Commercial/CFI Path

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mxalix258

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mxalix258
I'm currently a 180hr TT private pilot with instrument rating. I've done a lot of fun flying and have gathered up a few of the fun endorsements like high performance, tailwheel etc.

My ultimate goal in the near future is to work through Commercial/CFI - I know these are both big checkrides, but I have heard stories about folks approaching them somewhat together. Doing Commercial training from right seat etc.

My plan this summer is to do a lot of flying with cross country trips and so on to build some more time towards the 250 requirement.

At what point does it make sense to pivot to Commercial training? Is a combined approach to Commercial/CFI feasible or should I take them one at a time?

What things can I be doing now from a book knowledge perspective? I'm reading a few weather flying books to try and better my knowledge on that side, but would be open to other suggestions.
 
You can't get the commercial until 250TT, so a little ways to go. The actual training for the commercial probably will only be 10-20 hours at most. While out doing your cross-countries for time building, make sure you plan some to cover the required dual and solo cross countries for the commercial license. The CFI is a different beast, consisting more of book and teaching knowledge, and having a thorough understanding of aviation concepts. The flying portion is nothing new, other than having to do it from the right seat and explaining what you are doing.
 
The commercial is one of the easier ratings. You can focus on tightening your standards. Hold headings, altitude, course, etc to a lower deviation. Once you start training for your CFI, teach someone a lesson with no aviation background and see if they understand. If they learn something, you’re on the right track.
 
Makes sense - it sounds like perhaps I'm on the right track for now then? Focus on building time with flights that might be useful for experience/xc requirements while continuing to work on polishing knowledge side of things. I guess at around 235 or 240tt I can switch to more dedicated commercial training?
 
You're about where I was last year at this time. I didn't really start working on commercial maneuvers until 220 hours or so. Working on CFI now and I can tell you, it's a LOT of work...
 
mxalix258 said:
Makes sense - it sounds like perhaps I'm on the right track for now then? Focus on building time with flights that might be useful for experience/xc requirements while continuing to work on polishing knowledge side of things. I guess at around 235 or 240tt I can switch to more dedicated commercial training?
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I’d suggest getting with a CFI for some initial instruction on the commercial maneuvers so that you can practice them at your leisure along the way. That way you’ll have more opportunity to internalize and perfect the maneuvers, rather than rushing through them in 10 hours over a couple of weeks.

I’d even suggest getting some guidance as to where to start studying for your CFI...That’ll be a LOT of bookwork, so you may as well get going on that, too.
 
MauleSkinner said:
I’d even suggest getting some guidance as to where to start studying for your CFI...That’ll be a LOT of bookwork, so you may as well get going on that, too.
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Yeah - that's what I'd like to be slowly chipping away at now. Especially in the winter months when flying is slower. I'd love the recommendations on those currently working on CFI or have done it in the past on this!
 
mxalix258 said:
Yeah - that's what I'd like to be slowly chipping away at now. Especially in the winter months when flying is slower. I'd love the recommendations on those currently working on CFI or have done it in the past on this!
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<—-done it in the past, but that was when our primary students were pterodactyls.
 
mxalix258 said:
Makes sense - it sounds like perhaps I'm on the right track for now then? Focus on building time with flights that might be useful for experience/xc requirements while continuing to work on polishing knowledge side of things. I guess at around 235 or 240tt I can switch to more dedicated commercial training?
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You need 20 hours of training for the commercial per the regs. You probably won’t need much more than that.
 
jordane93 said:
You need 20 hours of training for the commercial per the regs. You probably won’t need much more than that.
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Most people start their commercial with some of the 20hrs already done. "Start" is a loose term, as you never really start chasing a new rating. You either have the requirements logged or you don't.

First thing most people should do is print 61.129 and see what they are missing, and what they already have. Especially chipping away at the solo requirements, if not already met. This can begin the day after they get their private license.
 
Make sure you’re good with all your XC and night and all for the CPL, for some reason people don’t like flying long distances when they build hours, no idea why but it’s a thing.

Use your complex/hp for your CPL and combine it with your CPL training, real world the longest part is the logbook audit lol, good idea to bookmark the long solo x/c, etc.

For the CFI, it’s really 95% self study, you should already know all of the stuff and better yet where to look if you don’t, don’t limit your study material to aviation, Wikipedia is great for FOI, I’d also HIGHLY recommend tutoring PPL students for free, that will help tons.

If you’re going to start of your CFI early, you can get your ground instructor right now which will lock in your FOI, you can also take the written and it’ll be good for 2yrs.
 
Oh, and if you’re sure that they won’t expire. The commercial and Cfi exams can be studied for at the same time. Sheppard air gives a discount too. They are subsatintily similar
 
One can also er, um, get their sport pilot instructor rating with a LOT less hours if there is a way to teach in an LSA... and one is inclined to teach.
 
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