Bayou

I just saw an update on Sheppard Air’s website posted July 10th regarding the Military Competency to Flight Instructor. Finally sounds like some movement.

Sheppard Air Flight Test 4.0 Prep Software ATP, Flight Engineer, Mil Comp - FAA Airline Transport Pilot

Bayou

Mox Nix

thanks! Been checking their site every few weeks; hadn't seen this update yet.

Hacker15e

Thanks for the head's up on the update. Good news.

Waldo11

Awesome news. Not sure what I'll do with a Airplane Multiengine Land CFI only but probably worth getting anyhow....

Bayou

I hope to get these tickets added to try to pick up some flying on the side. Someone else helping pay for my habit and currency would be nice.

UAL T38 Phlyer

The last time I did any conventional FAA testing was in 1986, getting my mil-comp (Commercial/multi/instrument). I did mine a few years after UPT, and went to a FSDO and took the test on my own, not part of my entire UPT class, en masse.

I think it was free, or $10 bucks.

Assuming the Mil-CFI Competency is actually going to become fact now, I can only find references on the FAA website about commercial testing centers. Sheppard Air says the tests are about $100 bucks each at these testing centers.

My question is:

Do the FSDOs still do any testing, and if so, what does it cost? I intend to do all three tests...if the FSDOs do it, a low cost might make a trip to a FSDO worthwhile.

Tweet46

When you do your test prep...USE SHEPPARD AIR!!! I used them for my FE Written, FOI, FIA, FII tests and my lowest score has been a 98% with minimal effort on my part.

Cheers,
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UAL T38 Phlyer

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I intend to use Sheppard Air....I just want to know if it makes more sense (dollar-wise) to test at a testing center at my closest airport, or if I want to drive for two hours and test at the closest FSDO.

Correct me if I'm wrong: Sheppard Air sells you prep software, but you have to test elsewhere.

hindsight2020

Hopefully not initial qualing multi-student with more semenhole time than you.....

Nothing about military flying translates well into piston engine civilian flight instructing. Even the instrument crosscheck concepts suggested for the performance of these aircraft are different. Expecting military instructors with limited piston engine time to pass a test bank and go right into taking primary instruction students is not very well thought out end game. It's a short-sighted way of saving a thousand bucks, particularly when the majority of the likely beneficiaries of this measure are not likely to attempt a living at CFIing.

The reality is that the demographics actually don't support this outcome, which is probably why this won't be a big deal. The majority of mil IPs will get the certificate for grins and giggles and to "teach their kid how to fly". Most mil guys with enough piston time to be in a comfortable position to undertake instructing civilian students probably had their CFI ticket before they became military pilots, so that's a non-issue.

Just be safe out there folks.

Tweet46

UAL T-38...Sorry, I knew what you meant but didn't know the answer. Sheppard is only software prep. The test will cost roughly 90-100$ a pop and a testing center. If the FSDO's are doing the test by all means go there. Although they may raise an eybrow when you finish within the first 5-10 minutes of an alloted hour or two. ( I finished my FE in 6 minutes with 100% LOL)

Hindsight2020 is right, mil primary and Civ piston primary are two different animals. After about 1000 hours of FAA dual given and 2000 hours of AETC IP time I can attest this is true.

Cheers,
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