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Looking for a CFI - not that easy

Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2017 8:52 pm
by WDD
So, just passed my written with a 95%. Having trouble finding a CFI in the area who will teach flying, however. I might have found one CFI who would at least consider it. Not really encouraging here. The EAA CFI directory has no one in the area.

What about the US Sport Pilot Academy in Addison TX? https://www.ussportflightacademy.com/ I could take 2 weeks vacation and pack it in all at once. I see EAA also has a 3 week program.

Thoughts?

Re: Looking for a CFI - not that easy

Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2017 9:36 pm
by TimTaylor
Well...where do you live?

Re: Looking for a CFI - not that easy

Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2017 9:58 pm
by WDD
I live in Louisville.

So Addison TX and Oshkosh are reachable for a 2 or 3-week intensive training session. I thought Sporty's in Cincinnati would be another option, but it doesn't look like they do sport.

Re: Looking for a CFI - not that easy

Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2017 10:02 pm
by TimTaylor
PM drseti here on this site. He can train you in Lock Haven, PA. He is top notch and runs this web site.

Re: Looking for a CFI - not that easy

Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2017 5:38 am
by Half Fast
Possible but not certain. I tried taking a week of vacation when I was trying to finish up. Booked the instructor and the plane for 6 days. Wx knocked me out of 5 of those days.

You could take 2 weeks, travel to TX, then spend a dozen days waiting for the winds to calm down or the ceiling to lift.

Re: Looking for a CFI - not that easy

Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2017 6:05 am
by Jim Hardin
WDD: What is the problem in Louisville?

Airplane?

Instructor and or attitude?

None of the above?

Have you gone to FBOs and talked to them about other local sources? I see a few airports surrounding you there if you extend your radius out to Lexington.

Re: Looking for a CFI - not that easy

Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2017 7:42 am
by chicagorandy
Don't know if these can help at all but:

http://www.skyhighlouisville.com/sport- ... sville.php

http://www.flydar.com/learn-to-fly/sport-pilot-license/

They are aviation brokers and may have found leads you can use?

Re: Looking for a CFI - not that easy

Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2017 10:57 am
by WDD
Jim Hardin wrote:WDD: What is the problem in Louisville?

Airplane?

Instructor and or attitude?

None of the above?

Have you gone to FBOs and talked to them about other local sources? I see a few airports surrounding you there if you extend your radius out to Lexington.
Problem is finding an instructor with an attitude that they want to teach Sport. I can take almost all of the training hours in their Cessna 172s, and I've told them that. I'll have to find a sport plane to rent to do solo, but that problem is a long way down the road. I've talked to four instructors. I state that I have the cash to spend on training, want to get started right away. One said "We don't teach that". "Those are little airplanes". Another said "recreational license is a bad choice, you can't fly anywhere besides your own airport" "It's just a few more hours, why not get the PPL?". Lot of rationalization and false information. Even after I correct them, such as the difference between sport and recreational, you can fly cross country, I don't want to fly IFR, over 10,000 feet, and don't care if I can't take more than 1 passenger, etc.

FBO's? Not helpful. I called a while back to get my identity checked so my student pilot application could go through. Takes 2 minutes to look at my ID, log into the FAA IACRA and confirm. Her response was "We're too busy to do that. You'll have to find a CFI and pay them a fee to do that."

Training centers (the two are Cardinal and Louisville Aviation here in Louisville) do not call you back. I finally went over to the Cardinal aviation office in the early afternoon, talked to a receptionist, cornered the owner, and after my polite repeated requests - and the vague threat that I wasn't leaving until he helped me, even offering to pay a fee - he finally looked at my ID, went into IACRA, and in 2 minutes certified my identify so I could get the student pilot license.

If people in other areas are running into the same conditions, then I can see why the old guard GA community is shrinking. Might also be somewhat related to why we have a pilot shortage.

Re: Looking for a CFI - not that easy

Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2017 11:53 am
by 3Dreaming
As an instructor I always sit with the potential new student to try and figure out where they are coming from. I ask not only about what training they are looking to do, but also their plans after training. They may come in looking for private, when sport would suite them better. They may come looking for sport, when recreational would be a better choice because they want to purchase an inexpensive airplane to fly after they get their certificate. I try and make sure all options are covered. Sometimes I think outside of the box when needed. For example if you are going to have to travel anyway. You might look at doing a private pilot glider. You should be able to do it in a fairly short time at a commercial operation. After you are done you can go somewhere that has a light sport airplane and do a sport pilot airplane add on. The whole process might be less expensive in the long run.

Re: Looking for a CFI - not that easy

Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2017 1:12 pm
by TimTaylor
I would keep looking until you find a CFI and LSA to do all of your training. To me, training in a C150 or C172 makes no sense because you should be ready to solo in about 10 hours. Then what? Again, PM drseti and he can train you in Lock Haven, PA.

Re: Looking for a CFI - not that easy

Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2017 6:07 pm
by Jim Hardin
WDD: I agree that there are far too many places that think Flying is a Holly Guild rather than a business. Still, I wanted to know what it was that you were encountering.

You have two years or less to get this done, depending on when you passed your written. A couple of users have offered some good suggestions and that is probably the best path. Complaining to us is mostly pointless.

Where are you going to rent an LSA once you are licensed? That would be the best place to take your training, but not a requirement.

Re: Looking for a CFI - not that easy

Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2017 7:22 pm
by joey4420
FYI, unless sportys sold or crashed the SkyCatcher 162, they still do sport. I just got mine there, finished up in May this year.

Give Charlie Masters a call, he is the flight school manager 5137359100 ext 264 or email at [email protected] Tell him Joey Shreve told you to call... I am sure he still remembers me as it hasn't been that long. That and I was only one of a couple sport pilots they had. I flew every Saturday from November till May.

Re: Looking for a CFI - not that easy

Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2017 7:28 pm
by TimTaylor
joey4420 wrote:FYI, unless sportys sold or crashed the SkyCatcher 162, they still do sport. I just got mine there, finished up in May this year.

Give Charlie Masters a call, he is the flight school manager 5137359100 ext 264 or email at [email protected] Tell him Joey Shreve told you to call... I am sure he still remembers me as it hasn't been that long. That and I was only one of a couple sport pilots they had. I flew every Saturday from November till May.
I still remember almost all of my students from 1967 when I started instructing.

Re: Looking for a CFI - not that easy

Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2017 8:20 pm
by HAPPYDAN
Joey has a good point that I believe you should look into. Sportys web site still advertises Sport Pilot Training, out of Clermont County Ohio. Their online Sport Pilot Training is very comprehensive, so I would guess they are dedicated to a positive outcome. Just this last summer, I tried the EAA Sport Pilot Academy. Very expensive, but their operation in Oshkosh was an excellent experience. We had 3 new Skycatchers at our disposal, and a host of very experienced trainers and mechanics. I got to see the museum, the control tower, and most of Wisconsin flying every day, sometimes twice. I also got a brief opportunity to fly a T-6 Texan - what a gas! Picked up around 40 hours, but still no ticket. Maybe it was just me.

Re: Looking for a CFI - not that easy

Posted: Wed Dec 13, 2017 11:10 am
by joey4420
TimTaylor wrote:
joey4420 wrote:FYI, unless sportys sold or crashed the SkyCatcher 162, they still do sport. I just got mine there, finished up in May this year.

Give Charlie Masters a call, he is the flight school manager 5137359100 ext 264 or email at [email protected] Tell him Joey Shreve told you to call... I am sure he still remembers me as it hasn't been that long. That and I was only one of a couple sport pilots they had. I flew every Saturday from November till May.
I still remember almost all of my students from 1967 when I started instructing.

Tim, sadly Charlie wasn't my instructor, but he is the school manager and I did see him a few times. Matt my instructor has moved on to fly with the regional airlines.

And for anyone in the area, saturdays from noon - 2pm EST they have free hot dogs/bratwurst/or Metworst.