CFI Checkride
 

Does anybody know what the FSDOs are harping on for CFI applicants?

Hey,

Make sure that you are familiar with the new Sport Pilot stuff. Pretty much all of those wierd new (bogus) certifications that you can get. A guy before me had never even heard of the "sport pilot" certification...and he got a pink slip. My examiner told me that he would have failed me if I didn't know what I knew about the certification...good grief. I know it sounds pointless and stupid...but just brush over it to save yourself a panic attack durring your ride...

Your PTS has a section with areas of emphasis. I'd know these.

On the topic of PTS...know it! Be able to spit out limitations for maneuvers, etc. Questions like: "OK, I am a private pilot and I am doing steep turns. What are the standards that I have to fly this maneuver to?" And back to my last comment about the FAR/AIM...There are a few that you must be able to spit out, 91.205 (I think this is the most popular one of all)...Part 61 requirements for PPL and Comm, you should know by heart.

Yes, this may seem overwelming...because it is at times. But the more front-loading studying that you do...the easier it will be in the end.

GOOD LUCK!

Yes, and the easiest way to remember the PTS standards is by exception...mostly they are all the same (+/- 10 degrees HDG, ten knots, 100 feet), so just remember the ones that are different from standard.

I am just about about up for my initial I heard that FOI stuff is a big deal as well other than the written, How much of that stuff should I know?

All of it, know it like the back of your hand.

And if you don't know it verbatim, know where to find it. There really is too much to "know". Also, there will always be questions that you haven't had before. Knowing the PTS, FARs, and AIM will help you know where to look for these unknown questions. Know the PTS standards for the comm as well as the private. Also, know the common errors in the PTS. Your examiner will eat that stuff up.

Know your airplane inside and out. Know it's systems, know where everything is, how it works, and what happens if it doesn't.

Your FARs will have a "study guide" at the front with essentials for the various ratings. I tabbed out my book with all 120 or so of these, and read at least a few pages before I went to sleep. Helped me learn the regs, and helped me cure insomnia on those nights when I was kept up by worrying about the checkride.

The FOIs are a required part of the initial, but different examiners place different emphasis...

Some just went to knock out the requirement by having you regurgitate and define a few buzz words. Then the move on tt the real airplane stuff.

Others will work you pretty good on FOI's, cover them up and down, and have you talk through some scenarios.

Try to find out what your DPE has done historically.

CFI Intial
 

It all depends on the examiner. The guy I used was not big into specific FARs. He only asked about where to find info, as in what section, 61 91 etc... He asked about NTSB 830, where to find it and what it pertained. Acutally he did ask me about inoperative equipment and 91.213. That was the only one. He asked about systems, spins, how to teach different kinds of students, and he had me do a Vmc lesson plan, and a couple of endorsement questions. It really wasn't hard at all, it lasted about 2-2.5 hours, I know a couple of guys who have had 8 hour orals. It all depends on the examiner. There is just too much to know. You should always know where to find the info though.