Start CFI training when finishing up Commercial?

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SlickLick

Filing Flight Plan
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Slicklick
Hello,

I’m finishing up my commercial rating and I’m 40 away from the 250 needed. I’ve been curious and tried find out today but couldn’t. Can I start a CFI training course while finishing up my commercial license? Or would I need to finish up my commercial then take CFI training? I’m just trying to figure out if I can take both at same . I’m hoping I can so I can be a CFI as soon as possible.
 
When you say training, what do you mean? If you're thinking of flight training, don't bother. There is very little flight time that is typically needed to get an average applicant ready for a CFI checkride and switching back and forth between seats when flying may actually make things take longer due to the differences in the sight picture. If you're thinking of studying for and passing the written tests, go ahead. I don't think there would really be much of a problem doing that, and it will ease the load later on so you can simply prepare for the CFI checkride. Another thing that might not hurt is to start writing some lesson plans. Writing your own lessons can take a lot of time and if you start with writing lesson plans for the commercial maneuvers you might learn some valuable things that will help you pass your commercial checkride.
 
Fly someplace to knock out the 40 hours...

If you live east of the Mississippi, fly to California and back. If you live west of the Mississippi, fly to Canada or Mexico and back.
 
mondtster said:
When you say training, what do you mean? If you're thinking of flight training, don't bother. There is very little flight time that is typically needed to get an average applicant ready for a CFI checkride and switching back and forth between seats when flying may actually make things take longer due to the differences in the sight picture. If you're thinking of studying for and passing the written tests, go ahead. I don't think there would really be much of a problem doing that, and it will ease the load later on so you can simply prepare for the CFI checkride. Another thing that might not hurt is to start writing some lesson plans. Writing your own lessons can take a lot of time and if you start with writing lesson plans for the commercial maneuvers you might learn some valuable things that will help you pass your commercial checkride.
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As long as the DPE is okay with it you can take your commercial ride from the right seat. That being said if the OP has 40 hours to burn that is more than enough time to be proficient in both seats. Once you're proficient in the right you don't lose your skills in the left. Besides in two years CFIs go back to the left seat anyway to train more CFIs. It really is easy to go back and forth especially in trainers and singles in general.
 
Sure, the CFI is basically all self study, start in on that now, offer to do some free tutoring for student pilots, why not. Really isn't much involved in the CPL ride, just a PPL with a few more maneuvers and also knowing what a CPL vs a PPL can and can't do.
 
SlickLick said:
Hello,

I’m finishing up my commercial rating and I’m 40 away from the 250 needed. I’ve been curious and tried find out today but couldn’t. Can I start a CFI training course while finishing up my commercial license? Or would I need to finish up my commercial then take CFI training? I’m just trying to figure out if I can take both at same . I’m hoping I can so I can be a CFI as soon as possible.
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You should make contact with @SixPapaCharlie and find out he got his FI. A different certificate indeed.

See post #4
https://www.pilotsofamerica.com/community/threads/is-that-you-carl.107687/#post-2423407
 
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One other thought....

I wanted to do the instrument instructor in the multi engine to knock out CFII and MEI at the same time.

Unfortunately someone practiced their gear up landings first.
 
Why don't you just learn the commercial material well enough to teach it, or until you get the total 250 hours?
 
James331 said:
Sure, the CFI is basically all self study, start in on that now, offer to do some free tutoring for student pilots, why not. Really isn't much involved in the CPL ride, just a PPL with a few more maneuvers and also knowing what a CPL vs a PPL can and can't do.
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Except for the right seat work. Perhaps you were the exception, but for me the right seat flying was the hardest part of the CFI.
You do adapt quickly once you have students however....
 
Kritchlow said:
Except for the right seat work. Perhaps you were the exception, but for me the right seat flying was the hardest part of the CFI.
You do adapt quickly once you have students however....
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For some strange reason when I went to the right seat things clicked and my landings became better than when I was in the left seat...

And yes, with students, :hairraise:
 
Zeldman said:
For some strange reason when I went to the right seat things clicked and my landings became better than when I was in the left seat...

And yes, with students, :hairraise:
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Excellent... some people have that right seat intuition. Most do not.
Once you get it though it is very valuable, for going through the FO phase at airlines. It’s not an issue flying from the right seat.
 
Kritchlow said:
Except for the right seat work. Perhaps you were the exception, but for me the right seat flying was the hardest part of the CFI.
You do adapt quickly once you have students however....
Click to expand...


Landings were the only tough part, and that want aligning everything down the runway, everything else was fine.. Figuring out where the knobs were located was maybe the first 2-3 hrs...
 
ja_user said:
Landings were the only tough part, and that want aligning everything down the runway, everything else was fine.. Figuring out where the knobs were located was maybe the first 2-3 hrs...
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Exactly my issues when I did CFI.
 
Kritchlow said:
Exactly my issues when I did CFI.
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In retro-spect, however long it took me to learn to land. It was a lot less than that to learn from the right seat, as alignment was the only issue really.
 
ja_user said:
In retro-spect, however long it took me to learn to land. It was a lot less than that to learn from the right seat, as alignment was the only issue really.
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True.... but the point is many take right seat landings for granted.
Nothing could be further from the truth. It’s not rocket science, but it does take some practice.
 
Kritchlow said:
Except for the right seat work. Perhaps you were the exception, but for me the right seat flying was the hardest part of the CFI.
You do adapt quickly once you have students however....
Click to expand...

It wasn't that bad for me, took a couple flights and it was all the same, think it maybe comes down to how familiar you are with that plane too
 
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