CFI : The Next and Final Step...

Note: I'm backdating a number of these entries because, for a number of reasons, I was unable to do them at the time. Based on my logbook and classroom notes I'm re-creating these entries as best as I can.


Done with my Commercial, and I've decided to kick right off into my CFI Training.  Honestly, I'm not sure if I'm going to stick with Hillsboro. 


Look, HAI gave me a great education. They taught me to fly.  I got my Private here and just now got my Commercial license. I've paid them many thousands of dollars and have put some real time on their birds.  So, I owe them a debt of gratitude, no question.  Good school. Buuuuuut....


...isn't there always a "but". Here it is... and this is probably one of the big reasons I did not blog about this in real time and waited till months later.


I think HAI is a shitty place to work.  I'm not at all impressed how they treat their CFIs.


Ok, so here is all the back story.  I started this journey in 2008 with my instructor.  She was fresh off the CFI boat and had 20x hours in the sky.  Compared to me, she was infinitely more qualified. I had 0, she had 20x.  No question, she was qualified.

As the hobbs time ticked by, I gradually picked up skill, and so did she.  Obviously at a much highter rate that me since she had multiple students.  Throughout the entire process I would fly with other, high time, CFIs for Stage Checks and pre-Check Ride checks, etc.  All good.

Well, just before I got my Commercial w/ about 180hrs of my own, Hillsboro decided they needed to make changes with their hiring policies.  They decided that in order to maintain a predictable and constant flow of CFIs in the school, they needed to set a cap on the hours that a CFI could have and still work in the school. The cap would be at 1000hrs.  My instructor had 1400, the others I regularly worked with had 1500, 1100 and 1200.

Now, don't get me wrong, I understand the school's position.  However, in the current business market jobs are scarce all over, and to eject someone from their job for too much experience so that you can replace them with less experienced people seems pretty unfair.  Obviously to the CFI, but also to the students they have.

Hell, l was down right pissed off at this for very selfish reasons.  I have paid thousands of dollars to get the best education I can and to be told that I am going to be given a CGI with 20% more hours than me is offensive. I'm pretty sure they had something to teach me, but certainly not as much as someone with 4x, 5x more air time.  

I literally finished up my Commercial with someone that had 25 more hours than me.  I was pissed.

It was at this point that I started investigating other schools. 

I'm a certified Commercial Pilot: VFR61 Rotocraft:Helicopter:Commercial!

Flight #: 142 Commercial VFR61
Aircraft: Robinson R22 Beta II
Aircraft ID: N956SH
Duration, as PIC: 1.1hrs
Cumulative Time: 184.40hrs

WooHoo! Passed my Check Ride today! So it is official, I'm a FAA Certified Commercial Helicopter Pilot as of 1:00pm today.

Oral test went very well... definitely was prepared. Actually, it was pretty easy. My Check Ride for Private was a bear. Not only cause it was the first time I've done a test like that but my examiner, Dale, was one tough dude. This one was with Mark H, and while they both are required to follow the same PTS (Practical Test Standards), the oral exam is all about presentation. Mark was friendly throughout the whole process... not easy, friendly. I did not feel like I was in a battle, but a conversation with someone who knows a hell of a lot more than me. Mark was very much by the book. He had an interesting way of asking questions. He would start with an FAA approved/required question. Then follow it up with a related question that was not necessarily in the PTS. Something that required a little extra knowledge, discussion or interpolation. I learned a few things out of the whole event.

The flight itself was equally as rewarding. Really by the book. One bit that I found particularly interesting was the off airport portion. We flew west, out to the WPA (West Practice Area) and picked out a clear-cut logging peak. I actually started an approach, downhill, but did a "go around" when I realized that was not the best of my options even though it was directly in to the wind. Got to watch that tail-rotor you know.


View Larger Map


Anyway, other than that... I'd say I was spot on for the flight.

Damn, feels good to have that under my belt.

Down:

• HAI Written Exam : Pass : 97%
  
• FAA Written Exam: Pass : 96%
  
• HAI Commercial Oral Exam : Pass
• HAI Commercial Flight : Pass
• FAA Commercial Oral Exam : Pass
  
• FAA Commercial Check Ride Flight : Pass

0.0 PIC Remaining - Commercial Requirements - Complete

Flight #: 141 Commercial
Aircraft: Robinson R22 Beta II
Aircraft ID: N8361N
Duration, as PIC: 3.7hrs
Cumulative Time: 183.8hrs

Well, I've done it. Made it to the end of my Commercial Helicopter rating. You need 100 PiC (Pilot in command) hours for your commercial... and I had 3.7 yet to go. Well, as of tonight... done!

I really enjoy night flying. Night has to be great, since your margin for error gets pretty small at night, but when it is good... it is great. Tonight was perfectly clear, full moon, all goodness.

Nothing out of the ordinary to speak of on this flight. Only thing to note is how bored the PDX tower / controllers get at night. Really nothing landing or taking off at 12:30 am... so they like to talk and help out. In fact, I got VFR flight following from PDX most of the way since they had nothing better to do.

Now comes the FAA test.

Commercial Pilot Certificate - Movin' right along.

Down:

• HAI Written Exam : Pass : 97%
  
• FAA Written Exam: Pass : 96%
  
• HAI Commercial Oral Exam : Pass
• HAI Commercial Flight : Pass
  

To Go:

• FAA Commercial Oral Exam : TBD
  
• FAA Commercial Check Ride Flight : TBD