Cirrus4ZP

Just finished up with the CFI academy in ADS and thought I'd give my .02 since I haven't seen a recent thread about them.

Overall, a great program IMO. Fast and relatively inexpensive. They hire all of their CFI's from within so if you are also in need of a job after, you won't have to look far. If you make it known that you would like to work there following your check rides, they'll start standardizing you before you're done with the program.

Great staff top to bottom. Everyone genuinely wants you to succeed and is willing to do what they can to help you through and show you how to be an effective instructor.

Couple of things to be aware of:
Unless you've passed your Commercial ride within the last month or so, plan to go over the allotted flight time budgeted into the program. Most everyone needs 1-2 flights over the 10hr budget.

Depending on the size of your academy, plan to be there past the 30 days. 45 is a pretty safe number based on myself and everyone I know that has also gone through.

Any low time guys thinking about choosing the CFI route, I would highly consider AF.

Tippy

I wouldn't necessarily say that is true. I also did the CFI academy at ADS and did both sign offs and check rides in 9.9 hrs. and hadn't flown in over a year. and know others who have gotten their sign offs also in under 10 hrs allotted. Yes it is likely some may go over the allotted time but do not know the exact statistics.

As far as schedule you need to be on top of them as they are very disorganized, for anyone looking at going into this school you need to make it about YOUR timeline, not "when they can fit you in." again personal experience but i completed both check rides within 35 days. I was ahead of the curve but it is possible to do it faster than a lot of past students say. I went in with a mission and bugged the crap out them to make it fit MY timeline.

The people are great and do a great job of making you prepared. Jessica at the front desk is the person who can make things happen for you. and the instructors are great, and many of them are their for the long term be it later in life aviation jobs that are fun for them or they simply love instructing.

I would definitely recommend this school to someone who is looking for a quick wham bam number to get to work as a CFI. Thanks for Cirrus4zp for bringing this specific school up. AF is constantly talked about in flight school section but a location specific thread is important as they all greatly different.

Good luck

tall guy

I also did the cfi program in ADS. I finished in maybe 50 days because of weather and waiting on checkrides. I agree that the program gets you what you want and you do have to be on them about checkrides. I also agree that everyone is on a timeline and as long as you don't let things get in the way of your goal you will make it through with no issues. I studied everyday for hours and I finished with my CFI and CFII.

Cirrus4ZP

I would venture to say that going from having not flown in over a year to being ready for 2 check rides in under 10 hours is not indicative of the masses, but I digress.

The summer academies will undoubtedly be busier than the winter academies for the obvious reasons, but I would plan at least 30 days for most(unless you get your sign offs and do your check rides elsewhere)

flyguy2015

Thanks for the info. Do you have any information about the CFI-A 15 day program?

Tippy

On the 15 day program you come in and join the class halfway through. They start class and flying with II prep, then the second two weeks will be the I-A stuff. you still pay the same amount, but any unused money will refunded to you.

OneInTheMirror

I did the program 2 years ago at MMU, and it was actually pretty decent. I had second thoughts as to how one gets CFI and CFII in 30 days, and it was a lot of hard work, but with the Chief Pilt working with a small group (only 2 of us) it worked out very well for time and money.

pilotue

Does anyone who is attending the program in 2016 can answer if they still do CFII as initial, or if they switched to CFI. I heard FAA wants them to do CFI as initial, but I am not sure if that's accurate.

PerfInit

Doesn't really matter what you "heard". FAA does not have the authority to tell a 141 school what CFI course they must have for Initial CFI. If the school's TCO's meet the requirements of 14 CFR and PTS, then they should easily be FAA approved. Your best source of info will be the school's chief instructor.

rlove7

Yes, the 30 day program now starts CFI and the second half of the course is CFII.
30 day starts 3rd Thursday of every month.
But I'm sure you can do the CFII as the initial checkride then add the CFI.