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Becoming a flight instructor is a great way to increase your knowledge and experience in aviation! Working as a flight instructor is one of the few jobs you can get as a low time commercial pilot.
A person who applies for an Certificated Flight Instructor must:
Embark on your journey to obtaining a Certificated Flight Instructor with our comprehensive road map, guiding you through every step of the way.
You will need your private certificate, instrument rating, and commercial certificate.
There are online CFI ground school courses many people use, but it will be supplemented with instructor ground sessions.
There are two required written tests that you will need to take. The Flight Instructor Airplane (FIA) and the Fundamentals of Instructing (FOI). You can take these tests at any point in your training.
Better to start these sooner rather than later and get a big binder. Some aspiring CFI’s write their lesson plans word for word, others buy them online and either leave it be or make their own edits.
Get used to everything being flip flopped, because now you sit on the right side! With your instructor you will learn new material, such as spin awareness and tips for teaching, along with making sure your private maneuvers are up to CFI standards.
Throughout the whole training process, you should be ready to pull out a textbook or practice questions whenever you get the chance.
Flying to teach is a whole other animal. Take another pilot with you and “teach” them in the air and on the ground.
Take this time to do whatever you need to prepare. Whether that is additional flight instruction, practice, or late night study sessions.
After receiving the proper endorsements, schedule your checkride.
After putting in so much work, make sure to always renew your CFI certificate every 24 calendar months.
Your most frequently asked questions.
You will need your private, instrument, and commercial; along with a medical (3rd class or higher).
There is no hour requirement to become an instructor, beyond the 250 for the commercial. How many additional hours you will need varies from person to person. Typically, people will be around 300 hours by the time they have their CFI.
There are no academic prerequisites to flying, other than being fluent in English. In fact, if you still want to go to college, you can instruct your way through and graduate with no debt!
