Yesterday, I went to 3 of my local FBOs in order to get a CFI to give me the authorizations to test for my Instrument and Commercial written tests. I couldn't find even one CFI at any of the locations.

So, I thought I might throw this out to the CFI crowd on this forum. I'll pay $20 to a CFI who'll mail me the written authorizations for both the Instrument and the Commercial tests. I need it within 10 days.

I can email pictures of my study materials if needed.

It's an easy $20 for 10 min of work on your part.

My email address is uga19961999 (at) yahoo.com

Thanks!!

 

It's a little more complicated than that. You need logged ground time in your logbook from the endorsing instructor, or you need to have completed a home study course. Home study courses usually have some sort of graduation certificate you can print out that counts as an endorsement.

You still might find someone who will endorse you though, there's got to be an instructor out there who doesn't care about written endorsements. The FAA never checks that sort of thing.

 

You make it sound like it's a shady thing to do. I don't think it is. I've got the books, and I have studied them for the past 4 weeks (5 hours a day). I'm more than ready to take the tests.

On the back of Gleim's books, there's an endorsement page for the CFI. I just need the endorsements. It's not against the law or any FAA rules. Enlighten me if it is.

 

I'm curious where you find the "need logged ground time" in the regs for written's. Nothing has to be logged for a written-test in anything, there is required ground time logged for certain items per whatever practical test they will be taking though. My take on it is someone who has the Gleims, there's no graduation cert, there's just a sign-off page in the back of the book that you rip out and take with you to the testing center.

A couple of questions for RxPilot is, where is your regular instructor??? I'm just puzzled why you are not in contact with someone that can take care of those sign-off's as is? Another thing, as I'm assuming this situation may warrent, is take a copy of your practice exam scores with you to wherever you go, as to provide some sort of "proof" that you should do well. Lastely, where are you located? I have a hard time believing you struck out at 3 FBO's. Even if there isn't a flight school, there has to be someone local who teaches.

I'm not trying to be a jerk, just trying to figure out where the problem is here.

 

Ewfflyer,
I'm in the process of getting back into flying. I've been a PPL since 1992, but haven't flown in a while, and never in my current locality. I've only recently decided to get back into flying (before I get too old). I'm still trying to find the right school for me. In the mean time, I wanted to get all the writtens taken care of.

Anyway, I've bought about $600 worth of study material from Sporty's, including all the Gleim series of books, and the Sporty's Instrument pilot course. I've been studying my butt off for the past month.

I live near Jax, FL and visited Herlong Airport. No one was in the office at the flight school there--just a sign to check back later or leave a message. Probably the only CFI was out flying? I then visited 2 schools at Craig airport, the North Florida Flight Training, and another called Sterling Flight Training. No CFIs in the offices either. I gave the last one my info, and they said they would call me back. Also, I did see a sign pointing to ATP, but I didn't have guts to go and ask them.

Anyway, I'll visit the schools again if no one bites my offer on this site.

 

Rgr, good luck. Personally I won't sign off anyone I haven't met or dealt with in some form or fashion. More of a formality than anything, just how I work.

 

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.

 

Shhh, don't tell LAFF about that, he'd start to cry and demonize you. Anyways, good work on the writtens, keep working at it. I'd recommend you start cracking on the actual flight training portion soon, helps put 2-and-2 together for you!!!

 

The musings of a random CFI struggling with his poor life choices don't concern me.

-LAFF

 

I just came back from taking my IRA test. 100% again.

LAFF, that random CFI is currently the chief pilot of a charter operation flying Citations and King Airs. He said he'll never hire an ATP graduate. More than likely he had a bad experience with one.

Thanks for the words of encouragement Ewfflyer. I'm planning to start my training in January due to work related conflicts. But I should be all done by summer.