How long to completion of CFI

[RebellionRoots]

I know I am new and this has to be out there somewhere but I did a search and didn't see it.

 

I am looking into getting my Commercial and CFI all in one big gulp. However I am against a wall. How long does it take (realistically) to go finish all the way through if I lived and breathed Helo? Are there regulations in this area?

 

Thank you for any help

[RotorWeed]

How much helo time do you currently have?

 

RW

[RebellionRoots]

How much helo time do you currently have?

 

RW

 

 

HAHA

 

zero, Zilch, NADA.

 

I am working on finance and until I have a general I dea how long I am having a hard time doing it.

[67november]

if I lived and breathed Helo?

 

12 months

but 18 months is more realistic from the thread conversations I've seen

[Grant B]

If you do it full-time - go to the flight school maybe 5 days a week or so - I would have said 6 - 8 months was doable.

[RebellionRoots]

12 months

but 18 months is more realistic from the thread conversations I've seen

 

Thank you. I was guessing 12 months from what I have heard thus far, but I was hoping someone would come back with a bit shorter.

 

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QUOTE(Grant B @ Jul 21 2006, 12:25 ) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If you do it full-time - go to the flight school maybe 5 days a week or so - I would have said 6 months was doable.

 

really?

 

I am going to be honest I know this is going to kick my *ss. But it is realistic to think I can do the groundwork and Flight in 6 months? If you include in there that I have to work as well to help support my wife?

 

I guess my question is how much time did you spend on book work between flight times?

[Gunner]

took me 3 years flying part time... but I also have no debt to pay back for flight training loans!

[Grant B]

Having no loans is great in the long run definately...

 

That said - I took out a loan, sold my apartment and car and left the UK to learn to fly.

 

My first 80 hours were done in 4 months. So - it is doable - but I shared an apartment with other pilot students - so we all did or helped focus each other on the book studying at home in the evenings etc. We all went to the school full-time usually 5 days a week. (Although we were always taught on a one on one only basis). It could take longer depending on your other commitments.

 

Depends on the school - amount of helicopters, students, instructors, weather etc.

 

If you can also get a ferry flight (which saves money) and some nice cross country days - you can fill up some of those days with some nice hours. A ferry flight from the Robinson factory area in Torrence, CA to Florida helped give me (and the instructor) 31 hours over about 3 + days.

[RebellionRoots]

Thank you all for helping me out. I know what I needed to know now.

 

Now all I have to do is figure out how I am going to support me and my wife for a year while I am going through this.

 

I am sure you all will be hearing from me soon and often!

 

Thanks again!

[RotorWeed]

Why not just do it part time?

[KeallaS]

A school here in Utah states 6 months to CFII.

Is that possible? Honestly?

[Sparks]

A school here in Utah states 6 months to CFII.

Is that possible? Honestly?

I think its probably doable. Depends on the devotion of the to-be pilot. I am 16 and already reading the manuals. I figure if i can get some exam papers too and make sure i can do them (well) by 17...that i will have a HUGE head start and spend more time flying or working rather than reading.

 

My aim is to complete the CPL + CFII ASAP because i will be renting accomadation whilst doing so.

[joker]

It took me 9 months 0-CFII (full-time) and I was bloody quick!

 

Of course, it is possible to be quicker, but don't put your money on it. All you need is a couple of crappy weather weeks, mtc problems and maybe a shortage of DPEs (examiners) at the time you don't need it, and 6 months can quickly turn into 9, or 9 into 12.

 

Poor weather on the day of your checkride can easily put you back 2 weeks by the time you have rescheduled the examiner and aircraft. Remember that you'll have 4-5 checkrides to do = 8-10 possibe weeks of weather delays if you are unlucky!

 

If the school has just a few aircraft and there is a maintenance problem that puts an aircraft out for a major repair, then you'll all be queuing up for the remaining aircraft.

 

I would say 9-14 months, depending on ability, commitment and chance!

 

My serious advice is to add 30% onto costs and times that you are quoted. That way you'll have a buffer for unforseen extras. Hopefully, you'll end up with a little coin to spare. I used my spare coin and time to do the fixed wing add-on.

 

Too many people go in, thinking they can do it on minimum budget in minimum time. They are the ones that get stressed during their final checkrides and fail, or dropout due to lack of funding and time.

 

Think of the costs as fuel. Would you begin a flight knowing that you had exactly the minimum amount of required fuel in your tank? No....you'd take reserve of course! Same with your training. Have more than you need, and you'll feel safe all the way through.

Joker

 

Sparks,

 

My aim is to complete the CPL + CFII ASAP

 

I admire your dedication. Of course we all want to get through as quick as possible.

 

Here's something to consider though which might help you get through quicker, although its not obvious at first.

 

After completeing your private licence (~60-80hrs), take some time out to do much of your solo requirements and hour building then (night solo - see below), before rushing onto an instrument course. Then do your instrument training. With solo hours under your belt, you'll find the instrument easier and it will probably go quicker. After your instrument, do the same again....take some time out to do more solo / hour building before the commercial. Once again, your commercial training will go much more smoothly.

 

So often, students will rush from one course to the other and end up having to spend time and dual-instruction money getting trained on basic handling and situational awareness, which they could've gained by doing some solo flights earlier on. Not to mention they are left with hours of solo time to kill off (probably including night solo), just to get to the minimum requirements. Taking time out for fun / pleasure flying is also important. You need breaks during your training so plan these in.

 

Lastly, take every opportunity to get your night solo flying done early. Most schools should have higher weather minimums for students going solo at night. Therefore, at the first possible good weather after your private GET IT DONE! Don't think, "I'll do it later." Even if that means missing the big game on Saturday night, or going out with the lads for a few drinks. I remember taking my Commercial checkride with a smile as I watched some of my buddies frustrated as the weather was always just below the night-solo minimimums for weeks on end.

 

Again, its amazing how the 'night' solo always seems to be the requirement that people struggle to get at the end of their course. It used to frustrate me to hell, to see students doing all their night solo in the pattern...just to get it done...just to get the hours in the logbook. What are they learning after 3 hours going round and round?!!!! "Go cross-country", I'd say, but more often than not, at the late stage in their training, they just wanted to get the time and get home. Waste of money methinks.

 

Also a long cross-country ferry flight with an instructor is great to build time, see the country and very exciting. However, I'd much rather spend my money working on specific maneuvers with an instructor. Food for thought.

 

Joker

[Guest rookie101]

Joker, that is some of the best advice I've read on here or on any other forum (all advice on these forums is valuable it's just that is really, really good advice for rookie's like me). Props for the joke man

[tonymont]

I had hoped to go from zero to CFII in 6 months or maybe a little longer. I had heard of people doing it before, so I figured if I don't work and just train full time then I should be able to do it. But no matter how dedicated you are, there are things beyond your control that delay you.

For me, I started out doing a flight plus ground each day. For a beginner, this is plenty. And it consumes more of the day than you think when you factor in commuting time to the airport.

A month or two later I wanted to pick up the pace, but got delayed by the following:

* instructor not available as much due to a week's vacation here and a day or two there for whatever

* lots of bad weather during late winter/early spring grounding the helicopters

* had the worst flu ever which lasted for a couple weeks and couldn't get out of bed, much less fly a helicopter

* miscellaneous personal things coming up periodically which somehow eat up a whole day's time

* a little vacation time of my own

* cancelled lessons due to someone else needing the helicopter for a checkride (happened to me about 6 times)

* having to wait to get your own checkride

More recently I've been delayed by these:

* helcopters all booked up (too many other students)

* instructors all booked up (too many other students)

* helicopters down for maintenance

 

For me, it's already been 8 months since I started training and I'm now projecting probably another 4 months to go. If I have to work again now, of course it will end up taking longer.

[jehh]

It can, and has been done in 6 months... however all the stars have to align for that to happen.

 

I do personally know people who have done it in just over 6 months, but they were at the airport 6 days a week, flying sometimes twice a day (to make up for the weather days), and studying all the time.

 

9 months is probably a better goal for such training, since weather and m/x issues can get in the way of the best laid plans.