Syllabus for training a CFI applicant

[jrh]

I might be training a guy for his initial CFI (single engine) in the near future.

The thing is, I've never trained a CFI before and the school I'm at doesn't typically offer CFI training, so we don't have a syllabus established for anything other than private and instrument training.

So, what syllabuses do you recommend for initial CFI training? Since this is my first one, I want to be especially careful about covering everything.

[Maurus]

It is pretty much all commercial pilot stuff except the student teaches you. Also go through the aviation instructor's handbook as that will be part of his initial.

I didn't use a syllabus when I did my CFI training, but the Instructors had a lot of past experience with instructor training.

[MidlifeFlyer]

My CFI for my CFI's philosophy was since I was already a commercial/instrument pilot, I already knew all of the information and could perform all of the flight maneuvers. All I was there to do at this point was (a) to move to the right seat for the flight stuff and (b) learn to teach what I already knew (filling the gaps along the way). The only real new stuff was lesson plans and teaching theory/skills.

To him, the "stepping stone" theory of learning no longer applied. So, unlike the previous certificates and ratings, he felt that the PTS was, for the CFI, an appropriate syllabus, with "teach" the overall paradigm when looking at it.

I haven't done initial CFI training myself (I wish I had the time for it), but his philosophy may have been right. Of course, he had been doing it for a while, so he may well have had a syllabus in his head.

[Codyjp]

I have student now who is doing his instrument but has a goal of completing his CFI within the next several months. As he is learning his IFR stuff I am slowly coaching him on how to teach certain things so he can start thinking like a CFI now. hopefully this will make life easier later on when we get down to the nitty gritty!

[Sidious]

Originally Posted by MidlifeFlyer

he felt that the PTS was, for the CFI, an appropriate syllabus, with "teach" the overall paradigm when looking at it.

I agree. I just completed my CFI using this approach and it worked out to a T.

I outlined every Technical Subject area in the CFI PTS until I was comfortable teaching it. In this way I filled in any missing gaps of information.

My instructor just showed me how to be a CFI in the air and how to actually get the information to a student. Long story short, just use the PTS.