plasticpi

I don't see the MEI as a waste, really, but I do se the AGI as unnecessary. I never saw the point in taking another test to gain no privileges at all. A CFI can do everything an AGI can do and more. I imagine that everybody who knows better sees "AGI" on an interview and scans right on past it.

But who knows, some people just like to see a lot of acronyms. FWIW, IMHO, this CFI ASE AME II, CPL ASEL AMEL working on ATP thinks it's a waste of money.

shamrok

Getting your MEI is a smart move in my opinion. It shows you made the effort to earn the certificate. You now have a little more knowledge on the subject of flying a twin and also helps if your seeking to build some multiengine time. Instead of the safety pilot time thats so popular you can log dual given and actually sharpen your skills a little more than sitting there gazing out the windshield. And it's always good to have something to fall back on. True, you dont need the MEI to get hired today but why not complete the trio of CFI, CFII and MEI to have for your own personal satisfaction and be a well rounded instructor. In the long run it can only benefit you. I think "waste" is not an issue here.

shamrok

I agree witht you there, the AGI is something I would think a person that lost their medical might pursue in order to stay involved with aviation. Other than that why bother obtaining it when you have the same privileges with your standard CFI.

XtremeF150

Well, I agree with most of that, but the AGI will not expire. So if you are one of the less responsible or lazy types and forget to renew the CFI then at least you can teach ground school with the AGI.
I'm not quite sure, but I think some 141 schools require the AGI to teach ground school.
For the most part though, unless you are thinking of possibly being a professional instructor, I would say it won't help you much.

el jefe

My original post was meant to highlight the fact that the soon-to-be regional airline applicant is obtaining ratings that will not be used in the near future. He is getting ratings that he says are "required" to be hired as an FO (CFII/MEI/AGI/etc). He does not plan on doing any more advanced flight instruction before going to a 121 job.

I just think someone fed him the infamous Kool-Aid that causes SJS.

Obtaining ratings can't be bad. Its a matter of if you are going to use them or not. The faster you cram that knowledge into your head, the faster it falls out if you dont use it.

SkyHigh

On one hand you could say that he wasted his money in getting an MEI. You could also say that he will get the added value of his experience that will more than make up for the meger cost.

I would say that his entire commercial, instrument and CFI training was a waste.

SKyHigh

MaxRampW8

My vote is in for NOT a waste, not even a little bit of one. He has the means and the knowledge to get it now, so he should have gone for it. If he goes to the airlines and gets laid off, he'll be able to fall back onto those ratings.
Sky, I know of at least 3 GA pilots that own their own airplanes and have their instrument ratings to lower their premiums. I have also heard that a commercial rating can be beneficial in the same regard. spending money on the front end will save you money on the back end. Also, more importantly, the premiums aren't lowered for no reason, they are lowered because the insurance company feels they will be a safer pilot.
What happened to achieving something that is hard to obtain just for the shear personal satisfaction of it? To strive for improvement? Obtaining a commercial pilot liscense primarily proves to yourself that you have honed your skills. Even if I couldn't fly, I would never look back and think is was a mistake to work hard to be the best .

SenecaDriver

Sky,
There you go again with the " these grapes are sour " coments again. Since when is the CFI a waste?

Wouldn't you rather be down at the local grass strip, helping somone to earn their Tail Wheel endorsement rather than checking up on the Mexican framing crew that put the walls in backwards in the last house you built?

Would you rather be changing out a busted toilet or taking a student on his/her long IFR x-country in actual weather.

No CFI rating is a waste. You'll always have a fall back position if the airline goes belly up. I think a Aviation only degree is a bigger waste of time than getting all the instructor ratings.

Sounds like you need to do some flying again. Why not get paid and have some fun at the time.

SD

rickair7777

I think earning an initial CFI rating (any one of them) is a great learning experience...kind of the "next level up" from commercial. But if you already have a CFI-A or CFI-I and don't need the MEI to build twin time it is probably not a great investment. Actually working as an MEI is good experience but just getting the rating will probably not provide enough value for the cost (I have hundreds of MEI hours). You will learn some stuff, but if you already have a CFI and a ME rating, there won't be much totally new knowledge.

Mr Spooner

Hey Sky, if you are not current let me know and I will sign you off again. Just a few laps in the pattern is all it will take.

Glad I stayed current.