Hello - I just closed on my first aircraft purchase and my family will now be the caretaker of a 1949 170a model.
Avemco is requiring me to get one hour of dual with a CFI current in a 170. The aircraft is in Garden City, KS (I am in Idaho) and I am having a hard time finding a CFI that can help out. I scanned the sticky post of CFI's but it seemed to be from several years ago. Any help would be highly appreciated!
Thanks in advance!
Josh
C170 CFI Needed in KS
Moderators: GAHorn, Karl Towle, Bruce Fenstermacher
- CurtM
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Thu Nov 10, 2022 6:03 pm
Re: C170 CFI Needed in KS
There aren't a lot of tailwheel CFI's out in the area, unfortunately. You can check with Julian Bixenman out of Colby, Kansas, or Travis Lattin out of Beloit, Ks. Not positive on Julian, butI know Travis has a Cessna 180 and am not sure about his time in a 170. (Julian https://www.greatplainssprayinginc.com/)(Travis https://www.beloitks.org/airport)
Curt
Curt
- GAHorn
- Posts: 21306
- Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2002 8:45 pm
Re: C170 CFI Needed in KS
Are you certain Avemco requires the CFI to exceed FAR requirements? (iE, current in 170s..? Just because an insurance representative or agent MISundertands the FARs does not equate to the written insurance policy.
A CFI does not have to be “current” in the model aircraft to provide instruction to a certificated pilot,….he only has to be rated in category and class. Therefore, I believe a CFI qualified in any single-engine tailwheel (such as a 180) is authorized to instruct in a 170….or any other single engine conventional-gear aircraft.
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/c ... /subpart-H
A CFI does not have to be “current” in the model aircraft to provide instruction to a certificated pilot,….he only has to be rated in category and class. Therefore, I believe a CFI qualified in any single-engine tailwheel (such as a 180) is authorized to instruct in a 170….or any other single engine conventional-gear aircraft.
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/c ... /subpart-H
'53 B-model N146YS SN:25713
50th Anniversary of Flight Model. Winner-Best Original 170B, 100th Anniversary of Flight Convention.
An originality nut (mostly) for the right reasons.
50th Anniversary of Flight Model. Winner-Best Original 170B, 100th Anniversary of Flight Convention.
An originality nut (mostly) for the right reasons.

-
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Thu May 15, 2025 3:02 am
Re: C170 CFI Needed in KS
Thanks for the lead, Curt!CurtM wrote: ↑Thu Jul 10, 2025 1:42 pm There aren't a lot of tailwheel CFI's out in the area, unfortunately. You can check with Julian Bixenman out of Colby, Kansas, or Travis Lattin out of Beloit, Ks. Not positive on Julian, butI know Travis has a Cessna 180 and am not sure about his time in a 170. (Julian https://www.greatplainssprayinginc.com/)(Travis https://www.beloitks.org/airport)
Curt
Josh
-
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Thu May 15, 2025 3:02 am
Re: C170 CFI Needed in KS
I may call back, as I thought the exact same thing after I got off the phone with them. They definitely require me to get 1 hr in the model, but she did not seem confident when telling me (in hindsight) that the CFI needed specifically to be 170 current. I'm glad you responded with the same questioning.GAHorn wrote: ↑Fri Jul 11, 2025 2:25 pm Are you certain Avemco requires the CFI to exceed FAR requirements? (iE, current in 170s..? Just because an insurance representative or agent MISundertands the FARs does not equate to the written insurance policy.
A CFI does not have to be “current” in the model aircraft to provide instruction to a certificated pilot,….he only has to be rated in category and class. Therefore, I believe a CFI qualified in any single-engine tailwheel (such as a 180) is authorized to instruct in a 170….or any other single engine conventional-gear aircraft.
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/c ... /subpart-H
Thanks!
-
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Thu May 15, 2025 3:02 am
Re: C170 CFI Needed in KS
GAHorn, well, I called Avemco back and they confirmed the CFI had to be current on a 170 and not just TW, for their purposes. On a positive note, I may have found one that can possibly help. If not, I may hang a sign around my neck while I'm working at Osh all week, looking for any takers!GAHorn wrote: ↑Fri Jul 11, 2025 2:25 pm Are you certain Avemco requires the CFI to exceed FAR requirements? (iE, current in 170s..? Just because an insurance representative or agent MISundertands the FARs does not equate to the written insurance policy.
A CFI does not have to be “current” in the model aircraft to provide instruction to a certificated pilot,….he only has to be rated in category and class. Therefore, I believe a CFI qualified in any single-engine tailwheel (such as a 180) is authorized to instruct in a 170….or any other single engine conventional-gear aircraft.
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/c ... /subpart-H
- GAHorn
- Posts: 21306
- Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2002 8:45 pm
Re: C170 CFI Needed in KS
Soo…. Ask Avemco “How does a CFI get “current”….unless Avemco Insures the CFI IN MY 170… while making his 3 takeoffs and landings…??”Joshmo wrote: ↑Sun Jul 13, 2025 4:33 amGAHorn, well, I called Avemco back and they confirmed the CFI had to be current on a 170 and not just TW, for their purposes. On a positive note, I may have found one that can possibly help. If not, I may hang a sign around my neck while I'm working at Osh all week, looking for any takers!GAHorn wrote: ↑Fri Jul 11, 2025 2:25 pm Are you certain Avemco requires the CFI to exceed FAR requirements? (iE, current in 170s..? Just because an insurance representative or agent MISundertands the FARs does not equate to the written insurance policy.
A CFI does not have to be “current” in the model aircraft to provide instruction to a certificated pilot,….he only has to be rated in category and class. Therefore, I believe a CFI qualified in any single-engine tailwheel (such as a 180) is authorized to instruct in a 170….or any other single engine conventional-gear aircraft.
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/c ... /subpart-H
(Hint to All CFI’s: Make CERTAIN you are “ADDITIONAL NAMED INSURED” when teaching in a customer’s aircraft.)
'53 B-model N146YS SN:25713
50th Anniversary of Flight Model. Winner-Best Original 170B, 100th Anniversary of Flight Convention.
An originality nut (mostly) for the right reasons.
50th Anniversary of Flight Model. Winner-Best Original 170B, 100th Anniversary of Flight Convention.
An originality nut (mostly) for the right reasons.

Cessna® is a registered trademark of Textron Aviation, Inc. The International Cessna® 170 Association is an independent owners/operators association dedicated to C170 aircraft and early O-300-powered C172s. We are not affiliated with Cessna® or Textron Aviation, Inc. in any way.