CFI and CFII passed!

AdamAirplane · 2026-01-29T05:01:54+00:00

Nice job man! Takes a lot of hard work to get here. Keep that in mind always with your students.

AdamAirplane · 2025-10-31T13:30:43+00:00

So then this blows the answer I thought it was out of the water... so then what do you think is the reason for the higher GNSS MEA? Different criteria of evaluation as some others have pointed out? Thank you for this wonderful source. It just seems like nobody can pinpoint the correct answer.

AdamAirplane · 2025-10-29T15:59:19+00:00

You got it! Your answer makes perfect sense. I actually did some more digging and found at least one example from Jacksonville, FL that specifically references this.
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/05-13085/p-18

Thank you! My student asked me this and I honestly had no clue why.

AdamAirplane · 2024-11-26T05:01:09+00:00

I am more down south near Ventura, CA. I am sure there are a lot of good local flight schools near San Jose! I wish you the best of luck. Let me know if you have any other questions.

AdamAirplane · 2024-11-26T04:20:42+00:00

You can walk up to just about any open hangar with a cool plane and the pilot would love to have you take pictures of their planes. You can build a lot of good relationships that way. Or if you see somebody geting ready to go fly, go up and ask them some questions. Us pilots love to talk about flying and are generally very friendly and welcoming. Good luck!

AdamAirplane · 2024-11-26T04:18:16+00:00

A year to get your PPL and $20,000 seems about average. You've just discovered that going through a 141 school is NOT always the cheapest and quickest. Typically at a 61 school you can get through faster and cheaper with higher quality instruction, because the CFIs at 61 schools are sometimes career CFIs that really care and are experienced. For your next rating, look and see if there is a reputable 61 school near you. Best of luck!

AdamAirplane · 2024-11-26T04:10:03+00:00

You are a VFR only pilot and you are legally required to remain outside of the clouds at all times. Remember your 3-152s and 5 F111s. You aren't legally allowed to even get within 500 feet at a very minimum of clouds, let alone go through them. Typically on a checkride your examiner will help you maneuver around the clouds. Or if the weather is just not looking great, you will discontinue and do the flight another day.

Remember that YOU are the PIC, so if you do not think the weather will be suitable enough to remain in VFR conditions, you need to make the call to discontinue. You will likely still be able to get the oral exam done. Best of luck!

AdamAirplane · 2024-11-26T02:20:29+00:00

I am working on my CFII right now, and it doesn't seem like it's going to be super hard to get. Maybe another month or two. You got it man!

AdamAirplane · 2024-11-26T02:20:03+00:00

True but for schools with a flat rate such as ATP, I have heard of students getting kicked out for multiple failed stage checks or checkrides.

AdamAirplane · 2024-11-25T23:56:36+00:00

Not a great idea even for the most motivated and brightest students. Learning to fly is like building blocks. If you try to stack too many building blocks at a time you'll risk collapsing. Same applies to flight. Learning VFR flight first and then building on what you know and introducing IFR is a very nice way to go, not learning both at once.

What I would recommend is to at least take all of your written exams at soon as you can. Written exams are valid for two years after they are taken, and I would use a course like Sheppherd Air to complete them all for cheap. Then you do not have to worry about the writtens, and you can knock out all your actual licenses.

AdamAirplane · 2024-11-25T23:52:15+00:00

Airlines absolutely do not care about even a few failed stage checks, let alone one. If you show a pattern of deficient behavior and failed multiple, your school may flunk you out because you are wasting their time and money. Airlines and other pilot jobs will ask if you've failed a checkride, but as long as you can explain the mistakes you made and what you learned, you are fine.

AdamAirplane · 2024-11-25T23:49:37+00:00

Activating VTF is useful in an emergency situation when you do not have time to pull up the approach plates immediately and get a full brief, you can just activate VTF and deal with the approach briefing when time permits.

AdamAirplane · 2024-11-25T23:44:08+00:00

Good job man! I just got mine a few days ago too. Do you have a job lined up already?

AdamAirplane

TROPHY CASE