CFI initial at Springfield FSDO?

[JoeBoy26]

hey everybody,
I was just wondering if anyone had any gouge/experience with the CFI initial ride at the Springfield, IL FSDO? I have my ride schedule for July 12th Any info would be greatly appreciated!

[JoeBoy26]

Well, I finally passed my CFI initial on July 24th after a nearly 2 week delay!! Here's how it went down:

Ended up flying to SPI for the planned checkride date on July 12th. As soon as I got there the examiner took all my records/docs (including aircraft logbooks) and gave them to some other inspectors to look over while I started doing some lesson plans for the oral. We began the oral exam starting off with weight & balance/aircraft performance factors. After about 20min. into the oral, the maintenance inspector knocks on the door and asks to speak to my examiner. Well, my examiner comes back in to inform me that the pilot's-side seat belt was missing a gromit (little plastic piece that makes lapbelt/shoulder harness connection more snug). Because of that the airplane was unairworthy and I would not be able to do the flight portion that day . I was given the choice to finish the oral or return back home to get the part replaced and come back another day. I chose to finish the oral and 4 1/2 hours later I had passed, was given a letter of discontinuance and was on my way home. Things covered in the oral included: weight and balance, aircraft performance data, ADM/aeromedical factors, wx, flight instructor professionalism with a few other FOI things mixed in, and me having to teach S-turns, turns around a point and chandelles. Sure made the 4 1/2 hours go by quick.

Next day I scheduled the flight for the following Wed. (18th). On that day we canceled because the weather was really marginal and didn't want to make the trip up and get wx'd out. Again had to reschedule this time for the 24th. Wx held out, however i thought i was gonna be turned away for mx again due to some paperwork involving the GPS in the airplane but got that all figured out (after I had to taxi the airplane across the airport to an FBO to have an A&P re-placard the GPS correctly). FINALLY, got to go fly and it all went really well. Flight went like this:

Departed west of SPI
Climbed to 3500' to teach straight/level and level turns.
Demonstrated an o.k. Chandelle then another one that was flawless
Examiner performed steep turns having me coach/critique
Unusual attitude recovery and simulated instrument flying
Simulated engine failure w/steep spiral down to about 1000'AGL
Demonstrated S-turns and 8's on pylons
Returned to SPI for a soft-field landing into a soft field t/o then a short- field landing to a full stop

And that was it, total flight was 1.8. The feeling of when the examiner handed me my temp certificate and congratulated me was better than I had imagined it'd be like! Feels good to be finally done, especially after things being dragged out like they were. I had read horror stories about people dealing with FSDOs on here and seems like I was somewhat fortunate compared to others

[surreal1221]

Congrats!