Flight schools for CFI

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Inkoosikas

Filing Flight Plan
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Aug 16, 2014
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Fairbanks AK
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Inkoosikas
Hello everyone!

I am 32 and have had my ppl for 10 years, however, due to unfortunate life events, tough times, and stupid decisions, I only have about 60hrs.

I have been serious about flying as a career since I first got in a small plane and I am still very interested in it. I have Finally gotten to a place in life where I could probably scrounge up enough money to get my CPL and become a CFI and go from there.

Due to work and the area I live in, I have been looking at accelerated flight schools. One in particular (my sister and brother in law got their PPL from) has a 90 day 0 time to CFI program.

What I am wondering about is what everyones opinion on accelerated flight schools or dedicated flight schools are?

There are airports in my area and there are 3 flight instructors locally, but they are all pretty busy. Also, due to my work I really think in order to actually get to CFI, I need to just take off a chunk of time and do nothing but flit training. Otherwise, as it has in the past, I think life and work will inevitably get in the way again.

Just looking for thoughts and opinions on what I should do or programs to look into. I am currently looking at Double Eagle aviation in Arizona.

Thanks everyone!
 
90 day zero to CFI? I don't think so... You'd have to fly like four hours a day and study another 8. ATP does this pretty quickly and even there it should take 7-9 months for all of the ratings.
 
I went from private to CFI in ~90 days. I had ~200 hours when I started and had already spent about four months studying in preparation.

The program doesn’t matter. You can either study your butt off and perform well above standards or just barely squeak by and subsequently be a sucky pilot.

One point about accelerated programs is when you’re done immediately start using the ratings and knowledge. You drop that knowledge fast if you don’t stay active.
 
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Much different starting at 200 hours. If you had to do another 130 in that 90 days, that would be an additional hour or two of flying every day on top of what you already had to do.
 
I'd be inclined to do my instrument locally and then go off to a flight school for your commercial and CFI. With instrument, you can do all of your training at night if you wish, making planes, instructors, and ATC much more available...all while working around your current work schedule, getting it done fast.

Now if none of the local instructors are willing to fly nights, you'll have to work something else out.
 
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samiamPA said:
Much different starting at 200 hours. If you had to do another 130 in that 90 days, that would be an additional hour or two of flying every day on top of what you already had to do.
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Yeah. No crap. Makes a big difference having that extra 110 hours. Kinda why I posted the information.
 
OP probably doesn’t have an IRA. 150 hrs of flying in 90 days is 1.7 hrs each and every day plus academics and written exams. Then to end up with a VFR only commercial ticket and CFI doesn’t seem like a high chance of success to me.
 
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samiamPA said:
90 day zero to CFI? I don't think so... You'd have to fly like four hours a day and study another 8. ATP does this pretty quickly and even there it should take 7-9 months for all of the ratings.
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Well that's kinda my whole idea. Most of the time I work 60-70hrs a week so not much time to study or fly. That's why I am thinking of taking 3 months off and doing nothing but flying and studying. Any decent flight schools are not local so it involves me being out of town and not working. If I do decide to do an accelerated flight school, I am planning on studying for the written exams before going so I will hopefully only need to be doing review for exams instead of trying to learn everything from scratch.
 
Brad Z said:
I'd be inclined to do my instrument locally and then go off to a flight school for your commercial and CFI. With instrument, you can do all of your training at night if you wish, making planes, instructors, and ATC much more available...all while working around your current work schedule, getting it done fast.

Now if none of the local instructors are willing to fly nights, you'll have to work something else out.
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I live in rural Oregon. There are 2 instructors at my local airport but they instruct in a flight club plane that is not instrument rated, and they are booked solid all the time. The only other local instructor is at an airport 45 minute drive away, and is in a similar boat of not having an instrument rating.

This is partly the reason I am trying to get my CFI, is our local area had a deficiency of instructors and no real established flight training. The only real qualified and established flight training in the area was run by an 80 year old gentleman who retired 2 years ago.
 
Be honest with yourself. You are neither proficient today with aeronautical skills or knowledge. You are not a candidate for anything accelerated right now and will struggle with meeting the normal hours in a traditional program without remedial training.
 
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