CFI Checkride

[JJS]

Well, I made it through the CFI ride. It was a lot of studying but definitely worth it.

I met with the DFW FSDO inspector on the 15th of August. Went through the paper work pretty quickly and then it was onto the oral. Just and FYI make sure that if you miss any questions on the knowledge test that your instructor goes over the questions you missed with you and then endorses your logbook saying that they went over them.

The oral went pretty much like this:

FOI:
We basically went through the whole thing. There were a few things that were left out but just memorize it all to make it easier on yourself. We hit the critique stuff and flight instructor qualities pretty hard. Gave him a quick lesson on Chandelles as well.

Aeromedical:
Covered the whole part of this as well. Make sure you know all of the symptoms and how to correct them.

Visual Scanning:
Know how to teach a student the recommended visual scanning technique as this is an FAA focus item.

Aerodynamics:
Hit these pretty hard. Know all of the types of stabilities. Know what dihedral does for an airplane. Know the difference between Monocque and semi-monocque designs. Know the left turning tendencies and be able to teach them. Also make sure you know about wake turbulence, what causes it and how to avoid it.

Flight Controls:
Didn't really cover anything about these

Weight and Balance:
Basic terms about W&B. Know the differences between empty weight, operating weight, and Zero fuel weight.

Cross Country Planning:
He had me plan a short x-country to bridgeport and teach him to fly a x-country as I would a student.

Night Operations:
Know how the eyes focus at night and the difference between the rods and cones. Know your night emergencies.

High Altitude:
Didn't really go over much except for oxygen requirements.

FAR's:
Other than endorsements not too much

Airspace:
Covered differences during the x-country

Endorsements:
Know all of the endorsements you have to give. You dont have to memorize the endorsement just know when to give it.

The flight:
Well after the oral we found out the plane was unairworthy so I had to get a flight permit back to GKY. Skymates fixed everything within a day and I went back to the FSDO on the 17th,
The flight was basically a combination of the commercial flight and private flight put together. Soft field takeoff to begin. We then set out on our x-country. As soon as I had the airport in sight he did an engine failure to an accuracy landing. I came up short and he told me that we could either continue or go back. I chose to continue. We did a short field takeoff and then it was supposed to be a shortfield landing. As I was pulling the power abeam the numbers he reaches up and tells me I had an engine failure. So it was a power off 180 with a short field landing. I nailed it perfectly and we went on. Eights on pylons, chandelles, lazy eights, turns around a point, steep turns, and then back to Alliance for a soft field landing. We got out and went back into his office. I was prepared to do this again but he told me since my oral went so well and that I nailed the power off/short field landing that he would pass me. I didn't even know what to say I was so happy.

There may have been more than that but thats what I remember right now. All I can say is know as much as you can about everything because you never know when they might give you a break.

[todd584]

which inspector did you have?

[flyingmaniac]

That is great! When you got home and laid down did you pass out. My body was useless after my checkride. I think it was more mental thinking than anything else. But now I am complete, CFI, CFII, MEI.

[JJS]

My inspector was Frank Gentile. He was really laid back and really cool.
Yeah I definitely went home and passed out. Then I woke up and then I got drunk. It is a very mental checkride. I would say the oral is the biggest part. If you can get through that you can get through the flight. I finished my CFII and MEI on the following Monday and Wednesday. Now I'm just trying to find a job.

[Dazzler]

Congratulations!

Have fun instructing!