Incredibly false. On the day of my MEI Initial checkride, there were 3 MEI Initial rechecks over in FLL ATP location.

Who gave you the check ride in FLL?

I did my initial CFI the more traditional way and did my CFII & Mei at ATP. I didn't learn really anything from them, in fact they shoveled a gouge at me and told me to just memorize it. What a load of crap. I just studied everything like I normally do; out of the PTS. But the check rides were exactly the way the gouges were. Cash cow is exactly it.

USMC, I agree with your general thought that FAA internal monitoring would tend to flag the erring FSDOs, but there also is no reason for all these rumors alleging the same. I have heard the kinds of rumors from disparate angles over the years which suggests to me at least some of them are true. Neither argument has data, so it remains inconclusive. We need to see the data collected internally by the FAA which I doubt we will because applicants would misuse it to go to the easiest exam and undermine the test process. By the same token, a sincere albeit unfair inspector could easily go undetected a long time, as no one outside the FAA knows any pass rates. Plus there is no law saying what is a correct pass rate anyway. They could pass nobody at all, and who is ot say it is not right? Congress? I can definitely see room for inconsistency in the performance of any unmonitored organization such as this one.

Exactly, did mine out of tampa, studied the gouges that were given to me and it turned out to be probably the easiest check ride i have ever had. Was I the most knowledgeable? no, but I had my 3 cfi tickets and zero pink slips.

An Atlanta ASI told me within the last month that theirs is around 80% which they admitted is a large jump from being around 40% just a few years ago if I remember.

The average initial CFI pass rate when you do the program with ATP in Las Vegas looked to be about 35% depending on the class. There is no gouging, you don't find out who you're going with until the day before.

The best place to get your initial CFI is the place you would like to work at when you pass.

Come to Northway Aviation at KPAE, where Boeing builds the 787. We do the initial CFI checkride in our twin engine Beech Duchess. That way you are an MEI and within a day or two you can do the single-engine add on.

The pass rate for initial CFI is low but doesn't need to be. Study hard on the FOI, FAR's, CFI responsibilities and do not go to the 10 day schools.

Has anyone flown at flying tigers in Houston either as a student or an instructor? I'd appreciate some feedback on your experince there