Certified Flight Instructor (CFI)
Teach Others to Fly and Build Professional Flight Time
Train for the instructor certificate that allows you to provide both flight and ground instruction and help shape the next generation of pilots.
CFI Training
A flight instructor certificate allows you to give both flight and ground training, which means you are certified to teach others to fly. In most cases, pilots pursuing a professional aviation career earn the previous certificates and ratings before adding the flight instructor certificate.
As a Certified Flight Instructor, you can be paid to teach others to fly while logging flight time. You may also expand your instruction privileges later by adding additional instructor ratings if you choose.
The Federal Aviation Regulations require that candidates for pilot certificates, ratings, or endorsements receive a certain amount of training in both the air and on the ground in order to obtain that certificate. CFIs are responsible for teaching pilots how to fly and helping certificated pilots maintain proficiency.
Privileges
Teach Pilot Candidates
Provide required training for private pilot, commercial pilot, and certified flight instructor candidates.
Endorse Applicants
Endorse private pilot, commercial pilot, and certified flight instructor candidates to take FAA oral and practical exams.
Additional Endorsements
Provide required training and endorsements for pilots seeking complex and high-performance endorsements, and conduct biennial flight reviews for certificated pilots.
Estimated Course Outline
Aircraft and Avionics
Conventional Piper PA-28-161 with Garmin 430.
Estimated Cost
$6,990
Estimated prices are based on FAA minimum requirements.
17 Hours Right-Seat Flight
Flight training focused on right-seat maneuvers, instructor-level demonstration, and teaching in the airplane.
20 Hours Ground Instruction
Ground lessons covering knowledge, instruction methods, practical standards, and curriculum planning.
Testing and Materials
FAA Check-Ride ($1,200), FAA Written Exam ($175), and Pilot Study Kit & Books ($100).
Requirements
Commercial Certificate Required
You must possess a commercial certificate in order to become a flight instructor.
Written Examinations
You must also successfully complete the Flight Instructor Airplane and Fundamentals of Instructing written examinations.
Experience Matters
The exact preparation needed varies based on the individual’s level of experience.
Conservative Estimate
This training outline is a conservative estimate based on prior candidates and should be treated as an estimate only.
Instruction Breakdown
Ground — 25 Hours
Ground lessons are a major component of flight instructor training. You and your instructor will cover the Certified Flight Instructor Practical Test Standards, which essentially requires you to learn how to teach everything set forth in the Private and Commercial Practical Test Standards.
You must not only possess a solid understanding of the principles, but also be able to teach them clearly to students. This training includes curriculum planning and instructor-level presentation of flight knowledge.
Flight — Right Seat Experience 15 to 20 Hours
The flight portion directly supports the subjects covered in the ground lessons. You will be required to fly all maneuvers from the right seat within the standards set forth in the Practical Test Standards.
You must also be able to clearly explain how to perform those maneuvers while flying them.
