they won't like a specific school...

If you have gone to different schools throughout your training, that helps too.
 
If you know your stuff then I would go to the ATP course. It is cheap and quick, but they don't hold your hand. If you go to an FBO then you may find the CFI ratings taking a very long time to finish up and costing more overall. On the other hand, there are a lot of FBO's out there that are more likely to hire someone they trained themselves and your entire time there during training will be like one long interview. If you impress them then I am sure they would offer you a job when you finished up.
 
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Though getting your CFI at the place you want to work is not a bad idea.
 
bLizZuE said:
Whatever is cheaper.
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That isn't really a factor in the decision. I am very fortunate to have a family that makes enough money that they can pay for my college and flight training. I'm very grateful!

My main concern is trying to get hired.
 
Well I tend to shy away from ATP recommendations. Of the CFIs they trained that I have worked with/interviewed, it seems that 14 days really isn't enough time to learn how to be a CFI. Who'da'thunk'it?

If the FBO has well maintained and available aircraft, good instructors, then go there. When it comes down to it, nobody cares where you trained. They care how you will train their customers.

(Sorry)
 
If I understand correctly, you're going to call potential employers and ask them where you should be trained, correct?

I would ask about employment instead. If they are hiring in the next 2 weeks, go to ATP. If they aren't, go another route.
 
I was lucky enough to have so little time to work on my CFI that it took me 6 months! By the time I was ready, I was in a good rhythm.
 
falconvalley said:
I was lucky enough to have so little time to work on my CFI that it took me 6 months! By the time I was ready, I was in a good rhythm.
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Only problem with this is that I need to be making some money (doesn't have to be a lot) but I will be sharing rent with my GF. I don't want to take 6 months to work on it and provide nothing financially. I guess I could get a line job and work on the CFI on the side but after doing line for a few years, I'm not sure I want to go through the depressing feeling of serving pilots knowing that they are doing what I want to be doing.

The way it's sounding is that at ATP, I'll get my ratings fast but won't be worth jack to employers...whereas if I trained through an FBO I would be worth more. Is this correct?
 
You can get your ratings fast, but you better be studying a lot, and not just rote learning. Memorization only gets you to a definition, true learning occurs at creativity and the ability to express and convey thoughts and ideas in multiple formats.

No matter where you get your training, realize that you should strive for knowledge and understanding. Not just the answers to the questions, but the why and the how. Learning to be a teacher isn't something that can be assimilated overnight, or even 14 nights. I truly believe you need time and opportunity to absorb, formulate thoughts and opinions, and really decide for yourself. Being force-fed information in a 14 day cram session doesn't foster retention.

All of this is my opinion. I went to FlightSafety, I paid a lot of money for my training and I probably could have gone a million other places with the same results. In my limited experience I have not seen very good instructors come from the ATP CFI program. I am confident that they do exist, as there will be good and bad in every market of any industry. Do your homework, decide what you think will be the best fit for you, and make an educated decision. I, nor anyone else, can make this decision for you. All I have to offer is my opinion. However wrong, biased, or whichever it may seem to be, or actually be.
 
bLizZuE said:
You can get your ratings fast, but you better be studying a lot, and not just rote learning. Memorization only gets you to a definition, true learning occurs at creativity and the ability to express and convey thoughts and ideas in multiple formats.

No matter where you get your training, realize that you should strive for knowledge and understanding. Not just the answers to the questions, but the why and the how. Learning to be a teacher isn't something that can be assimilated overnight, or even 14 nights. I truly believe you need time and opportunity to absorb, formulate thoughts and opinions, and really decide for yourself. Being force-fed information in a 14 day cram session doesn't foster retention.

All of this is my opinion. I went to FlightSafety, I paid a lot of money for my training and I probably could have gone a million other places with the same results. In my limited experience I have not seen very good instructors come from the ATP CFI program. I am confident that they do exist, as there will be good and bad in every market of any industry. Do your homework, decide what you think will be the best fit for you, and make an educated decision. I, nor anyone else, can make this decision for you. All I have to offer is my opinion. However wrong, biased, or whichever it may seem to be, or actually be.
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Thanks blizzue, you are really helping me out with all of this stuff. I think I may end up going the FBO route if I can figure out a way to do it semi-fast. I appreciate everyone's help and opinions on this topic and thanks for the taking the time to help me out.
 
Not sure if he's still in business, but I did my CFI w/ Charles Ede in Umatilla, FL. Before moving to FL, he used to run a flight school in AK and I learned more from him in a week than I did at pilot mill flight school.

CFI in a Box schools are OK, but I just don't feel they're the best option.
 
CameronF said:
Only problem with this is that I need to be making some money (doesn't have to be a lot) but I will be sharing rent with my GF. I don't want to take 6 months to work on it and provide nothing financially.
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actually, this is how you determine if GFs are wife worthy. Mine (and other wives) have been supporting CFI hubbys for a looooong time. Find out where the threshold is.... :)
 
CameronF said:
Only problem with this is that I need to be making some money (doesn't have to be a lot) but I will be sharing rent with my GF. I don't want to take 6 months to work on it and provide nothing financially. I guess I could get a line job and work on the CFI on the side but after doing line for a few years, I'm not sure I want to go through the depressing feeling of serving pilots knowing that they are doing what I want to be doing.

The way it's sounding is that at ATP, I'll get my ratings fast but won't be worth jack to employers...whereas if I trained through an FBO I would be worth more. Is this correct?
Click to expand...

You certainly can get your ratings at your own speed. Everybody is different. And if you can get that flying job fast enough to avoid carrying Captain Falconvalley's bag for him, all the power to ya.
 
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