ClassicMan

I'm about to finish up my CSEL, and have been working on my CFI lesson plans all along the way. I have some CFI ground training scheduled in the next few weeks, and haven't done much flying from the right seat. I'm looking for some advice on what to do next:

1. Should I knock out my CMEL after wrapping up single engine before starting to get ready for CFI and CFII?
2. What plane should I do it in? I have a few different options around, and they're all pretty similar price-wise. I can do it in a DA42, Apache, or a Duchess. I did all my instrument training in a G1000 172, so the avionics would be super familiar and make the approach part of the checkride simpler. The Apache is pretty bare bones, and the Duchess has a 430 WAAS and VOR/DME. I could be in the Twin Star for 375/hr, the Duchess for 365/hr and the Apache for about the same.
3. How much time should I reasonably budget for this? Most of what I read says 10-15 hours and you're checkride ready if you do the right prep work and study.
4. Any suggestions on a good online ground school for multi-engine?

Thanks for your help!

firefighterplt

I’d get CFI done first. Reason being that the sooner you can get your instructor ticket, the sooner you can start applying to CFI gigs...which seem to be the best option for a low-time guy these days...albeit still hard to find.

If it were me, I’d fly the Duchess. It’s commonly used for ATP training, so you may see it again, and learning the ins and outs of the 430W (those things are absolutely everywhere) will serve you well. Being well-rounded as a pilot is a good thing—knowing nothing but glass isn’t.

Just my $.02

joepilot

If you get the CFI gig, many flight schools discount their multi trainers for their employees.

Joe

Macchi30

this. I did my multi add on since I started working as a CFI. Did my add on for less than $3,500 because of discounts

TransWorld

Deleted. . .

joepilot

If you can, I would really like everybody to do initial multi engine training in the Cessna 310. It is significantly harder to fly right, more complicated, and it magnifies your mistakes, but the learning is much better than the very tame aircraft that you have mentioned. It is also much more representative of the multi engine aircraft that you will fly as a professional plot in the 135 world.

Joe

tallpilot

This is the time to transition as quickly as possible from paying to fly to being paid to fly. Past experience suggests the CFI ticket is the most expeditious path to that end. Take advantage of this slowdown to explore every option you can to reduce your training costs and become cash flow positive if you are not already. The most critical factor for success in a downturn is staying power.

Good advice here

Pilsung

^^^this^^^
In this environment, get the CFI, then get 500 dual given, then the CFII, then the ME... everyone else can tell you if the MEI is worth it....
...and fly right seat as much as possible as you build time and approach your Commercial mins... if you’re going CFI...