Hi all. So the boss is pushing all standard CFI's to get their CFII before a big upcoming foriegn student boom at our school. I have been looking around for books that would help me in this but the only things I have really found are the exact same materials that I learned my instrument rating with. I was hoping to find something that reads from an instructor's perspective such books loaded with hints, acronyms and all that fun stuff we use to memorize this bulk of material. I haven't been instrument current in about 2 years now. I did a flight "for fun" with a fellow MEII in his client's Citation 2 a month ago and pretty much had my IFR butt handed to me on a silver platter. So at this point the more dumbed down the book, the better haha. I'm more than confident that I can shake off the rust really quick with my IFR flying but it's that massive amount of rules, regs, and ground work that gets intimidating.

Also, I've heard that you can actually use your CFII ride as an IPC which can save a little $$ which is always nice. Anyone else able to second that? Thanks everyone! - Jared

Any examination taken for the purpose of adding a new certificate or rating also acts as a binannual flight review; for instrument instructor certs it includes instrument currency as well. I should give ref's but hey it's late Friday evening and there is a cool show on Cessna history running on the tube.

I am working on my double II as well, I am just reviewing old materials. Get the PTS for CFII (FAA-S-8081-9C), get out your old Jeppeson textbook or whatever you used for your instrument rating as a resource, use the same same videos as well (I have Sportys Instrument Rating Course), and refer to FAA Instrument Flying Handbook FAA-H-8083-15A.

At some point you are going to have to get some training in the airplane. First get sharp on laws, tricks and rules. PC sims are useful in connection with instrument flying skills, get your plates out and start flying them on the PC. I use X-Plane but MS Flight Sim X should be ok.

And make sure you do your written. I know most people say memorize and regurgitate for the test, but you are already rated. You shouldn't be regurgitating, you should be recalling. Unless you took your CFII when you did the Instrument.

Study your old books (especially the Instrument Flying Handbook) to regain proficiency. Whoever is signing you off for the checkride should sit down with you and make sure you are proficient. Pick someone who can help you teach the info correctly and with good style. I was able to make a deal with my instructor. Ground was free, I only paid him for flight time but I gave him a bonus on my checkride since we were both poor flight instructors.

I use Gene Hudson's "Instrument Flying Made Easy" for the how-to on scans.
Jeppesen's "Instrument Procedures Handbook"
FAA/ASA "Instrument Flying Handbook" latest edition is far better than previous editions
Tony Kern's "Redefining Airmanship"
any and all of Rod Machado's books
Kershner's IFR book
and the AIM.

You want instructional knowledge, not rote memorization.

Are you guys sure that the CFII checkride also counts as an IPC? It's been too long since I took my II, but I think I either read or heard somewhere that the II ride doesn't count toward an IPC. I want to say I asked AOPA about it.

Feel free to prove me wrong though. I'll look into it as well.

even if you could "use" your double II ride for an IPC, why would you need to? you've got a double II that's confident enough in you to sign you off for a new rating, i'm sure they'd be glad to sign an IPC. you're an instructor, don't guess on interpretations of regs, especially when you can do this the right and easy way

Ooops! Be careful! This is NOT true in the case of an INSTRUCTOR checkride.

The easy solution to this is have the cfi who signed you off for the checkride give you a BFR endorsement based on the checkride prep. You could also get the examiner to give you a BFR endorsement based on the checkride itself.

A CFII ride would not automatically count for an IPC either, IIRC. Actually you would be foolish to show up for a CFII ride without being instrument current! Again your instructor should be able to give you an IPC endorsement based on checkride prep.

Awesome thanks for the help. It makes sense that whatever CFII does my (re)training should be confident enough to sign my IPC if he's willing to sign me for the ride. Oh maintaining job security is fun... haha

Are you sure about that? It's a checkride for a certificate, rating, or operating privilege, so it should count for the BFR under 61.56(d). That's what I've been told through my training and by management at the school I'm working at now.

A BFR and IPC are two totally different things. Applying the rules for one, might not be prudent for the other.

Have the instructor you're doing your checkride prep with give you an IPC signoff as long as you meet the requirements for one (which you should after your prep). He/she's going to have to give you an endorsement for the practical anyway, why not have them take another 90 seconds and give you an IPC endorsement?

Anytime you do checkride prep, have the instructor give you a BFR and IPC endorsement, even if you don't need it.