WhiteH2O

Yep, it didn't take me any time at all to get over my short CFI checkride. I studied to become a good CFI, not to pass the test. If he feels that I proved to him that I am good enough to instruct, I reached my goal for the day.

Showing off your knowledge comes when your students stall turning base to final.

cubanfiredawg

MEI 8+ hrs for the oral, 2 for the flight........ Oh what fun!

cubanfiredawg

FSDO MEI: 8+ hours for the oral, and 2 for the flight. Oh what fun!

limelight

CFI Initial was 6+ hours but the Inspector took me to lunch and I passed so I guess I did well. By the way, realize that the inspector will act like an inspector not just a flight examiner. I had to file and shoot an ILS to a 400 OVC deck. He wanted me to prove I was IFR current before we even began the checkride. Thank god I was.

ToiletDuck

shoulda gone to the FSDO and do it for free

My actual oral including paperwork was about 1.5hrs. The flight was 1.3hrs. However, this does not include going to lunch. I went to the FSDO at Alliance airport in Ft. Worth. We talked during lunch. However I was like a crack addict. I knew the answer word for word before he finished the questions. I'm such a bad test taker that I over study way to much. Then I asked him a question he couldn't answer, none of them there could, so the messed around with that while I just sat there lol.


*******Here's the question I asked.

When looking at the DFW (go here to see http://skyvector.com/) you have several class D airspaces under the Class C. Take a look directly south of DFW at one called Grand Prarie and Spinks. Both of the airports are towered yet not class D. If you read the regs it says that when in uncontrolled airspace and there is a tower operating on the field you are not allowed to go within 2500AGL and 4nm of the field without contacting tower. I don't have the FAR/AIM on me but the way it's worded is odd. It says you can't go that close to the tower while the definition of Class D is the same except different wording.

Both of these airports have large volumes of traffic including jets and t-props. Spinks(FWS) has ILS and GPS while Grand Prarie(GPM) has LOC, VOR, GPS. They are both towered at all times, or were at the time of the oral. So if they have instrument approaches, a good volume of traffic, are towered (so you can't come within 4nm or 2500AGL), then why aren't they class D when several other airports in the area are?

I asked my guy and he didn't know. After that he said judging by my question I've studied so no more on maps. He then went and asked 3 other guys there and they couldn't figure out. They tried to call the guy that designed the sectional but he was out of the office and told me I could call back next week. At that point I really did want to know but just received my CFI and didn't want to call them for some reason

If anyone knows the answer I'd like to hear it. I was at Alliance FSDO so they were local guys.

C152driver

Maybe the reason is they havent gone thru the process to change the airspace yet. I understand that it is fairly involved and lenghty.

My oral was about 2 hours, not counting breaks and lunch. The flight was 1.5 hours.

colinflyin

Started check ride at 8 am am was not done until 7pm. passed. whit liked to talk. ask questions keep the examiner talking most of them have a lot of good stories.

UNDGUY

4 1/2 hours of sweating for my initial cfi.

P.S. One of my students that came back from a check ride said the examiner told him "Lets call it a verbal instead of an oral, it just sounds better. I agree

mking84

Mine wasnt bad at all. Started at 0800, lunch at 1200, flying from 1300-1430 and that was it. Definately go to the FSDO, dont let them scare you, theyre pretty good guys. Was one of the easier checkrides ive taken. If you're prepared youll pass.

172capt

About the question about arlington and grand prarie. I am local to the area and I do not think that either of those airports have radar or they are about to get it so I think that may have something to do with it but im not totally sure.