Need your Help and ideas

[cfi2910]

I hold a CFI Rating but I wasn´t flying for years. I stoped because of a Girl :-( Now i just turned 45 (I´m not looking that old :-) ) and I am thinking to head back into Helicopter flying. My idea is to work as a CFI again and after a while (around 1000 hours later) I would like to aply for an other Job.

 

Was talking to other friends who told me that I´m not to old for that.

What are you guys thinking?? To old or not to old that´s the question.

[DieselBoy]

Your CFI Certificate has expired if it has been longer than 24 months and you have not renewed it. You will basically have to take another CFI checkride to reinstate it. Don't worry about the age. However, this is a very competitive industry and if you really want to be a pilot, you have to stick with it. Good luck

[pilot#476398]

I've flown with 20 year olds and 60 year olds (and many in between). Regardless of their experience I always felt more comfortable with the older instructors. As a tourist (and I have flown as one) I also feel more comfortable if the pilot has some grey in his hair, as opposed to some 20 something who reminds me of my kid's friends, most of whom I wouldn't even get in a car with!

 

Don't know if operators feel this way though?

[rotornut67]

Don't let the age thing bother you. After all, it's only a number...I for one would hire you before a 20 something year old just for the maturity factor, as long as all other qualifications were approximately equal. I have instructed a 76 year old and his mind and reflexes were very sharp...it all comes down to what YOU want.

 

Good Luck with everything.

[cfi2910]

Thank you guys for your replays :-) Very kind and motivating.

Rotornut67 and pilot476398 I am thinking the same way like you, because when we haven been younger we did not care that much about safty, we just risked a lot more.

[Hand_Grenade_Pilot]

I hold a CFI Rating but I wasn´t flying for years. I stoped because of a Girl :-( Now i just turned 45 (I´m not looking that old :-) ) and I am thinking to head back into Helicopter flying. My idea is to work as a CFI again and after a while (around 1000 hours later) I would like to aply for an other Job.

 

Was talking to other friends who told me that I´m not to old for that.

What are you guys thinking?? To old or not to old that´s the question.

 

The major obstacle you face is the fact that you have not been flying for an extended period of time, not your age.

 

How much have you forgotten since working as a CFI? When was the last time you performed emergency procedures in the helicopter you previously taught in?

 

If you kept up on your book work over the years and periodically refreshed your stick skills, I don't see why you wouldn't be able to get your foot back in the door. If not, I'd say your chances are slim. It's amazing how quickly we forget and become complacent....

 

And in defense of the younger pilots... While working as a flight instructor, my star pupil was 16 years old. He was endorsed to fly a Schweizer solo before he could (legally) drive a car. He was incredibly mature, dedicated, and had a true passion for flying. And he's not alone. There are many professional, hard-working and safe pilots out there who started at a young age.

[helipilotm]

Your CFI Certificate has expired if it has been longer than 24 months and you have not renewed it. You will basically have to take another CFI checkride to reinstate it. Don't worry about the age. However, this is a very competitive industry and if you really want to be a pilot, you have to stick with it. Good luck

Just to clarify, it's not "basically" a CFI check ride. All you have to do is a flight. No oral, just a flight. You've already passed the check ride its just a reinstatement ride. The FAA guy that I did mine with was supposed to observe my 135 check airman giving me a 135 ride. I asked if he could just do my 135/reinstatement at the same time. He said no problem. The only difference is you haven't flown in awhile. Make sure you get a good instructor to prep you and go get it done! Don't worry about the age if you want to do it go for it.

[Mikemv]

No Oral? I do not think so!

 

RENEWAL OR REINSTATEMENT OF A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR

FAA-S-8081-7B

REQUIRED AREAS OF OPERATION & NUMBER OF TASKS

II -TASK L and 1 other TASK

III -1

IV -1

V -1

VI -1

VII -1

VIII -2 Takeoffs and 2 Landings

IX -1

Edited November 26, 2013 by Mikemv

[aeroscout]

The basic rule of thumb is the pain of reinstating an expired CFI rating is more than enough motivation to not allow it to expire.

[Spike]

By the information you posted, it appears you’ve already worked as a CFI and therefore I’ll assume you already know what you need to do to get current and be employable….. With that said, your age isn’t the issue. It’s your timing……

 

With years out of the seat and under 1000 hours, you might as well think of it as starting over again. If you are in a position to “start over”, then there is a possibility. That being said, this “possibility” will absolutely depend on “who you know” and how these people can help you out. Otherwise, I’m not sure how a school, who doesn’t know you from Adam, will take a chance on you when there a current freshly minted CFI’s waiting in the wings. Mind you, this isn’t meant to discourage you. But the fact is; you give little information in order to provide you with a realistic assessment of what you’re asking. And yes, it matters. Especially for the responders that have never worked in this business......

 

In short, talk to pros currently working in the business, in person, face-to-face, who will hopefully give you realistic options…….. Which, BTW, is not here…………….

Edited November 26, 2013 by Spike

[helipilotm]

No Oral? I do not think so!

 

RENEWAL OR REINSTATEMENT OF A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR

FAA-S-8081-7B

REQUIRED AREAS OF OPERATION & NUMBER OF TASKS

II -TASK L and 1 other TASK

III -1

IV -1

V -1

VI -1

VII -1

VIII -2 Takeoffs and 2 Landings

IX -1

I guess don't tell that to the FAA guy who signed it off and didn't ask me one Question Pertaining to being a CFI and I know numerous other people that have done the same with DPE's and FAA inspectors alike. Not saying your wrong just saying.

[iChris]

I guess don't tell that to the FAA guy who signed it off and didn't ask me one Question Pertaining to being a CFI and I know numerous other people that have done the same with DPE's and FAA inspectors alike. Not saying your wrong just saying.

 

As a professional courtesy you were allowed the old “Gentlemen’s Check Ride or Courtesy Ride.” Normally if you’re part of an established Part 135 operation in good standing with your local FSDO, your Principal Operations Inspector (POI) can evaluate you in conjunction with your annual 135 proficiency check.

 

The POI who conducts the practical test is responsible for determining that you meet acceptable standards (PTS) of teaching ability, knowledge, and skill.

 

In the normal course of the 135 proficiency check and in order to complete your Form 8410-3, you have an oral and flight portion. Since you were reinstating your CFI, you also had to complete Form 8710-1.

 

When you and the POI orally went over your 135 training record that constituted an endorsement that you had received training prior to your proficiency check. That was counted as part of the PTS requirements under Area II-L. Once you and the POI orally went over your Form 8710-1 to make sure the entries were correct and the instructor's recommendation section was signed, that completed PTS Area II-L.

 

The POI can reasonably determine the remaining PTS areas from the standard requirements of the oral and flight portion of your 135 proficiency check that you met acceptable standards of teaching ability, knowledge, and skill, by your answers to questions about standard maneuvers, emergency procedures, and your ability to analyze maneuvers.

 

Taking into consideration your prior experience as a flight instructor and overall experience as a professional pilot it was determined that you met the PTS requirements for a reinstatement of your CFI.

 

This may seem on the gray line of the rule; however, it does meet the basic requirements. This is normally never done for low time under experience pilots that have little or no track record of performance. The POI also relies upon the past performance of your air carrier’s FAA approved 135 training and testing program. DPEs are unlikely to be in a position (or willing) to practice this concept.

 

Your POI was most likely in accordance with the PTS and you didn’t even notice. As an established professional you were extended that courtesy.

 

However, for the newbies, you’re going to get drilled from A-Z.

 

“The practical test must be conducted in accordance with the PTS and meet those standards to satisfy the requirements of the test”. Office of the Chief Counsel

Edited November 28, 2013 by iChris