Anyone here that has CFI

[Jethro_Bodine]

CFI (Certified Flight Instructor).

If there is anyone here with that or better that could help me that would be great. i'm looking to go this route but I'm just not sure about how to do this.

I heard "go to embry riddle and get your degree" and "you can get your CFI in 5 months" but trully, all I want to do is get to CFI the fastes BUT safest way and the cheapest. Should I get a student loan for this or no. If I go to embry riddle I could use my GI bill and a VA loan but it's a very long course.

can anyone help me?

[SFRT - Frenchy]

Do a forums search, we have answered the same question over and over in this forum already:D

[Jethro_Bodine]

woops didn't think of that. thanks.

[Debonair]

Check in at forums.aopa.org also

[Wolfala]

OK, rather then redirect you to previous posts - i'll break it down for ya.

To get all of your ratings, Private up through CFIIMEI is going to run you between $35,000 and $45,000. I say CFIIMEI b/c if you don't have a II, you aren't employable.

Your sig says you are in florida. I'd stay away from Riddle like it is the plague. The education is next to worthless, and like you said - you just want your CFI.

I've taught a few guys who had their initial training at ATP ( http://www.atpflightschool.com/ ) and for the most part they are decent. Do some homework and come back with questions.

ATP is just 1 of hundreds of schools within Florida.
But the pricing is within industry norms.


Wolf

[superpug1]

My dads old camero had cross fire injection, what a POS system. Ohh wait, nvm

[Debonair]

Actually, now that you mention FLA, I remember ready a thread at the AOPA board that said that CFI jobs in FLA are particularly tough to come by, but elsewhere that is not the case

[Golfer]

I would not suggest you attend ATP's CFI program.  I did...and I am not afraid to say that the students they turn out from their career program are not safe instructors and their knowledge and experience is at the very bare minimum for what is legal in the eyes of the FAA.  It's legal for a VFR only pilot to fly around in 1 mile visibility and clear of clouds...you tell me if legal is safe.

Best way to get your CFI is to find an experienced CFI to almost mentor you.  Work with them, ask questions and even sit in on a few lessons.  Be an AOPA project pilot mentor and help there.  If you're looking for confidence in yourself and how to talk to people...go into the AH Training Arena.  That will actually help you learn how to 'dumb down' your speak and will give you confidence that you can in fact teach and you do know what you're talking about.

Never lie to a student about an answer.  Often now if I'm asked a question that the student should/would/could know with very little effort...I smile and reply "I don't know" and they look up the answer and tell me what it means.  A bit of a role reversal but I know they understand the subject and that only benefits them.

If you want to go to a pilot factory, be very prepared to NOT get hired.  ATP, Delta Connection Academy, PanAm etc etc...red flags for mom and pop flight schools.  The reputation is getting around and you'd better be prepared for their own in-house CFI screening or even a checkride before they hire you.

Like wolf said...get that CFII.  It's an easy rating to add on from your seat because once you have the initial the FOI and new instructor stuff is out of the way and you basically talk yourself through an Instrument flight check from the right seat.  Parallax view is easy to get used to as well.

It's really not that hard.  I've only had my CFIs for almost a year and have 600hrs dual given (yeowza!) with most of that Instrument and Multengine.  Only 100 or so hours of private pilot instruction between two applicants.  One passed on the first try and the other is going to in a couple weeks

[Dnil]

I have been flying at delta academy for a couple months now.  The school here switched contractors from a mom and pop.  I had done the majority of my training from a mom and pop operation and taken check rides from a local DE.  The training at Delta is far far tougher then any I have ever had.  Standards are much tighter.  

Having said that I actually had fun flying at the mom and pops, where at delta most of the fun has been sucked out of it.  All the instructors are just fulfilling their contracts before they move on to regionals and yes almost all get hired by the regionals.  None are their because they want to teach they are just putting in the time until they are done.

[Golfer]

Dnil I didn't mean to use DCA as a target for libel...I just get on an emotional roll and end up lopping all the pilot factories together.

I'll work on doing better on that since I've seen this bridge before


I can vouch for the poopy-ness of ATP, Flightsafety Academy and PanAm Academy (Just the academies not the whole company)

ATP is equally poopy for less money.

[Casca]

You don't say what you want to eventually do.  If you want to fly for the majors a four year degree is important although not necessarily in aviation.  There are a lot of good schools besides Embry Riddle with excellent flight programs.  Western Michigan, University of Illinois, University of North Dakota, San Jose State, Purdue, Ohio State, Oklahoma State and Central Missouri State University are just a few that spring to mind.

[Dnil]

hey golf its no big deal, been in aviation all my life, always an axe to grind some where.  Military trained guys dont like civie trained either.

Lots of former students are now instructors up at expressjet.