CFI at Embry Riddle, or a local fbo?
05-28-2013, 11:21 PM
#1
Banned
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jan 2011
Position: C172
Posts: 33
CFI at Embry Riddle, or a local fbo?
Hi everyone, I'll be finishing up commercial Single hopefully in September and I'm currently a student at ERAU, All I've done at Riddle is Instrument and starting commercial single. The Big question is do I do my CFI at Riddle or a local FBO? Just not sure cause there's pros and cons in both.
For example:
PROS- RIDDLE
-Gets you prepared for standards
-People said the course makes you ready for CFI not just a check ride
-You don't have to go with a FSDO Inspector you go with a reg check pilot
-Bottlefeld all the Info through "Orals"
-PROS- Local FBO
-Have both CFI and CFII done in about a month
-SOOO MUCH CHEAPER- 5-7K
-Better chance at getting a job as a CFI.
CONS- RIDDLE
-Cost is anywhere from 12-20K
-Takes almost 2 semesters( almost 1 year)
-No Guaranteed job nor an interview..
CONS- Local FBO
-You have to have your initial Check with an inspector FSDO..
-Training might not be as good.
-You have to study your A** off.
__________________________________________________ __
I'll be honest I'm just not sure what to do, The sound of an FAA inspector scares me haha. I heard do your CFII with the inspector and CFI with a reg checkairman. I've heard from people that the Airlines care about a lot where you CFI at, so if it comes down to that then yeah I'd like to instruct for them but doing the course as of now is not in my favor. When it comes to Ground work at a part 61 wouldn't they teach me all the info and help me like lesson plans, Etc... You have to also keep in mind I'm a Full time student so It would be hard for me to work as a full time CFI, Part time would better.
HELPP!!!! Not sure what to do?
-Ryan
For example:
PROS- RIDDLE
-Gets you prepared for standards
-People said the course makes you ready for CFI not just a check ride
-You don't have to go with a FSDO Inspector you go with a reg check pilot
-Bottlefeld all the Info through "Orals"
-PROS- Local FBO
-Have both CFI and CFII done in about a month
-SOOO MUCH CHEAPER- 5-7K
-Better chance at getting a job as a CFI.
CONS- RIDDLE
-Cost is anywhere from 12-20K
-Takes almost 2 semesters( almost 1 year)
-No Guaranteed job nor an interview..
CONS- Local FBO
-You have to have your initial Check with an inspector FSDO..
-Training might not be as good.
-You have to study your A** off.
__________________________________________________ __
I'll be honest I'm just not sure what to do, The sound of an FAA inspector scares me haha. I heard do your CFII with the inspector and CFI with a reg checkairman. I've heard from people that the Airlines care about a lot where you CFI at, so if it comes down to that then yeah I'd like to instruct for them but doing the course as of now is not in my favor. When it comes to Ground work at a part 61 wouldn't they teach me all the info and help me like lesson plans, Etc... You have to also keep in mind I'm a Full time student so It would be hard for me to work as a full time CFI, Part time would better.
HELPP!!!! Not sure what to do?
-Ryan
Last edited by Ryanthepilot; 05-28-2013 at 11:59 PM.
05-29-2013, 05:36 AM
#4
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2012
Position: PNF
Posts: 622
So let me get this straight. Pay 15k more to get spoonfed info? No thanks. Do you know how much more per month that is on 8% interest? On top of your bills from commercial.
The advantage of a university system or big 141 program is standardization. More CFIs are at a standard le el of book knowledge. However, instructing is a whole different animal. All instructors are so fresh and new that they will learn more themselves than the students the first time around.
The FBO is just like you said it. Study your ass off and you will prevail. The FSDO guys are almost 100% nice. They loved me when I came through, and I am still in contact with them.
Also, airlines can give a care less of where you got your instructor ratings.
The advantage of a university system or big 141 program is standardization. More CFIs are at a standard le el of book knowledge. However, instructing is a whole different animal. All instructors are so fresh and new that they will learn more themselves than the students the first time around.
The FBO is just like you said it. Study your ass off and you will prevail. The FSDO guys are almost 100% nice. They loved me when I came through, and I am still in contact with them.
Also, airlines can give a care less of where you got your instructor ratings.
05-29-2013, 08:08 AM
#5
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2010
Posts: 389
You're gonna get the exact opposite responses on here that you got on the ERAU FB page which has gotten way too many replies.
EDIT: I'll throw in my two cents. You may not necessarily have to do your CFI ride with an actual inspector depending on which FSDO you're in. The Orlando FSDO has their few approved DEs do them so if you're doing it in the area, it'll be with a DE. These DEs are in my opinion, harder than some inspectors in other parts of the country. If you're gonna do it at a FBO, make sure your instructor is familiar with CFI DE checkrides. The knowledgebase for CFI is huge and some will test for this or that. Having an instructor that has put a lot of students up with specific DEs will lesson the chance of a failure. There's no way to learn everything possible, so focusing on certain important tasks will decrease chances of failing. It will cost you less, but you need to be motivated and a good self study person to get it done this way. A place like American Flyers is gonna have a more structured environment and with familiar DEs or inspectors and they know what they're focused on. It's a lot cheaper than Riddle but with some structure too. Personally, if you're not caring about location, I'd go with them.
Riddle has a far more structured environment. You can stay local in Daytona and you'll have a more familiar baseline for checkrides. How you progress in the course is a lot up to you and your instructor. There's a huge difference in the standards instructors expect for your CFI course modules. As far as Riddle hiring instructors, it all depends on the hiring needs. Just do well on those interviews. Some will say it makes a difference in standardization. They significantly changed the standards process a few years ago to make it more a learning process for everyone. It shouldn't be a problem. They've hired many non-Riddle CFI trained people in the past, and they will continue to do so. If this is important to you, consider is spending another $10,000 worth not having to spend another few hours learning how Riddle wants a specific flow done. Go observe some CFI flights at Riddle if that's what you're worried about it. It's free.
A word of advice, the guy who's mainly replying to you on FB is talking a lot about how it helped him get an instructor gig at his airline. Ask around about how he got the job to become a FO there in the first place.
EDIT: I'll throw in my two cents. You may not necessarily have to do your CFI ride with an actual inspector depending on which FSDO you're in. The Orlando FSDO has their few approved DEs do them so if you're doing it in the area, it'll be with a DE. These DEs are in my opinion, harder than some inspectors in other parts of the country. If you're gonna do it at a FBO, make sure your instructor is familiar with CFI DE checkrides. The knowledgebase for CFI is huge and some will test for this or that. Having an instructor that has put a lot of students up with specific DEs will lesson the chance of a failure. There's no way to learn everything possible, so focusing on certain important tasks will decrease chances of failing. It will cost you less, but you need to be motivated and a good self study person to get it done this way. A place like American Flyers is gonna have a more structured environment and with familiar DEs or inspectors and they know what they're focused on. It's a lot cheaper than Riddle but with some structure too. Personally, if you're not caring about location, I'd go with them.
Riddle has a far more structured environment. You can stay local in Daytona and you'll have a more familiar baseline for checkrides. How you progress in the course is a lot up to you and your instructor. There's a huge difference in the standards instructors expect for your CFI course modules. As far as Riddle hiring instructors, it all depends on the hiring needs. Just do well on those interviews. Some will say it makes a difference in standardization. They significantly changed the standards process a few years ago to make it more a learning process for everyone. It shouldn't be a problem. They've hired many non-Riddle CFI trained people in the past, and they will continue to do so. If this is important to you, consider is spending another $10,000 worth not having to spend another few hours learning how Riddle wants a specific flow done. Go observe some CFI flights at Riddle if that's what you're worried about it. It's free.
A word of advice, the guy who's mainly replying to you on FB is talking a lot about how it helped him get an instructor gig at his airline. Ask around about how he got the job to become a FO there in the first place.
Last edited by IDIOTPILOT; 05-29-2013 at 08:46 AM.
05-29-2013, 02:06 PM
#8
On Reserve
Joined APC: May 2011
Position: 737 Left/Right Seat
Posts: 12
I thought Riddle had a fast track CFI program over the summer where you do both your CFI/II in a couple of months AND you got a good chance at an interview. I would ask about that before making your decision. If they don't offer this anymore, I would go with FBO, but talk to a Riddle CFI and see if they can help you with a CFI book.
05-29-2013, 02:19 PM
#9
Are we there yet??!!
Joined APC: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,010
Get your CFI on where you plan to instruct.
Many years ago I started my CFI at Riddle at there was just way too much extra stuff you had to do for your "CFI Class". Such as building the instructor notebook that you were graded on. As things go, I ended up having to drop out of my first semester of Grad school and that included the CFI program.
(Yes, I got my undergrad at Riddle and this was before the instructors were unionized)
About a year later, I went to another CFI 141 school. There was no filler and BS to the program like at Riddle. Inside of 30 days I had my CFI, CFI-I, IGI & AGI and they offered my a job to boot.
So, unless you expect to instruct at Riddle, I would go elsewhere.
Many years ago I started my CFI at Riddle at there was just way too much extra stuff you had to do for your "CFI Class". Such as building the instructor notebook that you were graded on. As things go, I ended up having to drop out of my first semester of Grad school and that included the CFI program.
(Yes, I got my undergrad at Riddle and this was before the instructors were unionized)
About a year later, I went to another CFI 141 school. There was no filler and BS to the program like at Riddle. Inside of 30 days I had my CFI, CFI-I, IGI & AGI and they offered my a job to boot.
So, unless you expect to instruct at Riddle, I would go elsewhere.
05-29-2013, 06:17 PM
#10
Banned
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jan 2011
Position: C172
Posts: 33
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
