How long from Com -> CFI?

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05-24-2009, 01:39 PM

Saint

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How long from Com -> CFI?

Hey folks -

I'm wondering what the usual length of time it takes to go from newly minted Commercial Pilot to a CFI or II (Whichever is quicker)?

I need a CFI or II in order to graduate from the University I'm at, and I don't want to attend a fast-track school, so instead I'm planning on working with an instructor at the Dover AFB Aeroclub for about a month.

Does anyone think a month is not enough time to dedicate? (Working daily on course work....) and also, which would be faster, CFI or II?

Thanks,
Saint

05-24-2009, 02:43 PM

tango fox

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Depends on how hard you want to work on it. It took me about 1.5 months to get my CFI initial after my Comm.

05-24-2009, 04:20 PM

Photon

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I've seen <1 month, and I've seen 6 months.
For me it took about 2-3 months, but it could've definitely have gone faster.

05-24-2009, 04:37 PM

wags3539

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If you're looking to get it done quickly, I would recommend this school.

Colorado Contrails Home Page

If you can find the time to get out to colorado, and find a group of 5 other guys to do it with you, this school is great. If not, I think they'll try to place you in a class with a group of people since they try to keep it to classes of 6. The instructors there were great, and we all walked out with our CFII in about 17-18 days.

05-24-2009, 04:43 PM

Saint

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Would a CFII be quicker than a CFI?

The only reason I hesitate to go with a quick-academy type school is the money, I have a place to stay near Dover, which would be zero-cost.

05-24-2009, 08:23 PM

robthree

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I did it in about a month at the local flight school. No quickie course, no short cuts, just books and flying every day.

If you're still working on your commercial you can even double up. Write the lesson plan for your own training. Its great practice for your CFI, and if you can talk while you're doing the maneuvers you're another step ahead.

Sit down with your instructor about it and come up with a plan.

05-24-2009, 09:29 PM

250 or point 65

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Quote:

Originally Posted by robthree

Sit down with your instructor about it and come up with a plan.

You're the instructor now. Sit down with the PTS and come up with your own plan. The CFI can be done for very little money.

ITS ALL ON YOU!

Now that you want to become an instructor, your instructors sole job should be to determine that you are ready. It should be up to you to use the resources you have at hand to determine how to become a CFI. Its all laid out in the regs and PTS. Your CFI should be an exercise in how you would teach a student to become a private pilot.

Aaaaaaand GO!

05-25-2009, 09:22 PM

Chrisw

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you should be fine in one month or less if you work hard. The question on whether to do the CFII or CFI first should not be about which one is easier, but which one is more valuable. You are basically unemployable if you don't have a CFI, however you can get a job with only a CFI. Much more practical.

05-26-2009, 05:56 AM

Saint

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Actually not in my case - I'm purely interested in which one is quicker to complete. I just need the certification in order to graduate from the university I'm attending.

And for what it's worth, I'd most likely be going back and getting my CFI after I got the diploma.