Getting that CFI-I ?

BoDEAN · March 22nd, 2005, 21:51

Need some help. I haven't flown much instruments in a few years. I feel like it is essential for me to get my CFI-I so my instrument skills are up to par when it comes time to interview with an airline. I am pretty close to 900 total time, but only have 30 Multi. I am only a CFI, and looking / hoping at dropping out resumes to regionals this spring / summer.

How should I go about getting this CFI-I done? Take the knowledge test. Find a CFI I work with and fly fly fly with him til my skills are good and take the CFI-I test? I guess I am a bit nervous and confused on how to go about this because I feel my instrument skills/knowledge are well below where I want them to be.

kellwolf · March 22nd, 2005, 22:04

What you've got outlined seems like a good plan to me. What's your current job situation? If you're an instructor, I think the CFI-I could only make you more marketable and open up the door to more students. Otherwise, flying with a CFI-I to get sharp and keep your skills sharp on your own after that might be cheaper.

BoDEAN · March 22nd, 2005, 22:06

Have 15 primary students now. I am a CFI currently.

kellwolf · March 22nd, 2005, 22:10

Wow, sounds like you're not having a problem getting students. Hope I have that kind of luck in my future.

If I were in your shoes, I'd look into getting the CFI-I. I plan on getting my CFI-A, CFI-I and MEI all knocked out at once.

MidlifeFlyer · March 22nd, 2005, 22:27

[ QUOTE ]
Wow, sounds like you're not having a problem getting students. Hope I have that kind of luck in my future.

[/ QUOTE ]My bet is that it isn't luck. Could be wrong, but based on my contact with BoDEAN on this and other boards, I'm betting his success was the result hard work.

sldauby · March 22nd, 2005, 22:29

Pardon my ignorance, but what is a CFI-A?

Thanks.

kellwolf · March 22nd, 2005, 22:37

CFI Airplane, aka initial CFI.

sldauby · March 22nd, 2005, 22:55

Ah ok. That's what I thought it meant, but I always saw "CFI," so when I saw "CFI-A" I thought it was something different.

Thanks.

BoDEAN · March 22nd, 2005, 23:24

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Wow, sounds like you're not having a problem getting students. Hope I have that kind of luck in my future.

[/ QUOTE ]My bet is that it isn't luck. Could be wrong, but based on my contact with BoDEAN on this and other boards, I'm betting his success was the result hard work.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hard work, yes. But where I am at now, we have more students than CFI's can handle =) Which is a good thing for the CFI, not for the students....

Aeronautik · March 24th, 2005, 13:39

You think you guys might need another CFII/MEI there next Fall? I might be looking for some work.

S.A.S.

EDUC8-or · March 24th, 2005, 13:45

Get the CFII! You will be amazed how quickly things come back when studying and flying for your ride, and how much more comfortable you will feel in the IFR system after just a few instrument students. It's good preparation for your first 135 or 121 gig.

Edit: Does your school have a sim? Where I instruct I was able to use the sim for free. I spent a good deal of time the Frasca by myself and moved on to flight when I felt confident. It only took two flights before I was signed off for my checkride.

Lima_Charlie · March 24th, 2005, 14:11

[ QUOTE ]
Get the CFII! You will be amazed how quickly things come back when studying and flying for your ride, and how much more comfortable you will feel in the IFR system after just a few instrument students. It's good preparation for your first 135 or 121 gig.

Edit: Does your school have a sim? Where I instruct I was able to use the sim for free. I spent a good deal of time the Frasca by myself and moved on to flight when I felt confident. It only took two flights before I was signed off for my checkride.

[/ QUOTE ]

I was about to ask the same thing. Do your currency in a sim if you have access to one. The other question I have is how are you going to get your multi time up? Multi time is really the number that opens the doors.

I am not sure if you really need to go after your CFII. If it were me, I might want to work out the numbers. What will it cost to get my CFII vs. spending that money in a sim, getting current and proficient, or even on an MEI rating? I think your bigger issue is getting the multi time. How many of those 15 students you currently have will be moving on to a PPL-ME soon?? Maybe an MEI might be more advantageous to your current situation. All CFII is going to get you is more single time.

BoDEAN · March 24th, 2005, 19:49

We have Pcad's. So I won't be able to get any actual logging in that. I can play around with it and practice instrument approaches. What kind of sessions can I set up for myself? Take off, go to a VOR, and shoot some full approaches into the airport I fly out of? Not really a pro at using them and would like to know what kind of situations I can do on them alone.

I know that to get an MEI you must be sharp on instrument skills as well as Multi skills. I am thinking of splitting time with a few instructors to build the multi time in April.

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Get the CFII! You will be amazed how quickly things come back when studying and flying for your ride, and how much more comfortable you will feel in the IFR system after just a few instrument students. It's good preparation for your first 135 or 121 gig.

Edit: Does your school have a sim? Where I instruct I was able to use the sim for free. I spent a good deal of time the Frasca by myself and moved on to flight when I felt confident. It only took two flights before I was signed off for my checkride.

[/ QUOTE ]

I was about to ask the same thing. Do your currency in a sim if you have access to one. The other question I have is how are you going to get your multi time up? Multi time is really the number that opens the doors.

I am not sure if you really need to go after your CFII. If it were me, I might want to work out the numbers. What will it cost to get my CFII vs. spending that money in a sim, getting current and proficient, or even on an MEI rating? I think your bigger issue is getting the multi time. How many of those 15 students you currently have will be moving on to a PPL-ME soon?? Maybe an MEI might be more advantageous to your current situation. All CFII is going to get you is more single time.

[/ QUOTE ]

crashmbern · March 24th, 2005, 20:46

actually not sure if this is typical practice with DE but when i did my MEI, i did not have to do any instrument work. But at the time i already had my CFII.
adam

Boltonpilot · March 24th, 2005, 22:34

Lima_Charlie: AWSOME PICTURE!!

averyrm · March 24th, 2005, 22:50

MEI is all visual

EDUC8-or · March 25th, 2005, 19:17

You don't need mad IFR skillz to get the MEI, as stated above it's a VFR ride. I got my MEI before the CFII because my chief pilot told me all of our MEI's were leaving for the airlines and he needed someone to take some multi students. That was a no brainer on my part.

Depending on your PCATD it can be very valuable. It's very likely you can set up all of your local approaches and just get a good scan going again as well as a soft touch for the controls. Our Frasca is much more sensitive than any airplane I've ever flown, and I'm pretty sure your PCATD will be as well. Get one of the other instructors to show you how to use it and spend some time on your own getting your skills sharp. You mentioned not being able to log it, I didn't log my flights in the Frasca because I was by myself and that wouldn't be legal. It was still very valuable for me to get in there and get my IFR skills back up to par.

gtpilot · March 25th, 2005, 21:28

[ QUOTE ]
MEI is all visual

[/ QUOTE ]

My MEI ride was a combo with my II ride. Clyde (MDQ) made me do the Vmc demo in IMC. Seriously disorienting!

March 22nd, 2005, 21:51	#1
BoDEAN Junior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 284	Getting that CFI-I ? Need some help. I haven't flown much instruments in a few years. I feel like it is essential for me to get my CFI-I so my instrument skills are up to par when it comes time to interview with an airline. I am pretty close to 900 total time, but only have 30 Multi. I am only a CFI, and looking / hoping at dropping out resumes to regionals this spring / summer. How should I go about getting this CFI-I done? Take the knowledge test. Find a CFI I work with and fly fly fly with him til my skills are good and take the CFI-I test? I guess I am a bit nervous and confused on how to go about this because I feel my instrument skills/knowledge are well below where I want them to be.

March 22nd, 2005, 22:04	#2
kellwolf Old Skool Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 13,836	Re: Getting that CFI-I ? What you've got outlined seems like a good plan to me. What's your current job situation? If you're an instructor, I think the CFI-I could only make you more marketable and open up the door to more students. Otherwise, flying with a CFI-I to get sharp and keep your skills sharp on your own after that might be cheaper.

March 22nd, 2005, 22:06	#3
BoDEAN Junior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 284	Re: Getting that CFI-I ? Have 15 primary students now. I am a CFI currently.

March 22nd, 2005, 22:10	#4
kellwolf Old Skool Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 13,836	Re: Getting that CFI-I ? Wow, sounds like you're not having a problem getting students. Hope I have that kind of luck in my future. If I were in your shoes, I'd look into getting the CFI-I. I plan on getting my CFI-A, CFI-I and MEI all knocked out at once.

March 22nd, 2005, 22:27	#5
MidlifeFlyer Old Skool Join Date: May 2003 Location: Denver Colorado Posts: 3,022	Re: Getting that CFI-I ? [ QUOTE ] Wow, sounds like you're not having a problem getting students. Hope I have that kind of luck in my future. [/ QUOTE ]My bet is that it isn't luck. Could be wrong, but based on my contact with BoDEAN on this and other boards, I'm betting his success was the result hard work.

March 22nd, 2005, 22:29	#6
sldauby Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 160	Re: Getting that CFI-I ? Pardon my ignorance, but what is a CFI-A? Thanks.

March 22nd, 2005, 22:37	#7
kellwolf Old Skool Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 13,836	Re: Getting that CFI-I ? CFI Airplane, aka initial CFI.

March 22nd, 2005, 22:55	#8
sldauby Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 160	Re: Getting that CFI-I ? Ah ok. That's what I thought it meant, but I always saw "CFI," so when I saw "CFI-A" I thought it was something different. Thanks.

March 22nd, 2005, 23:24	#9
BoDEAN Junior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 284	Re: Getting that CFI-I ? [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] Wow, sounds like you're not having a problem getting students. Hope I have that kind of luck in my future. [/ QUOTE ]My bet is that it isn't luck. Could be wrong, but based on my contact with BoDEAN on this and other boards, I'm betting his success was the result hard work. [/ QUOTE ] Hard work, yes. But where I am at now, we have more students than CFI's can handle =) Which is a good thing for the CFI, not for the students....

March 24th, 2005, 13:39	#10
Aeronautik Junior Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 87	Re: Getting that CFI-I ? You think you guys might need another CFII/MEI there next Fall? I might be looking for some work. S.A.S.

March 24th, 2005, 13:45	#11
EDUC8-or Old Skool Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: NC Posts: 2,254	Re: Getting that CFI-I ? Get the CFII! You will be amazed how quickly things come back when studying and flying for your ride, and how much more comfortable you will feel in the IFR system after just a few instrument students. It's good preparation for your first 135 or 121 gig. Edit: Does your school have a sim? Where I instruct I was able to use the sim for free. I spent a good deal of time the Frasca by myself and moved on to flight when I felt confident. It only took two flights before I was signed off for my checkride.

March 24th, 2005, 14:11	#12
Lima_Charlie Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 563	Re: Getting that CFI-I ? [ QUOTE ] Get the CFII! You will be amazed how quickly things come back when studying and flying for your ride, and how much more comfortable you will feel in the IFR system after just a few instrument students. It's good preparation for your first 135 or 121 gig. Edit: Does your school have a sim? Where I instruct I was able to use the sim for free. I spent a good deal of time the Frasca by myself and moved on to flight when I felt confident. It only took two flights before I was signed off for my checkride. [/ QUOTE ] I was about to ask the same thing. Do your currency in a sim if you have access to one. The other question I have is how are you going to get your multi time up? Multi time is really the number that opens the doors. I am not sure if you really need to go after your CFII. If it were me, I might want to work out the numbers. What will it cost to get my CFII vs. spending that money in a sim, getting current and proficient, or even on an MEI rating? I think your bigger issue is getting the multi time. How many of those 15 students you currently have will be moving on to a PPL-ME soon?? Maybe an MEI might be more advantageous to your current situation. All CFII is going to get you is more single time.

March 24th, 2005, 19:49	#13
BoDEAN Junior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 284	Re: Getting that CFI-I ? We have Pcad's. So I won't be able to get any actual logging in that. I can play around with it and practice instrument approaches. What kind of sessions can I set up for myself? Take off, go to a VOR, and shoot some full approaches into the airport I fly out of? Not really a pro at using them and would like to know what kind of situations I can do on them alone. I know that to get an MEI you must be sharp on instrument skills as well as Multi skills. I am thinking of splitting time with a few instructors to build the multi time in April. [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] Get the CFII! You will be amazed how quickly things come back when studying and flying for your ride, and how much more comfortable you will feel in the IFR system after just a few instrument students. It's good preparation for your first 135 or 121 gig. Edit: Does your school have a sim? Where I instruct I was able to use the sim for free. I spent a good deal of time the Frasca by myself and moved on to flight when I felt confident. It only took two flights before I was signed off for my checkride. [/ QUOTE ] I was about to ask the same thing. Do your currency in a sim if you have access to one. The other question I have is how are you going to get your multi time up? Multi time is really the number that opens the doors. I am not sure if you really need to go after your CFII. If it were me, I might want to work out the numbers. What will it cost to get my CFII vs. spending that money in a sim, getting current and proficient, or even on an MEI rating? I think your bigger issue is getting the multi time. How many of those 15 students you currently have will be moving on to a PPL-ME soon?? Maybe an MEI might be more advantageous to your current situation. All CFII is going to get you is more single time. [/ QUOTE ]

March 24th, 2005, 20:46	#14
crashmbern Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 509	Re: Getting that CFI-I ? actually not sure if this is typical practice with DE but when i did my MEI, i did not have to do any instrument work. But at the time i already had my CFII. adam

March 24th, 2005, 22:34	#15
Boltonpilot Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: OH Posts: 161	Re: Getting that CFI-I ? Lima_Charlie: AWSOME PICTURE!!

March 24th, 2005, 22:50	#16
averyrm Old Skool Join Date: May 2002 Location: LCK Posts: 1,653	Re: Getting that CFI-I ? MEI is all visual

March 25th, 2005, 19:17	#17
EDUC8-or Old Skool Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: NC Posts: 2,254	Re: Getting that CFI-I ? You don't need mad IFR skillz to get the MEI, as stated above it's a VFR ride. I got my MEI before the CFII because my chief pilot told me all of our MEI's were leaving for the airlines and he needed someone to take some multi students. That was a no brainer on my part. Depending on your PCATD it can be very valuable. It's very likely you can set up all of your local approaches and just get a good scan going again as well as a soft touch for the controls. Our Frasca is much more sensitive than any airplane I've ever flown, and I'm pretty sure your PCATD will be as well. Get one of the other instructors to show you how to use it and spend some time on your own getting your skills sharp. You mentioned not being able to log it, I didn't log my flights in the Frasca because I was by myself and that wouldn't be legal. It was still very valuable for me to get in there and get my IFR skills back up to par.

March 25th, 2005, 21:28	#18
gtpilot Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: GA Posts: 476	Re: Getting that CFI-I ? [ QUOTE ] MEI is all visual [/ QUOTE ] My MEI ride was a combo with my II ride. Clyde (MDQ) made me do the Vmc demo in IMC. Seriously disorienting!

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