Refer to the applicable PTS to prepare for the required tasks when adding to an existing instructor certificate.
Please have all your original documents out and ready for me to see as well as the maintenance logs for our aircraft BEFORE I arrive. Having the inspections tabbed out beforehand for easy finding is appreciated.
Please know your IACRA log in information. Often times instructors complete most of the application and sometimes it takes applicants 10-15 minutes to remember their passwords and sometimes even lock themselves out of their own account for not knowing passwords. Please refamiliarize yourself with that information to avoid any unnecessary delays!
For our scenario, we will say that you have just received your CFII. I'll play the role of a new student who previously started training for my instrument rating with a different flight school. I'll be your very first instrument student. I've requested that we do some ground instruction on flight instruments, navigation equipment and elements of a cross country flight plan. Please limit your ground presentation of the required PTS subjects to 1.5 hours. Practice your presentation!
Although the test is not a race to answer the questions quickly or give your presentation quickly, keep in mind in the real world that you will be limited to the time you have to teach your student. They may have only scheduled you for a 30-60 minute ground. With this in mind, it's important that your presentations are well presented and easy to understand. This is best accomplished with visual presentations such as slides, illustrations, cockpit posters etc. You are allowed to use your lessons plans.
No matter how good your artistic skills are, drawing out a flight instrument or service volumes of a VOR, ILS etc is no match for materials that the FAA already has in illustrated print circulation. As much as I love to see how well you can draw, most students learn visually with accurate depictions. I'm not saying you shouldn't be drawing anything or can't draw anything for your presentation. I'm saying find a way to make your ground portion more efficient is all. If you have any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to ask me!
Remember, the PTS specifies what is required to be covered for each task. The remainder of our ground will be used for discussing the cross-country planning. We can plan to depart from the airport you train at with a destination that is a minimum of 200 NM straight line distance. Have a plan for the flight portion of the test referencing the PTS. Have your plan written down and be prepared to provide me a copy at the beginning of the test. Have your flight plan in the order you plan on completing the tasks. I will be acting as your student. My current weight can be found here Make sure you cover all required tasks. When there is a choice. Ie partial panel or lost comms. Pick one. Make sure you plan for flying and teaching the approaches you are required to. I’m intentionally not giving you step by step instructions. You are a CFI now, you need to be able to read the PTS and have a plan. For example the PTS specifies the instructor is required to perform task H in AOO VI and task A in AOO VIII using a view limiting device. If your aircraft has GPS one of the 2 approaches required must be a GPS. For this test an LPV or LNAV/VNAV is considered a precision approach. All of this is outlined in the PTS.
Try and plan ahead to take care of anything that can save us both time. If your school dispatches your airplane out to another student before you, I understand that’s outside of your control. If it’s possible though, see if we can get an airplane no one will be using before us. Ideally have the plane preflighted ahead of time so we can identify potential problems early. Reference your written test report and type or hand write the corresponding subject codes for your missed questions from the PTS on one piece of paper. (DO NOT simply highlight the codes in the PTS). Include your full name, FTN number, and your IACRA application number on the document.. You can find both these numbers in IACRA. I am required to ask you every missed question from the written test. Your instructor is required to review the missed subjects with you and endorse your log book validating this has been done. This additional instruction is required to be logged as well. It is in your best interest to not show up for the test being unfamiliar with the questions you missed on the written.
KNOW THE PTS and ACS. I ask every checkride if applicants are familiar and they still seem to not know what the requirements and standards are for the tasks. I'll be evaluating you based on those standards so as long as you know them well, it makes it much easier for both of us.
Common Errors
Please do not hesitate to email me with additional questions. Vince@dpeaz.com