Flight Training The Way I See It

Mike Shiflett
  • 4.2 (15)
  • Education
  • Bimonthly

Flight Training - The Way I See It is a weekly podcast covering essential news, like regulation changes, Training Tips to improve your flying and Opinion on a variety of issues. Hosted by Mike Shiflett, Director of Training at CFI Bootcamp. There are recaps of major conferences and events, interviews with top people in the aviation industry and of course Mike's unique and at times edgy opinions on what's right and what's wrong in flight training. Always informative and always entertaining, tune in each week to get the latest Flight Training the Way I see it.

  1. 5d ago

    Episode 79: New CFII Class, Two Free Training Packages, and the Return of FINAL APPROACH - October Roundup

    This month we're giving away two full CFI training packages, hosting a free live workshop to map your path to the CFI checkride, and breaking down a simple trick to stay coordinated without ever looking at the ball.

    Episode 79: New CFII Class, Two Free Training Packages, and the Return of FINAL APPROACH - October Roundup

  2. Sep 30

    Episode 78: AI for CFIs, Fixing the Oral Exam, and Flying on a Driver's License

    The first day of every CFI Bootcamp Initial CFI class is now a full day on using AI as a learner and teacher. In this episode, Mike covers the five vetted AI tools, recording lessons in flight and on the ground, turning summaries into podcasts, generating quizzes on the fly, building 5-minute preflight briefings, and the Code of Ethics that defines when and how AI should be used in flight training. Attend the AI day alone or add other themed days. Details: https://www.cfibootcamp.com/simpl-e-schedule

    Episode 78: AI for CFIs, Fixing the Oral Exam, and Flying on a Driver's License

  3. Aug 31

    Episode 77: FAA Test Changes, Scholarship Season, and a Fix for DPE Variance

    This month: the FAA's plan to end knowledge test question harvesting starting October 27, 2026 (Instrument Rating Airplane and Remote Pilot tests first), a proposal to standardize DPE checkrides and kill the "what's the gouge" culture, a look at the scholarships available for flight training, and updates on CFI Bootcamp's GAPS course and September classes.

    Episode 77: FAA Test Changes, Scholarship Season, and a Fix for DPE Variance

  4. Aug 1

    Episode 76: ForeFlight Adds AI Connect — And Why CFIs Can't Sit This One Out

    ForeFlight's Premium tier now connects to ChatGPT for flight planning, weather interpretation, and NOTAM parsing. It can't make your go/no-go call — it doesn't know your fatigue, your currency, or your comfort in that terrain — but it can compress hours of planning into minutes. The bigger point: your students are already using AI. They're just not telling you. That's why the entire first day of our 7-day Initial CFI class is now devoted to teaching AI tools for both instructors and learners, starting August 10th. Also in this issue: the Aeronautical Knowledge Gaps bundle at $300 instead of $1,400, the new Pipistrel/Textron Voyager and Cirrus TRAC10 trainers built to MOSAIC standards, and three ProTips on scheduling and preflight briefings.

    Episode 76: ForeFlight Adds AI Connect — And Why CFIs Can't Sit This One Out

  5. Jun 30

    Episode 75: CFI Medical Rules, Chandelle Rudder Coordination, and Preflight Safety

    Flight instructor candidates must command not only the stick-and-rudder skills required on a checkride but also the regulatory framework that governs how and under what authority they exercise their certificate privileges. This outline draws from CFI Bootcamp source material covering three essential knowledge areas: the medical certificate requirements applicable to flight instructors under 14 CFR Part 61 Subpart H, rudder coordination demands during the rollout phase of a Chandelle, and professional risk management habits every CFI should model from day one. Whether you are preparing for your CFI initial checkride or deepening your instructional practice, mastering these areas will sharpen your ability to brief students accurately, fly precisely, and operate safely on every flight.

    Episode 75: CFI Medical Rules, Chandelle Rudder Coordination, and Preflight Safety

  6. May 31

    Episode 74: FAA Test Changes, Airline Hiring Cycles, Thunderstorm Flying, and CFI Training Gaps

    This episode breaks down the most important flight training, regulatory, safety, and career updates affecting pilots and instructors in 2026. We begin with the FAA's upcoming knowledge test changes, including the removal of public supplement books and the introduction of embedded, variable images inside the online test environment. The first major change is scheduled for the Instrument Rating knowledge test on October 27, 2026, with other tests expected to follow. We also discuss the current airline hiring slowdown and why students should avoid stopping their training just because the market feels uncertain. Aviation hiring has always moved in cycles, and pilots who continue building certificates, staying current, and networking are often better prepared when opportunities return. The episode then moves into practical thunderstorm-season flying in South Florida. We talk about afternoon airmass thunderstorms, local timing patterns, radar interpretation, lightning, rain shafts, microburst risk, and why avoiding thunderstorms is not just a recommendation — it is a survival decision. You'll also hear about the upcoming 300th Power Hour, a major milestone for CFI Bootcamp's weekly aviation education community, along with the release of the new CFI Aeronautical Knowledge Gaps Course, built to help CFI applicants master the difficult areas many initial CFI programs miss. We close with practical CFI ProTips covering aircraft handling on the ground, tow bar discipline, and how to understand glide range using real-world sight picture. This is flight training discussed honestly and practically — from an instructor's perspective, with a focus on understanding, safety, and long-term success.

    Episode 74: FAA Test Changes, Airline Hiring Cycles, Thunderstorm Flying, and CFI Training Gaps

  7. Apr 30

    Episode 73: CFI Training Gaps, MOSAIC Confusion & Why Syllabi Matter

    This episode covers major training, regulatory, and instructional developments shaping flight training right now — and what they mean for CFIs, students, and the industry moving forward. We begin with the FAA's recently released MOSAIC InFO, which has sparked significant debate within the instructor community. We break down what the guidance says about operating under Sport Pilot privileges, why many instructors disagree with the interpretation, and how this could impact flight reviews, instructional authority, and certification privileges. We also discuss the closing window for Part 141 Modernization comments, why this is a critical moment for instructors and schools to provide input, and what the long-term implications could be for structured flight training. You'll hear updates from Sun 'n Fun, including insights from the live Power Hour, along with the rollout of Weekly Power Hour Re-Runs, designed to give students a consistent second opportunity to stay engaged and reinforce key concepts. We then cover the expansion of Virtual Ground Instruction, the importance of consistent academic training, and introduce a new upcoming course focused on closing CFI knowledge gaps, including FOI, endorsements, and real-world instructional expectations. Finally, we address one of the biggest issues in flight training today — the lack of structured syllabi — and why this continues to impact student progress, motivation, and training efficiency across the industry. This is flight training discussed from a real instructor's perspective — focused on clarity, structure, and preparing pilots not just to pass, but to perform. In this episode: FAA MOSAIC InFO controversy and instructor privilege implications Sport Pilot vs Subpart H instructional authority explained Part 141 modernization comment deadline and what it means Live Power Hour insights from Sun 'n Fun Weekly Power Hour Re-Runs launch (Wednesdays at 8 PM ET) Growth of Virtual Ground Instruction and instructor consistency New CFI Aeronautical Knowledge Gaps Course preview Why most students still don't receive a syllabus How structured training improves outcomes and confidence CFI Prep Course and transitioning into the instructor role Audio-only Power Hour lessons now available on streaming platforms ProTips: heat safety, taxi technique, and ASA AI study tools

  8. Mar 31

    Episode 72: Part 141 Is About to Change Everything! | From centralized oversight to QMS-driven schools, here's what flight training's biggest regulatory overhaul means for you

    The biggest overhaul to Part 141 in decades is about to go public — and this episode covers everything you need to know before the Federal Register drops on April 1st, 2026. View our entire newsletter here: https://www.cfibootcamp.com/monthlynewsletter/march-2026 We break down the Part 141 Modernization Team's final recommendations: a new Central Management Office, a two-tiered school approval system, Quality Management Systems with dynamic TCO update authority, greater Chief Pilot autonomy, revised examining authority criteria, standardized grading scales, and expanded allowances for flight training devices and new technology like VR. Plus: CFI Bootcamp's Airspace Flash Cards just got a major update with 32 new scenarios. The CFII PTS is on its way to becoming an ACS. And the new Commercial Pilot ASEL SmartStudy Pro Course is almost here — listen to find out how to get early access at half price. We wrap up with practical pro tips for CFIs, including how to earn extra income through remote ground instruction, the underrated perks of the AGI certificate, and how to get more out of ForeFlight Premium. Whether you're a flight instructor, a Part 141 school operator, or a student pilot — this one's worth your time. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and visit cfibootcamp.com for resources mentioned in this episode.

    Episode 72: Part 141 Is About to Change Everything! | From centralized oversight to QMS-driven schools, here's what flight training's biggest regulatory overhaul means for you
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4.2
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

Flight Training - The Way I See It is a weekly podcast covering essential news, like regulation changes, Training Tips to improve your flying and Opinion on a variety of issues. Hosted by Mike Shiflett, Director of Training at CFI Bootcamp. There are recaps of major conferences and events, interviews with top people in the aviation industry and of course Mike's unique and at times edgy opinions on what's right and what's wrong in flight training. Always informative and always entertaining, tune in each week to get the latest Flight Training the Way I see it.

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