I'm a newly minted CFI...I have agreed to instruct a friend's father over the coming summer. I am a product of the 141 "pilot mills". I feel I'm a competant instructor, however I am use to the regimented curriculum of the university setting. I will be instructing him Part 61, and I know there are great differences. I've recommended to him the Sporty's/King Schools along with the Jepp book, PHAK, and AFH..as ground school resources supplement to some briefings we will have. Any ideas for you Part 61 CFI's on setting up a good curriculum, that's not to intensive but quality as well? I'm confident we can train at least once a week or more (cross your fingers). He will be my first CFI student so I want to give him the best training possible.

The other problem I want to investigate is an airplane. I've heard most FBO's won't let you rent the aircraft and teach in it as per their insurance. Any body familiar with the FBO's/Clubs know of any in the area that would be worth investigating...and ideas on CFI insurance?

I'm a noob in independent flight instruction but I'm looking forward to the experience, but I want it done right, legally and safe..advice is welcome, especially with anybody local around CHI!

 

I have a couple of throughts on this. First of all, one thing you said that raises my antennas is when you tried to rent an aircraft but the flight school said no due to insurance rules. I can't be certain, but I think this is a load of BS. If the flight school is renting a plane, then you should be able to use it for any purpose that you would like. It makes no sense to me. I suspect that the reason they are doing this is because they want students to get instructors from them, not for the students to bring their own instructors. So they use insurance as an excuse, which is stupid because in the end they are the losers, since they are not renting out the plane and making money.

Second, as far as the part 61 curriculum, I don't think you should worry about it. As far as the curriculum for private pilot is concerned, part 61 and 141 are basically the same. The only difference is that 61 required 40 hours rather than the 35 for ppl, in which case it doesn't matter anyways since the national average for ppl is around 65- 70 hours. I think you are assuming that just becuase an instructor is teaching under 141 that the instruction is better. This is not the case at all. The only difference is the paperwork required inder 141. As far as teaching goes, it all falls on the skill of the instructor. In fact, I have known some 61 schools to be BETTER than 141 just out of the fact that the instructors were better.

The effectiveness of flight instruction is not determined by whether it is taught under FAR part 61 or 141. It is determined by the effectivness and dedication of an instructor towards his/her students.

What part of the Chicago suburbs are you based out of. The southwest burbs? Let me know, and if its parts I am familiar with then i can make you some recommendations as to different flight schools in the area.

 

I wrote my own syllabuses (syllabi?) and that's what I'd recommend. You can download the FAA pubs free online (from the source) and use those as text books or reference materials or whatever.

That's where I'd start. Open Part 61, download a few publications and start writing.

-mini

 

Check out Clow and Travel Express at DPA.

 

Clubs will let a student rent a plane for instructional purposes. The CFI will probably have to join the club and get a club checkout.

 

"I can't be certain, but I think this is a load of BS."

As an ex-flying club owner, I can tell you it's not BS. Flight school insurance only covers "employees" and only covers instruction in their aircraft done by "employees". Insurance has been written this way for years as a way to limit their liability. A true flying club would most likely have a policy allowing a CFI to do a checkout and instruct in the club aircraft.

As cheap as training aircraft have become, and as rental prices have stayed the same, the guy might want to consider buying a plane if he thinks flying will be a long term thing for him.

 

Thanks for the responses! It wasn't my intention to imply 141 is better than 61, I just have no experience in part 61 as a student or instructor. Based on my familiarity with the process, you are correct, I believe in either situation the quality of the instructor will determine the quality of the training.

I am in the southwest suburbs around Naperville but I would be willing to travel the suburbs to get a plane.

Any local flying clubs that anybody is aware of?

I'm not sure if owning or even owning shares would be a worthwhile endeavor, we just started discussing the idea of training seriously so I want to put my ducks in a row, but I will pass him the information.

 

"I am in the southwest suburbs around Naperville but I would be willing to travel the suburbs to get a plane"


Based on your location I would advise trying to rent out of Clow Airport in Bolingbrook. They have a flying club where you have to pay a very small monthly fee, like $30 or $40 a month, but the rentals are the best in the area, and their planes are in top shape. I know that someone also posted this idea previous to me and also recommended flying out of DPA (Dupage). I can't say anything one way or the other about DPA because I have not flown there, but I am pretty sure that they are a little more costly. The great thing about Clow is that you can rent most of their aircraft and pay by the Tach rather than the hobbs. This means you pay much less for taxi and engine warm up time. And as I said the rates are pretty much the best in the Chicago area. It's also a fun little airport to fly in and out of. A good place to train out of, in my opinion. Good luck.

 

The club at Clow is actually a rip off. It's about $140 an hour for a Skyhawk. Yeah sure it equates to be like $120 an hour. However, if you only fly on weekends, the club membership will never work out. If you try and get their 152, good luck. You have to book that thing a few weeks in advance. Not to mention they have a couple people on that staff that are just downright rude. They also have an Archer, which is really probably the most disgusting cost per hour I've ever seen. It's $160 per tach hour.

 

Hey guys, any words of wisdom on Campbell C81? I was thinking of flying in on a cross country and tying down for a night. I have a friend that lives 10 minutes drive from that airport.