CFI Practical Test

Soon I will be taking my CFI pratical test and for anyone who is following in the foot steps I'm following I will be writing a gouge sheet for all of you. There are other sites that have many gouge sheets but this will be Designated Examiner (DE) specific. I will either be going to the Grand Rapids to take it with the Feds or they are going to be sending me to someone in West Michigan. I am hoping its going to be Kevin Spaulding, but its all up to the Feds.

For those who don't know anything about the practical test I will try my best to describe the road to taking this test. First, you have to take a written test on the rating you are trying to receive. In my case there are two seperate written exams, the Fundamentals of Instructing (FOI) and then the Certified Flight Instructor written. In order to pass these you need to receive at least a 70% on both exams. These exams will on average run you about $100.00. After this you need to prove to your instructor that you are ready to take the practical test. If you succeed in doing this you will receive an endorsement to take the practical. You also need to log a few hours of flight and ground training. After you have the two writtens and the endorsement you schedule your practical test. You need to go to the Feds and they will either schedule you to take it with them, which cost nothing. You may get redirected to a DE to take the practical test, which cost around $400.00. Hopefully you pass either way you go but either way its fairly hard to pass the first time. The first time pass rate is just under 20%.

Most of this rating is reading and understanding the FOI and everything for the Recreational, Private, and Commercial ratings very very well, easier said then done. There are about seven to eight different books you need to know basically by heart and able to understand it.

For all the Practical Test Standards (PTS) go to: http://www.faa.gov/education_research/testing/airmen/test_standards/