I finally got in touch with a CFI on the phone, who said he'll sign me off as soon as he gave me a sample test. I've emailed him and called him since then with no response.
I got tired of waiting. I've been studying too long, went through 4 different IFR courses, including twice thorough Gleims. I've read the entire Jeppesen Instrument/Comm book. I don't even have to read the questions anymore; I know the answer within a split second. I think I can teach how to pass the IRA and the CAX with my eyes closed.
So I decided to change tactics last night. I've decided to get all the CFI writtens out of the way before the IRA or CAX.
I scheduled to take the FII and IGI at a local flight school. I asked the ladies working there if I could speak to a CFI in between tests, but to no avail. Still no CFI's around. So I finished taking the FII. It took all of 35 minutes and got a 98.
In preparation to take the next test, one of the ladies said her son dropped in the office, who is a CFI (but no longer teaches), who'll sign me off if I get 95 on both tests. I said thanks! But I was worried a bit about the IGI because of the inclusions of helicopter questions. The test was a breeze again. The helicopter q's were easy, ie, can you fly PIC IFR in a helicopter if you only have IFR in airplanes? I did encounter a few q's about taxi way signs which I've never seen before. The final score was 100. The office ladies were sooo happy.
So I got to sit with a CFI afterwards to get my IRA endorsement to test. I was unsuccessful in prodding him to endorse me for the CAX. Oh well... It doesn't matter I guess in the end. I'll be a CFI by the end of summer 2008 anyway. I feel like a freight train. No one can stop me.
By the way, that CFI didn't have high regard for ATP graduates. I mentioned that I may pursue that route as I was having no luck on my own. He said a lot of pilots that come out of there are garbage.
