Seattle Area CFI

[LardLad]

I'm a soon-to-be owner of an m20c, looking for a CFI in the Seattle area with experience in manual gear short bodies.  Any suggestions beyond themooneyflyer.com?

[wombat]

Galvin at BFI has had a Mooney in their fleet until recently.   Several of their CFIs have significant Mooney experience.  Or at least they did when I worked there in 2020 and before.

[PeteMc]

The Mooney Flyer list is really the only "list" I know of.  But beyond your initial training, I'd STRONGLY RECOMMEND you attend a MAPA Safety Foundation Pilot Proficiency Program (aka "PPP").  You will REALLY learn about your specific Mooney there.  They hold them around the country and the next one on the west coast is in Santa Maria, CA in April.  https://www.mooneysafety.com/

And if the search doesn't go well finding a CFI(I) for your initial training and your really want to bit-the-bullet, let me know.  I can reach out to the guy I used when I lived back east.  I'm sure you could work out a deal with him to come out and give you a Private/Mini PPP.  He is part of MAPASF, so it would be a real deal, not one of the guys that rips off the binder and teaches from it.  That would give your some insight into the full PPP training. 

 

 

[LardLad]

@PeteMc I’m a really low time pilot, the plan was for me to do the complex endorsement in the m20c.  I imagine it might be a waste of time to go right to the Mooney safety training, but maybe I’m thinking about this wrong?  Maybe a blank slate with no bad habits formed wouldn’t be so bad?

[PeteMc]

1 hour ago, LardLad said:

I imagine it might be a waste of time to go right to the Mooney safety training, but maybe I’m thinking about this wrong?

Yes, a lot of the Pilot Proficiency Program is about flying, but they will adjust the flying portion to what ever it is you want/need to work on.  But the first day is in the classroom learning all about Mooneys and you would learn a lot about the C.  The binder is an incredible resource to walk away with. (IMHO)  It's not cheap, but I think it is worth considering.  

And if you are getting your plane now, you'll have some time in it before now and April.  And that might then be the time to get another intensive training course. 

 

[LardLad]

That’s actually an amazing plan, I might just do that.  Thanks for the advice @PeteMc

[Igor_U]

On 12/12/2023 at 8:31 PM, LardLad said:

I'm a soon-to-be owner of an m20c, looking for a CFI in the Seattle area with experience in manual gear short bodies.  Any suggestions beyond themooneyflyer.com?

Where is the plane located? What is your insurance minimum dual requirement?

As Pete mentioned, Mooney Flyer has a good list of CFI through the US you can use to ferry the plane and get some duel time and instruction at the same time. That would be a good experience to have as well but weather at PNW is challenging at this time of the year so you must be flexible. 

https://themooneyflyer.com/cfi.html

While having a Training is never bad idea and I hear MAPA's PPP is a great program you don't need to wait for it to get checked out. 

I was a low time pilot when I got my complex endorsement on club's '77 M20J in few hours with CFI. I never had problems landing it and learned a lot. Few year later, after flying rented Arrow and Cutlass RG I bought my F in CA. I got the checked out from CFI familiar with my plane and flew it home to Seattle. I did have generator failure over KHIO which made a decision to overnight in NorCal and continue next day very good. 

Welcome to Mooney ownership Where do you plan to keep it? Hangar or Tie down?

 

[dkkim73]

On 12/14/2023 at 10:06 AM, PeteMc said:

Yes, a lot of the Pilot Proficiency Program is about flying, but they will adjust the flying portion to what ever it is you want/need to work on.  But the first day is in the classroom learning all about Mooneys and you would learn a lot about the C.  The binder is an incredible resource to walk away with. (IMHO)  It's not cheap, but I think it is worth considering.  

And if you are getting your plane now, you'll have some time in it before now and April.  And that might then be the time to get another intensive training course. 

 

@PeteMc Your advice to the OP caught my eye as well. I'm looking at the schedule and trying to figure out if I can get to one. 

As you seem familiar with the program: Do you happen to know if they ever offer options to train in provided (rental) aircraft? It's obviously less valuable as it's less specific, but I'm thinking about the logistics of punching a 3-day hole in my work schedule vs. more time to fly out and back. 

Will definitely try to get to one in the coming year, sometime after initial transition training. 

David

[kortopates]

[mention=14265]PeteMc[/mention] Your advice to the OP caught my eye as well. I'm looking at the schedule and trying to figure out if I can get to one. 
As you seem familiar with the program: Do you happen to know if they ever offer options to train in provided (rental) aircraft? It's obviously less valuable as it's less specific, but I'm thinking about the logistics of punching a 3-day hole in my work schedule vs. more time to fly out and back. 
Will definitely try to get to one in the coming year, sometime after initial transition training. 
David

As a Mooney PPP instructor for many years i can tell you as long as you supply the rental Mooney that’s fine, but you also have to add MAPA Safety Foundation as an additional insured - something you have to work out with the plane owner.
There is no such thing though as a “provided rental”, since we’re not a school but Mooney specific CFI’s dedicated to helping you become a safer and more proficient pilot.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[PeteMc]

2 hours ago, dkkim73 said:

Do you happen to know if they ever offer options to train in provided (rental) aircraft?

Looks like @kortopates already covered this.  It's all about insurance IF you could find a rental and even for your plane they'll have you name them on your insurance.  Maybe some people here know of places  you can find a rental, but I think it's pretty rare and the odds of there being rentals where the PPPs are being held would be pretty slight. 

And the main goal is learning YOUR plane.  A rental is not going to have your panel, your quirk with the #2 Radio, etc.  Also, if you don't fly long trips, this very well may take you out of  your comfort level to get to wherever the PPP is from your home Apt.  And they're all willing to discuss the flight to make sure you don't push yourself due to Wx, work shed., etc.  Good group of guys.  (Don't tell Paul K I said that!!!!....)

   

[jamesm]

Not a CFI but have a '67C (Manual gear/flaps) @ RNT.  We could go up if you are interested.

 

James '67C

[LardLad]

Thanks for all the replies!  I was on vacation after my last post and not checking in here.

@Igor_U  That's exactly it, I'd love to fly along on the ferry flight but my schedule doesn't really allow an open ended wait for weather to clear.  I've got three small kids and a wife who works so a three day weather delay would not leave me with a welcoming arrival home ;-). I've got a tie down at PAE for now, though my ferry flight isn't done yet.  I'm on the list for a hangar at a few of the local fields but that will still be a while. 

@jamesm  Hey, thanks for the offer!  Like I mentioned it's not actually here yet, but I'll reach out at some point.  Even if I can't log the hours anything beats standing around starring at a plane I'm not allowed to fly yet, haha.

[Pmsnazzy]

@LardLad - CFI here - I have experience with manual gear Mooneys.  I also happen to work part-time at Galvin, but we no longer have Mooneys in the fleet.  I fly frequently fly out of RNT, BFI, and PAE as in independent instructor as well.  Happy to help get you familiar whenever you make the acquisition.

[LardLad]

Hey, great!  I’ll dm you.