Ugh, CFI hospitalized

Jamie Kirk

Line Up and Wait
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Aug 7, 2018
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JamieK
I've had the same CFI and scheduling has been great. However Monday morning the club called and cancelled my morning session. No worries, I schedule Monday, Wednesday and Friday every week.

Got a call today, was told CFI is in the hospital and they need to cancel all my appointments for OCTOBER and can reach back out to me in November for an update.

My CFI and I got along, he was a good instructor and we meshed well. He was an older gentleman and I wish him the best. However my goal to finish PPL this year just vanished :(
 
3-options...

- wait till he recovers
- if you've soloed and he has signed off on you to make solo training flights then continue to do so. a month long layoff is counter productive
- find another CFI to continue your training (my recommendation).

i understand your relationship with your CFI...i had the same...but if its a short absence then you'll be back with him in no time. but if it turns out to be a long recovery..or worse..you won't have lost any time.
 
Ask the club for another CFI!
What’s the big deal?

I flew with several different instructors and learned something different every time. Changing instructors is a good thing.

As long as your club has others available chalk it up to a learning experience and move on.
 
3-options...

- wait till he recovers
- if you've soloed and he has signed off on you to make solo training flights then continue to do so. a month long layoff is counter productive
- find another CFI to continue your training (my recommendation).

i understand your relationship with your CFI...i had the same...but if its a short absence then you'll be back with him in no time. but if it turns out to be a long recovery..or worse..you won't have lost any time.

I was planned to solo last flight, clouds rolled in and we ended early. Plan was Monday after some touch and goes :(

I purchased an airplane, CFI was added to the insurance and did the checkout for insurance requirements. Was supposed to start flying my plane Friday this week.

Club is finding another, however my instructor was the only one at this airport which is local to me. Club also needs more CFIs as they book up 3-4 weeks in advance.
 
Ask the club for another CFI!
What’s the big deal?

I flew with several different instructors and learned something different every time. Changing instructors is a good thing.

As long as your club has others available chalk it up to a learning experience and move on.

It was the weeks it took to get him on the insurance of my plane and checked out that was the hassle.
 
Sorry to hear that. One of the challenges doing training in your own plane.

I'd guess if you increased what your willing to pay an instructor high enough, you'd find a taker.

Having a long break this early on is very counterproductive.

Might almost cost you as much as what it would take to pay someone else enough to come to you long enough for you to solo and then go to them.
 
You own your own plane? What kind?

You don't need the club. Find a free lance CFI/CFII.

Seriously. CFIs love to go direct because they can keep all of the hourly rate. You could maybe save money if the club was taking a cut.
 
You own your own plane? What kind?

You don't need the club. Find a free lance CFI/CFII.

Seriously. CFIs love to go direct because they can keep all of the hourly rate. You could maybe save money if the club was taking a cut.

It’s a Rockwell Commander. Issue was finding someone familiar with the plane to give instruction. Insurance wanted someone with 10 hours in the type.
 
In case some of you haven’t got the news, CFIs are rather hard to find in many parts of the country these days.
 
Jamie, where are you at? I'll bet someone here could put you in touch with a CFI who, if not current in your airplane, at least has the flight hour requirement to get added to your insurance.

Here in my area, we have a FB group that can usually come up with solutions for routine GA pilot problems and answers to questions. I'll bet there's a group like that in your area too.
 
Either way you will experience a delay since you are not signed off to solo yet. And you sound so close to solo.

So you can wait a month for your CFI and meanwhile you get rusty but what if your CFI's in longer or can't fly for quite some time after he gets out...then you have waited for even longer to reach the best conclusion FOR YOU: Find another CFI right away. Back track for a few flights and get that solo behind you.

I soloed with one CFI and finished with another. Your CFI will understand...heck he may even be the one who ends up endorsing your PPL checkride if he's better by then! I can assure you the longer you wait to find another CFI the more rusty you will get and more jaded you will be with the entire system. In a way its a great pilot test. Do you sit back and wait for things or do keep things moving forward? Own it man :)
 
Jamie, where are you at? I'll bet someone here could put you in touch with a CFI who, if not current in your airplane, at least has the flight hour requirement to get added to your insurance.

Here in my area, we have a FB group that can usually come up with solutions for routine GA pilot problems and answers to questions. I'll bet there's a group like that in your area too.
Southern California, KPOC.

Airplane is a Rockwell Commander 112A.

The Commanders Owners Group has been looking and the few that are in the area are overloaded or too far.
 
How’s your CFI doing? I hope he’s feeling better. Do you know what wrong with him?

I do not, I hope he is as well. I do not know but I sent him a text.

After flying today in a clubs plane with a different instructor going airlines I got to watch someone play games on their phones for an hour while I did landings.
 
I do not, I hope he is as well. I do not know but I sent him a text.

After flying today in a clubs plane with a different instructor going airlines I got to watch someone play games on their phones for an hour while I did landings.
then you must've been doing well. get your solo done so you can continue to fly until your CFI recovers or you find another to take his place.
 
I know everyone talks about a pilot shortage, but at least here in the Midwest, I don't know.

Lots of CFIs around. Good handful of retired airline guys looking to instruct too.

I know Commanders are unique, but it's still 160-180 HP 4 seat low wing.

There are others available.
 
sorry to hear that... my instructor is old too.
have you chosen an other CFI or you wait till he recovers? what he recommends? did u ask?
 
He is still out, expected back November 15th. Only flown twice since, all other CFIs are booked out for 3 more weeks.

This sucks. I was flying 3+ hours a week and was wanting to finish PPL this year. Missed out on 9 hours of flight time and another 9 hours before I get a CFI.
 
He is still out, expected back November 15th. Only flown twice since, all other CFIs are booked out for 3 more weeks.

This sucks. I was flying 3+ hours a week and was wanting to finish PPL this year. Missed out on 9 hours of flight time and another 9 hours before I get a CFI.
When I decided to switch instructors these same thoughts were running through my mind. My "projected" checkride day was rapidly slipping. Man, did I hate that feeling:mad: Rather than bore you with details I will just say that I learned that I needed to let go of that "projected" date. I was setting a unrealistic expectation and trying to drive the aviation machine beyond max maneuvering speed LOL :)

Either take a short break (if you can not fly at all) and get your mind off of it or go and finish up your written if you haven't already. When you push aviation it always finds a way to push back at like 3x.
 
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