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Starting My CFI Next Week

Old 01-17-2009, 06:56 AM
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Default Starting My CFI Next Week

I started to study for the FOI and FIA this last Sunday. Yesterday I went and took the Lasergrade for both tests. 84% on both tests, not bad for only 4 days of studying. My school doesn't let candidates start the CFI until the exams are done. I've discussed it with the CFI I will be working with, and I'm going to be working on it every week day, M-F for about 2 hours in the mornings. I have heard that I can get it done in 1 1/2 months, but I will have to wait for the FAA for the ride. It's good to be working towards something again, since I haven't done much flying since my Commercial/Instrument ride this last summer. My morale is through the roof.

Any one have any advice for the CFI training? I'm very nervous about the spin training.
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Old 01-17-2009, 08:24 AM
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Originally Posted by jsfBoat View Post

Any one have any advice for the CFI training? I'm very nervous about the spin training.
Obviously check your W&B envelope.

If you're nervous, eat something before you go, but not a big greasy meal.

In the airplane, focus on the procedure, not what you see out the windscreen.

If you think you might get queasy, which is likely if you're nervous, tell you CFI to plan on no more than 3 spins per flight. After that, many people turn real green...
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Old 01-17-2009, 10:50 AM
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I did spin training while working on my PPL. It just so happened that my instructor was also the aerobatic pilot so I did spins with him in the Decathlon instead of in a Cessna. Because I knew him well and trusted him, I was not nervous at all. If he had been a stranger, I'm not sure I would have liked it. I did feel a little quesy though, especially when we flew inverted. Ugh. I am now working on my instructor ratings so I will have to go up and do spins again too! It was fun though, especially on the ones when you get out of the spin yourself. You're like, oh I can do this!
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Old 01-17-2009, 11:35 AM
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You might want to schedule your Fed ride now. That will give you solid deadline you can work toward.

A bit about my experience with getting these ratings (if for no reason other than I'm having fun remembering it, but perhaps it will help you):

I found most of my preparation time to be knowledge related. Things like creating lesson plans, studying every little nuance of the subject matter and memorizing the FOI stuff consumed most of my time. I'd get together with my instructor for a couple hours a day to present a lesson plan, then receive constructive criticism. But most of my book learning was, by choice, on my own.

Flying from the right seat was a little uncomfortable at first, but didn't take long to get used to. I did my double-I as my initial, followed by my MEI, then single-I; this way I could do my single-I in a 172, which meant I didn't spend time and money learning an airplane I hadn't flown before (such as a complex single). After passing my last commercial checkride it took me about 2 months to pass my last CFI checkride. (This included 1 re-take of my initial.) I did about 50 hours of flying during this time. Looking back, this was a fairly leisurely pace - I probably could have finished a bit sooner if I had worked harder.

I did my spin training in a 172... which means there wasn't much to it. You really have to work to put that beast into a spin and recovery is no big deal. In a Decathlon or Citabria it might be a different story.

Congratulations on deciding to get your CFI. You'll be amazed at the stuff you learn while you're earning the certificate, and even more amazed at what you'll learn as an instructor. A bit of advice: Just remember to have fun and enjoy the experience. At times, this was probably the most difficult part for me.
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Old 01-17-2009, 04:57 PM
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You will never know everything as a CFI. Know where to find it. Don't be afraid of saying "I don't know" to a student but make sure to follow it with "let's look it up".

If I can suggest anything, it would be know the FAR/AIM as well as you can. I read 20 pages per night. Got to know the regs better and never had a problem sleeping.

Spins are fun. Don't worry about it. I was a little apprehensive about them as well but when it started I fell back on my training and what do you know? It worked. Hitting a student to get them off the controls when they freeze and put you in a spin is scary. Doing them for training/fun is not.
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Old 01-17-2009, 05:00 PM
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if its sickness from the spinning i would eat fruit and ginger root capsules
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Old 01-21-2009, 05:34 PM
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the spins are not bad at all. the weird ones are the advanced stalls, like the cross controlled stall, it feels weird doing it becasue it goes against everything you know about stalls. Other than that I would say get a jump on the lesson plans if you can they become a pain when you have an acitivy every day.
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Old 01-23-2009, 04:54 AM
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agree with Der Meister, spins are not bad. The advanced stalls were much more nerve racking at points only because I knew I would have to demo one (accelerated stall in my case).

I went through an acceleratered program for my CFI. Allocate A LOT of study time (3 hours/night?) to various subjects. Creating a lesson plan folder is an excellent idea and examiners like to see it just make sure its all your work. I went from start of class to checkride in 1 month which is fairly common for the program I went through. Just know that like previous ratings it all depends on you and how prepared YOU are.

Good luck, passing that CFI initial has been the most satisfying achievement in my aviation career so far.
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Old 01-30-2009, 07:40 PM
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Spins are fun!!!!
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Old 01-30-2009, 07:51 PM
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Originally Posted by jsfBoat View Post
I started to study for the FOI and FIA this last Sunday. Yesterday I went and took the Lasergrade for both tests. 84% on both tests, not bad for only 4 days of studying. My school doesn't let candidates start the CFI until the exams are done. I've discussed it with the CFI I will be working with, and I'm going to be working on it every week day, M-F for about 2 hours in the mornings. I have heard that I can get it done in 1 1/2 months, but I will have to wait for the FAA for the ride. It's good to be working towards something again, since I haven't done much flying since my Commercial/Instrument ride this last summer. My morale is through the roof.

Any one have any advice for the CFI training? I'm very nervous about the spin training.
Congrats jsfBoat. I have heard from many that the CFI was the most challenging they have accomplished. I have much respect for anyone who tackles that beast. I might join you someday

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