Ive been studying for the CFI writtens, and I think Im just about good to go. What do I need to do to get ready for the Checkride? Ive never taught any body anything, should I practice giving lessons to my friends? What did you guys do?

 

My buddy use to practice giving me lessons back in SoCal and damm what a great instructor he is. He felt a thousand times more confident when going for the checkride.

 

Hate to break it to you but the writtens are only a small part of it. You will need to get a list of related reading and work through it, to develop your own lesson plans for a number of flight student situations, get comfortable flying from the right seat, practice giving some lessons on somebody, get good at answering technical questions and explaining them, learn all the paperwork a CFI does, get signed off on your spin training, these are a few things that come to mind I'm sure I forgot a few. The failure rate is over 80% for CFI initials. The tendency is to think it is just another flight rating, which it would appear not to be. I have been working on it for some time now, longer than I have worked for any other rating. I have never failed a test, oral, or checkride, and I do not plan failing this one the first time around despite the odds. You just have to have everything bulletproof solid. I am lucky in that I am in no hurry, I have lots of time to work on it.

 

The best way to go at the initial CFI check is to be a CFI when you show up to take the ride. You should act, think, and teach the same way you will with your first student with no flight time that shows for a first lesson because in 6-9 hours when you pass the ride, you will be the responsible for training that new pilot.

 

sounds good, I'll get on it, thanks

 

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