CFI school advice?

[popaviator]

I am going to CFI school in a couple days and was wondering if anyone had any tips, tricks (like there are any) to getting through CFI school (vegas). My days usually consist of eating flying studying in no specific order. I have heard both good and bad information about CFI school, but at the end of the day I think it comes down to how bad you want it and how hard are you willing to work for it.

[v1valarob]

Just know that Frank is crazy and he never has anything positive to say.

But listen to every word he says, take tons of notes, and do your homework. He is walking you through the checkride and everything you need to know.

Study, study, study. Get into groups. And try to have a little fun in Vegas.

Also, learn those damn sentences about the objective of each maneuver. Frank loves to hear them word for word in the plane.

Youll do fine. Relax. In 2 weeks youll be a CFI.

If you find out your DE has the initials GH. PM me.

[Snuggles]

Get your hands on the Aviation Instructor's Handbook (FAA 8083-9) and study the holy hell out of it. A solid 2 hours of my CFI Initial was spent going over FOI's. Also, make (or obtain) lesson plans for just about any/all maneuvers (performance and ground reference), since you'll likely have to teach at least one of them during the oral.

Most everything else is just review... weather, aerodynamics, performance, W&B, systems, charts, etc.

As always... your mileage may vary.

Good luck! Report in when you get the chance.

[matt152]

Definitely focus on the FOI stuff. Yes, I'm sure you got a 100% on it, but you don't really know it until you actually pick up that aviation instructor's handbook and grind through it.

Don't drink during CFI school.

And always remember, you forget things because you get RID of it!

Repression
Interference
Disuse

Jeez, I'm glad that's over with.

[vdsteelman]

Don't let the fact that Frank wears the same outfit everyday distract you either!

[v1valarob]

And in complete comparison my DE asked me 1 question on FOI stuff.

Thats why this checkride sucks because they can go into depth on any subject and your expected to know it.

Your DE will ask you for a lesson plan on VMC since it will be your MEI ride, so know that back to front. But being at ATP I should hope by now you can explain that in your sleep.

And I dont know how I would have gotten through this ride without drinking.

[mshunter]

Originally Posted by v1valarob

Just know that Frank is crazy and he never has anything positive to say.

But listen to every word he says, take tons of notes, and do your homework. He is walking you through the checkride and everything you need to know.

Study, study, study. Get into groups. And try to have a little fun in Vegas.

Also, learn those damn sentences about the objective of each maneuver. Frank loves to hear them word for word in the plane.

Youll do fine. Relax. In 2 weeks youll be a CFI.

If you find out your DE has the initials GH. PM me.

. I also had Gary. PM me also for any advice. Frank is a strange little man. Study as much as possible. And knowing the FOI stuff is a BIG HUGE DEFINITE ABSOLUTE MUST. GH quizzed me on them for about an hour. He also didn't like my example of correlation, so he had me look up the definition, and give him a better example. Be prepared to fly as the sun is coming up. Frank will only fly first thing in the morning. Stay away from the casinos. If Keith is till there, try to get him to help you out as much as possible. He is a great instructor.

edit: One more thing don't let everyone else with a down attitude get to you. Some people can't hack the fast paced atmosphere. And sit back and laugh and listen to all of the Frank-isims. "Much to your shagrin," "Vinila flavored," etc.

[stillageek]

One thing that helped me was to talk out loud while studying. Sure you know your plane, maneuvers and FOI stuff....but can you explain it? I talked outloud to myself and just pretended I was talking to a student or the DE.

Just make sure you don't do this in public. I found out the McDonalds crowd doesn't really care to know how to do a lazy 8.

[popaviator]

Thanks guys, I already got a bonus by having the previous stuents leave behind their binders of info from their stay @ CFI school....then I got kicked out of the master bc I got a female roommate I start tommorow so I'll try to give you guys an update. I agree with staying true to your own opinions and not letting the debbie downers get to ya.....Here we go....and thanks for the advice of speaking outloud when you study, that already seems to be helping

[mshunter]

Originally Posted by popaviator

Thanks guys, I already got a bonus by having the previous stuents leave behind their binders of info from their stay @ CFI school....then I got kicked out of the master bc I got a female roommate I start tommorow so I'll try to give you guys an update. I agree with staying true to your own opinions and not letting the debbie downers get to ya.....Here we go....and thanks for the advice of speaking outloud when you study, that already seems to be helping

buckle down and study hard. i would only come back to the forums if you have a question for the next two weeks. good luck man. AND USE THOSE HANDMEDOWN BINDERS! your ride with ATP is almost over. enjoy the last few weeks.

[DL31082]

Every DE is a little bit different on what they ask. My DE did not ask me a single question about FOI but I had my AGI and IGI. Another thing to study that nobody has mentioned are endorsements. I was asked a few questions about endorsements. You will be asked to teach multi-engine aerodymanics but you should know that pretty well anyways. If you end up in FLL with Bill B. let me know.

[v1valarob]

Originally Posted by mshunter

. I also had Gary. PM me also for any advice. Frank is a strange little man. Study as much as possible. And knowing the FOI stuff is a BIG HUGE DEFINITE ABSOLUTE MUST. GH quizzed me on them for about an hour. He also didn't like my example of correlation, so he had me look up the definition, and give him a better example. Be prepared to fly as the sun is coming up. Frank will only fly first thing in the morning. Stay away from the casinos. If Keith is till there, try to get him to help you out as much as possible. He is a great instructor.

edit: One more thing don't let everyone else with a down attitude get to you. Some people can't hack the fast paced atmosphere. And sit back and laugh and listen to all of the Frank-isims. "Much to your shagrin," "Vinila flavored," etc.

I think my FOI was seriously 5 minutes long.

The gouge they gave me at the time was spot on though.

[rickurukus]

drink as much beer as possible up until your checkride... natty ice for extra smarts

[popaviator]

I found out that I have Bill Lewis....anyone know anything about this guy....scheduled chekride is for the 12th

[SIUav8er]

Originally Posted by popaviator

I found out that I have Bill Lewis....anyone know anything about this guy....scheduled chekride is for the 12th

Really cool guy. I didnt have him for my initial, but I remember him around the office.

[LucasM]

If I had known any better, I wouldv'e started studying before I even scheduled the CFI school (self-paced). That was probably my biggest mistake, and the fact that I thought I would be able to study during the class and at the apartment. Too many distractions for me, but there were also 13 people in my class and everybody pretty much screwed around as soon as the Instructor left.

[matt152]

Do not feel that you have to stay at the school to study. Standing up in front of the class to practice teaching is fine, but you need to know the material inside-out. You gotta sit down with the Airplane Flying Handbook and the Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge and just sponge it up.

[mshunter]

Originally Posted by popaviator

I found out that I have Bill Lewis....anyone know anything about this guy....scheduled chekride is for the 12th

Don't panic. Many others have gone before you and made it. Bill Lewis will be a grumoy old cuss, and make you feel that you are not doing well. He does this to see how you act under pressure. Just take it in stride, and all will be fine. If a chick I know made it (don't know how she even got her private), then you can too. STUDY HARD. And as much as i hate to say it, learn the way Frank has to say things, and say them that way to Frank. But if you understand it a different way, teach it that way.

[PetrolBurner]

I went to CFI school in vegas, had BL for my initial and the single add on, really nice guy. Frank is really not a bad guy, just weird. My advice real quick, absolutely stay on his good side, always always always be early, for everything, the 10 minute break is a 5 minute break etc. if you get called on in class answer quickly, correctly, and concisely. If Frank has any doubt as to you passing, he will make you do a ground lesson with him and he will just tear you apart and you will not get the sign off. The whole battle seemed to be getting Frank's sign off, after that it was all downhill. Dry fly and talk your way through everything.

Looking back, I don't feel CFI school prepared me for actually teaching whatsoever, but without the certificates i wouldn't be where I am now, so just do whatever it takes to make it through, you'll be glad you did.

Good luck!

[PetrolBurner]

Originally Posted by popaviator

I found out that I have Bill Lewis....anyone know anything about this guy....scheduled chekride is for the 12th

Yeah I had 'layed back bill lewis' for my checkride, he was a really really nice old man. I've actually sent a few emails back and forth with him since I left. If you love aviation and actually look forward to instructing, then let it show, I think he liked that about me.

[popaviator]

Thanks guys, hearing this stuff eases the pain....ill try and update you guys as to how the rest of the week goes..... and seriously.... thank you! you guys rock

[myron96]

Are they back to using all DE's for Xrides, or that just luck of the draw?

[v1valarob]

Originally Posted by myron96

Are they back to using all DE's for Xrides, or that just luck of the draw?

Its always luck of the draw. ATP submits your name to the FSDO, and if the FSDO has 8 FAA check guys available, you all go to the FAA. If they have no one available, then you get a DE.

[popaviator]

Yea from what I hear I got lucky with Bill, although I still have to get through the Frank ride......I asked Frank how many students make it through the program and he told me 70%...then he said the amount of candidates that get signed of by him for the actual checkride is around 40% lol.....looks like I'm going to have to prove to him how much I want to succeed as a CFI.

[v1valarob]

Originally Posted by popaviator

Yea from what I hear I got lucky with Bill, although I still have to get through the Frank ride......I asked Frank how many students make it through the program and he told me 70%...then he said the amount of candidates that get signed of by him for the actual checkride is around 40% lol.....looks like I'm going to have to prove to him how much I want to succeed as a CFI.

My class had 100% sign offs from Frank and eventually 100% became CFIs.