Can you fly with more than one CFI?

John Spartan

John Spartan

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Odd question probably but my CFI isn’t available for a while and I’m bored. Is it possible/acceptable to fly with someone other than your CFI while you are on a student certificate? Do CFIs frown on that?
 
Of course you can. It’s only going to be an issue if your CFI is a snowflake.
 
John Spartan said:
Odd question probably but my CFI isn’t available for a while and I’m bored. Is it possible/acceptable to fly with someone other than your CFI while you are on a student certificate? Do CFIs frown on that?
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It’s acceptable. Some CFI’s might frown on it. I don’t think they should. Especially in your situation where the alternative is to not fly at all.
 
You can fly with any CFI your heart desires. I'd actually encourage you to fly with a few different CFIs if you can. They all have their own styles and ways of explaining/performing things, so it sometimes helps broaden your understanding of certain concepts and maneuvers as each may fill any gaps you may have. That said, consistency is also a cornerstone in the formative nature of primary instruction, so it's best to primarily stick with the one instructor you click with the best.

Just don't make the mistake of snobbily pitting them against each other, i.e. "Well my OTHER CFI told me to do it THIS way" etc. You should feel free to ask them about any conflicting ideas, but from a standpoint of learning more as opposed to arguing.
 
Thank you everyone! So how to approach that with each one?

for my primary, say “hey, I know you aren’t available on X but I don’t want to miss that time. Are you good with me seeing if I can get some hours elsewhere?”

new CFI “I have X hours and I’ve done these maneuvers. Here’s my logbook. Let’s fly?”
 
Sure. Most CFIs seem to be part-time & have other work & commitments. They understand. If you have a close personal relationship with your CFI that you’re worried about messing up, just say, “I need to keep making progress while you’re out. Who should I fly with when you’re not available?” It is still your money & your skills getting rusty. And fall flying is about the best there is.
 
No, we don't frown on that. I've been in both ends of that - the primary and substitute CFI - a number of times. The biggest issue isn't ego. It's varying techniques which can be confusing, so it's best if it's coordinated between the instructors. But it's not always necessary - more about the student than the instructors.

A month or two ago. I subbed for a vacationing CFI with a presolo student. I asked the primary what the student needs to work on and that's what we did. Student soloed shortly after the primary's return.

Some years ago, my presolo student was on vacation and decided to take some lessons. We did not coordinate but the student was both smart and proactive. The other CFI offered to solo him. My student didn't go for it. When he returned, I told him he should have taken the opportunity.

sometimes it's not even about scheduling, I have referred students to other instructors when they were having a problem I couldn't figure out. And vice versa.
 
John Spartan said:
Thank you everyone! So how to approach that with each one?

for my primary, say “hey, I know you aren’t available on X but I don’t want to miss that time. Are you good with me seeing if I can get some hours elsewhere?”

new CFI “I have X hours and I’ve done these maneuvers. Here’s my logbook. Let’s fly?”
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They're OK. But better yet, "hey, I know you aren’t available on X but I don’t want to miss that time. Is there someone you suggest I fly with while you are away?" to your main.

"I have X hours and I’ve done these maneuvers. Here’s my logbook. Here's what I think I need to work on.”[/QUOTE]
 
John Spartan said:
Odd question probably but my CFI isn’t available for a while and I’m bored. Is it possible/acceptable to fly with someone other than your CFI while you are on a student certificate? Do CFIs frown on that?
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CFI's don't frown on this, at least they shouldn't. It is your money and time. However, before you return, you should inform the first CFI that you have been flying with someone else. This is not because you committed a sin and need to confess, but because your CFI needs to know where you are in the training syllabus so that he or she can plan your next lesson accordingly.
 
Go for it, but I would consider trying to get all your endorsements from the same CFI unless you plan to change to a new CFI permanently. I have flown with lots of CFIs and learned something from each of them.
 
midlifeflyer said:
No, we don't frown on that. I've been in both ends of that - the primary and substitute CFI - a number of times. The biggest issue isn't ego. It's varying techniques which can be confusing, so it's best if it's coordinated between the instructors. But it's not always necessary - more about the student than the instructors.

A month or two ago. I subbed for a vacationing CFI with a presolo student. I asked the primary what the student needs to work on and that's what we did. Student soloed shortly after the primary's return.

Some years ago, my presolo student was on vacation and decided to take some lessons. We did not coordinate but the student was both smart and proactive. The other CFI offered to solo him. My student didn't go for it. When he returned, I told him he should have taken the opportunity.

sometimes it's not even about scheduling, I have referred students to other instructors when they were having a problem I couldn't figure out. And vice versa.
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I did my first solo with another guy. I went in and they told me Jughead, I sheet you not, that's what he went by, called and said he couldn't make it in. There was another CFI hanging out there and went up with him. He soloed me. Jughead wasn't real happy about it.
 
DesertNomad said:
Go for it, but I would consider trying to get all your endorsements from the same CFI unless you plan to change to a new CFI permanently. I have flown with lots of CFIs and learned something from each of them.
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I dig my CFI and plan to stick with him until the end. Just needing something to fill downtime.
 
eman1200 said:
you could even fly with more than one CFI.......at the same time! also, get that on video please, could be a fun one to watch!
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Resolving who gets right seat could be fun. Lol
 
eman1200 said:
you could even fly with more than one CFI.......at the same time! also, get that on video please, could be a fun one to watch!
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Been there, done that, have the video :D. At the end of a lesson one evening my CFI had me fly to another airport to pick up another CFI and his student who dropped off the aircraft they were flying for a 100hr. I flew the four of us back to the base airport. No pressure on the landing…. LOL. Unknown to me was that the passenger CFI was a shutterbug and was filming the landing. Fortunately it was a decent one.
I have flown with five different CFI’s at the school and learned something different from each one and also had some minor bad habits corrected.
 
Ok. One more question. Does it matter if it’s in a different plane type. Jumping 172 to 150 etc. although I would love to fly in an LSA just to see what it’s like.
 
John Spartan said:
Ok. One more question. Does it matter if it’s in a different plane type. Jumping 172 to 150 etc. although I would love to fly in an LSA just to see what it’s like.
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No legal reason not to, but IMO, flying more than one model as a student can:

Extend training slightly, as you’ll tend to be relearning the same things for a different airplane.
Cause confusion as to which numbers go with which airplane.
Make you a better, more rounded Pilot overall.
 
John Spartan said:
Ok. One more question. Does it matter if it’s in a different plane type. Jumping 172 to 150 etc. although I would love to fly in an LSA just to see what it’s like.
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Why not, if that's what you want to do. You might want to have chat your Piggy Bank first though.
 
MauleSkinner said:
No legal reason not to, but IMO, flying more than one model as a student can:

Extend training slightly, as you’ll tend to be relearning the same things for a different airplane.
Cause confusion as to which numbers go with which airplane.
Make you a better, more rounded Pilot overall.
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I am doing just that; I started in a 172 and am finishing in a 182. Yes, it will extend training a little. Yes, a little confusion on numbers but not a huge difference in numbers, sight lines, handling techniques between these two. I think it will make me a better pilot. I would think that jumping from a 172 to an Archer may have more challenges but would definitely contribute to MauleSkinner’s third point.
 
John Spartan said:
Ok. One more question. Does it matter if it’s in a different plane type. Jumping 172 to 150 etc. although I would love to fly in an LSA just to see what it’s like.
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If you remember how weird it was the first time you drove a car different from what you learned in, multiply it.

it's not a bad idea but the goal is to get your certificate. Some people can easily handle the differences. Others have more trouble doing that. Only you can answer where you are on that spectrum.
 
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It can be a good thing ,to have a different perspective. Think of it like a stage check in your training.
 
I always encourage my students to fly with other CFI's if the opportunity arrises. I tell them that will give them the chance just to see how crappy of an instructor I really am! Fortunately, no student has reported back to me that this was the case. 47 years as a CFI & still at it.
 
In many pro schools, it is required. Both for instruction and to do Phase checks on progress.

In USAF UPT, you started with a Primary and Secondary instructor. You only flew with one of those two. After some experience, those that could handle it flew with other instructors also. Those who were struggling stayed limited to the two.
 
Pinecone said:
In many pro schools, it is required. Both for instruction and to do Phase checks on progress.

In USAF UPT, you started with a Primary and Secondary instructor. You only flew with one of those two. After some experience, those that could handle it flew with other instructors also. Those who were struggling stayed limited to the two.
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We also had "guest" instructors in UPT. Some IP you might fly with just one time.

The syllabus we use requires evaluation flights at least three times with a different CFI.
 
midlifeflyer said:
They're OK. But better yet, "hey, I know you aren’t available on X but I don’t want to miss that time. Is there someone you suggest I fly with while you are away?" to your main.

"I have X hours and I’ve done these maneuvers. Here’s my logbook. Here's what I think I need to work on.”
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[/QUOTE]

:yeahthat:

I just met with my student this morning, cancelled the flight due to snow on the wings. But he just got back from spending two weeks out of town with family. Before he left he said he had a CFI friend that had offered to fly with him while he was visiting. I had given him the lesson plan and said cool, have him show you the ground reference maneuvers. You can show me what he taught you when you get back.

Brian
CFIIG/ASEL
 
I’ve probably flown with 10 CFIs through ppl and ifr. I learned a valuable tip from each one along the way. I’d encourage it.
Heck, occasionally I’ll see a new CFI at the flight school and go do some Instrument Approaches for an hour or so. You never know what you’ll pick up.
 
Like everyone has said above, do fly with different CFI. The school I went to, I flew with the chief flight instructor during my stage checks. I flew with 5 different CFI during my primary training and with 3 different CFII for my instrument. I even switched airports, schools and instructors at the end of my instrument training. I clicked with my last oldest instructor the best at the new airport and school. I can't see one CFI for your entire training being a good thing?.
And if your instructor can't fly with you for a extended period of time then heck yes you have to fly with another CFI. He can't be mad about that.
The school I went to scheduled me when I wanted and made a plane and instructor available to me just about any time within reason. I didn't really care who I flew with from the beginning, I did fly with pretty much the same CFII, but there are times when you won't for one reason or another if you are in a school environment. This was in the olden days of 2015 when the world was a different place...and the school was not that busy.
 
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My CFI encourages it. There are two at the satellite office where I train, and she has recommended it on more than one occasion. She would rather I spend time training on days when she's not available than to miss air time. Of course now that I have my solo endorsement, the CFI schedule issue is not as frequent.
 
Agree with everyone on it being a good thing.

I'd add the caveat, that maybe not on the same flight. I predict a continuous argument about everything. :) Mostly kidding.
 
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