King CFI renewal

[Flying Pig]

Has anyone used this course?  Ive never done an online renewal course.  I dont think Ill be able to get to any conferences to do one this go around.  ALEA offers a good on but I dont think Ill make it this year. 

[a2capt]

I know several people who use American Flyers, and their $125 lifetime thing. But since the FSDO is across the street from an airport that many transit often, they just go when passing through.

King Schools OTOH, says they do "the whole thing" for their $119, all electronically, no FSDO visits.

[mdickinson]

I have renewed my CFI the old fashioned way (a checkride with the local DPE) and also used two different online courses (FIRCs).

I did an online FIRC with Gleim. The course was very good. They charge $100 if you take your course completion certificate to a FSDO; $125 if you want them to do it ("ACR Service").
http://www.gleim.com/aviation/renewal_courses/firc.php#panel_tab=General&panel_link=Overview

Next time around, I did an online FIRC with American Flyers. Their course was fine too. They charge $125 if you go to a FSDO; $175 if you want them to do it ("ACR Service"). The American Flyers course is cheaper in the long run because the $125 is a one-time fee ("lifetime subscription"). You can renew again and again, every two years, but you only have to pay the $125 once. (You do have to pay the $50 again each time you want them to save you a trip to the FSDO.)
http://www.americanflyers.net/flightinstructor/online_renewal.htm

Then I attended a CAP Check Pilot course (NCPSC) in a neighboring wing. One of the instructors at the NCPSC was an inspector at the Bradley FSDO in Connecticut. He mentioned to each of us in the room that the FAA allows its inspectors to renew CFI certificates on the basis of known evaluative activity. He reminded us that each time we go up and give a form 5 or form 91 checkride, we are evaluating the pilot in the left seat, and invited each of us to just stop by the FSDO and ask for him next time we needed to renew. Bring along a copy of the wing's check pilot list, he said, and he would renew your CFI certificate in person.

Needless to say, I've done my last two CFI renewals at his FSDO! I call him up a week or two beforehand and make an appointment; I show up with my CFI certificate and the wing check pilot appointment list; and I am back in my car ten minutes later with a freshly printed CFI certificate. Sure, it's a 90 minute drive from here, but I save all those hours in front of the computer, and I figure my cost to drive there and back is probably a bit less than the $50 ACR fee.

A check pilot buddy of mine in New York told me there is an inspector at the Albany FSDO who provides the same service.

So my suggestion to any CAP instructor pilot or check pilot is: next time your CFI certificate is in need of renewal, place a phone call to the nice Inspector at your local FSDO, and ask if they renew CFI certificates on the basis of evaluation activity done as a CAP CP/IP.  If the answer is no, try another FSDO! (You can renew at any FSDO. You do not need to go to the one that is local to you.) Or, if you are going to be driving by some far-away FSDO during travel for work or vacation, check with the inspector there.

[Flying Pig]

Good to know.  All of the CFI'ing I do is fill in, or internal unit check rides at work.  Fill in meaning if a CFI is doing a dual xctry, I may fill I for them if there is a schedule conflict, or go up for a pre-check ride "second opinion" if a student is having an issue.  The owner flies a TBM and a citation so there are times the student is walking through the door and he gets a call.  Instead of canceling.....I show up.   It works for the student because I don't charge.  The owner of the school and I sort it out in the way of free flight time for me later on in one of the schools airplanes. So I don't end up with any endorsements or students of my own passing check rides.   So looks like its online for me! 

[mdickinson]

I don't end up with any endorsements or students of my own passing check rides.   So looks like its online for me!

The inspector at the FSDO did not ask whether I had any students, gave any endorsements, or had any students take check rides. He just wanted to know whether I was serving as a CAP check pilot.

[mdickinson]

For those renewing their CFI certificate using an online FIRC, here is another option.

Ace CFI charges $99 for "lifetime renewal" plus $25 for ACR service. That's the cheapest one I've seen yet.
www.acecfi.com

[Flying Pig]

Good info.  Thanks

[Flying Pig]

I just wrapped up the King CFI renewal with the online completion.  No FSDO trip.   Good for me because the nearest FSDO for me is about 1 1/2hrs away.   I chose the King program because they have a helicopter based course. Im a CFI in both, but fly helicopters more.  Pretty straight forward.  Good info.  Videos, downloadable hand outs.  etc etc.   This is the first online renewal Ive done.  $125