CFI Renewal

[mrivc211]

Whats the quickest and cheapest way to renew? I'm about 6 months away and want to start planning in a little bit. I heard American Flyers is the way to go. Anyone wanna pipe in?

[mtsu_av8er]

I'm not sure about the cheapest, but I'm going to an AOPA ASF FIRC (Flight Instructor Refresher Clinic) this weekend. 16 hours, $180, and you're done.

If you're looking for quick AND cheap, why not rent a 172 for an hour and take a ride with somebody from the FSDO?

[Philip]

AM flyers isn't bad, lifetime as long as you drive to the FSDO and do the legwork yourself, really easy here.

[Captain_Bob]

OK... the quickest most cost effective way to renew is... if you have 5 or more checkride sign-offs with an 80% pass rate in the previous 24 months then just show that info. to the FSDO with an 8710 filled out and BAM! You're renewed. Takes 5 minutes and $0.00.

Just did this today. (Lloyd... I'm thinking you should easily be eligible for this option. Unless you want to spend 16 hours in class and $180 bucks...)

mrivc, if you don't have the sign-offs then I've heard the AF deal is pretty good. One time fee for life. I'll probably be looking at that option in the next 24 months.

Bob

[moxiepilot]

Originally Posted by Captain_Bob

OK... the quickest most cost effective way to renew is... if you have 5 or more checkride sign-offs with an 80% pass rate in the previous 24 months then just show that info. to the FSDO with an 8710 filled out and BAM! You're renewed. Takes 5 minutes and $0.00.

Just did this today.

If you don't have the sign-offs then I've heard the AF deal is pretty good. One time fee for life. I'll probably be looking at that option in the next 24 months.

Bob

i'd say that's a dead on, your best bet piece of knowledge here. thanks CB for saving my time by you writing it.

[mtsu_av8er]

Originally Posted by Captain_Bob

(Lloyd... I'm thinking you should easily be eligible for this option. Unless you want to spend 16 hours in class and $180 bucks...)

Oh, yeah - that's my method of choice. I don't even need to renew, as I'm good for the next 14 months.

My flight school actually requires that the Chief Flight Instructor and the Assistant Chief Flight Instructor attend this training annually. Since the flight school requires it of me, it's on their dime! I just have to give up the time . . .

[Philip]

BTW-

with the american flyers online system you're required to study XXX minutes per section before you're allowed to take the test, well it calculates this time on each browser that is logged in, so say you log in to the module 20-30 times and click back and forth on each of them.... you get the idea.

"I heard it from a friend"

[hattrick]

i havent used it but aopa also has an online course. you do not need to complete any flying to renew it. like i said i havent done it but from what i here its pretty good.

[Philip]

Originally Posted by hattrick

i havent used it but aopa also has an online course. you do not need to complete any flying to renew it. like i said i havent done it but from what i here its pretty good.

the aopa a.k.a. cfirenewallonline.com aka the jeppesen course is OK, expensive and the actual course itself is pretty crappy.
They make me nervous as they don't submit your 8710 until like the week before your CFI expires, I don't trust the idiots in customer service at jepp to handle this on such short terms.

imho, having used both and having had extensive experience with the jepp course, the american flyers is better and cheaper. But you can sign up for a free trial of the jepp and give it a whirl. Just please turn off your popup blocker first, lol

[DE727UPS]

I've been doing the Gleim online course the last few times. It's quick, cheap, fairly painless, and you actually learn and thing or two.

[MidlifeFlyer]

Originally Posted by DE727UPS

I've been doing the Gleim online course the last few times. It's quick, cheap, fairly painless, and you actually learn and thing or two.

I'll join you on the Gleim recommendation. The pace is yours, the downloadable materials standard Gleim quality, and the price not too bad.

It's a good second if you can't do it the best way which is, as others pointed out, by activity.

[Philip]

I hate forgotten that gleim HAD an online course!

[hattrick]

hey thanks for the info on aopa/jepp. see you do learn something new every day.

[ryanmickG]

Originally Posted by Captain_Bob

OK... the quickest most cost effective way to renew is... if you have 5 or more checkride sign-offs with an 80% pass rate in the previous 24 months then just show that info. to the FSDO with an 8710 filled out and BAM! You're renewed. Takes 5 minutes and $0.00.

Just did this today. (Lloyd... I'm thinking you should easily be eligible for this option. Unless you want to spend 16 hours in class and $180 bucks...)

mrivc, if you don't have the sign-offs then I've heard the AF deal is pretty good. One time fee for life. I'll probably be looking at that option in the next 24 months.

Bob

Bob you were there yesterday so was I getting my CFI renewed at Fort Worth FSDO. Just passed with exactly 80%. I never new I had so many signoffs till I counted them yesterday.

[Philip]

Originally Posted by ryanmickG

Bob you were there yesterday so was I getting my CFI renewed at Fort Worth FSDO. Just passed with exactly 80%. I never new I had so many signoffs till I counted them yesterday.

when I went to the denver FSDO to renew mine with an american flyers certificate the guy was much nicer to the CFI renewing based on activity, he was a total jerk to me. I tried to be nice, make a little small talk, make a good impression, even dressed nice, which is hard since I got off work at 0730 and made the hour trek up to DEN right after work and I was tired as hell. Oh well, he's from the FAA and he's here to help, right?