Requirements to Become a CFI.

A critical step in a pilot career is becoming a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI). This certification requires some specific requirements and responsibilities. In this blog, we will guide you through the essentials of CFI requirements and outline the path to obtaining it. 

What is a Certified Flight Instructor?

A CFI (Certified Flight Instructor) is a pilot who teaches student pilots to operate aircraft. Special privileges are granted to the holders of a flight instructor certificate, which varies from country to country. A certified flight instructor increases and evaluates an aviator's aeronautical knowledge areas and skill level in pursuit of a pilot’s license, certificate, or rating. 

CFI Training Requirements: The Foundation of Aviation Instruction

A Certified Flight Instructor's work is to teach and guide future student pilots. The CFI training requires the pilots to have an understanding of aeronautical knowledge, flight proficiency, and instructional skills. Pilots must complete all the requirements set by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) to become a CFI. These requirements ensure that the CFIs possess the knowledge and experience to provide effective instruction and maintain aviation safety. Let’s find out all the essential CFI requirements:

1. Flight Experience: First, the pilot has to be eligible for CFI certification. The pilot must hold a Commercial Pilot Certificate and an Instrument Rating. Furthermore, they must log at least 250 hours of flight time under Part 61 including 100 hours as the PIC (Pilot-in-Command). Part 141 programs need less time, 160 to 180 hours of total flight time.

2. Ground School: One of the fundamental requirements to become a CFI is completing a ground instructor course. This course equips you with all the essential knowledge that is required for you to teach your future students on-ground school subjects and flight training. 

3. Knowledge Test: Passing the Fundamentals of Instruction (FOI) and Flight Instructor Airplane (FIA) knowledge tests are essential requirements to get CFI certification. The purpose of these tests is to evaluate your understanding of instructional techniques, principles, and aeronautical knowledge for private, recreational, and commercial pilots.

4. Practical Test: The last step to obtaining your CFI certification is to pass the practical test. In this test, your evaluation will be conducted by an FAA-designated pilot examiner. During the test, you will show your teaching abilities, instructional techniques, and your capacity to provide safe and effective flight instruction.

   
   

The Road to Becoming a CFI: Meeting CFI Requirements

To become a CFI requires full dedication, preparation, practice, and meeting the outlined requirements. Here are some important steps to help you prepare for this path:

1. Flight Experience: To increase your flight experience, you need to accumulate the required flight hours. These hours will enhance your flying skills and provide the foundation that you need for instructing. 

2. Ground Instructor Course: Take admission into a well-known ground instructor course like CFI Bootcamp. This course covers all the necessary topics to prepare you for teaching ground school subjects. Furthermore, this course will equip you with all the essential aeronautical knowledge and teaching capabilities and provide you with a structure to prepare you for the oral part of the practical test (checkride). This course is designed to help you prepare and pass the FOI and FIA knowledge tests if you still need to complete them. 

3. Knowledge Tests: Prepare yourself for both the FOI knowledge test and the FIA knowledge tests and pass them successfully. Dedicate time to study and understand the relevant materials thoroughly. (Here at CFI Bootcamp, we recommend coming with the knowledge exams already passed).

4. Flying from the right seat and teaching flying takes between 10 and 15 hours if you are already proficient with the maneuvers.  You will learn how to demonstrate, and also teach all of the maneuvers required for Recreational, Private, and Commercial pilot certification.  In addition, you will be taught and have instructional competency in Spins.

5. Practical Test Preparation: Prepare for the practical test by honing your instructional skills. Seek guidance from experienced CFIs or instructors who have already completed the process.

6. You must be 18 years old or older and know how to read, write, speak, and understand the English language. 

7. You must hold a commercial or airline transport pilot certificate with the following:

   1. An aircraft category and class rating that is appropriate to the flight instructor.

   2. An instrument rating or privileges on that person‘s pilot certificate.

   3. At least logged 250 hours of flight time.

   4. You must hold a valid FAA 3rd class medical certificate.

   5. Receive the logbook endorsement from the authorized instructor on the fundamentals of instructing.

• If you decide that you would like to complete our entire training system here at CFI Bootcamp, you can expect between 10 - 12 hours of additional one-to-one pre- and post-flight briefings in preparation for your checkride.

  
  

What Is a Certified Flight Instructor's Salary?

The salaries of flight instructors vary in every state and every flight school. They also depend on the type of training that the CFI provides to the student pilots. Many advanced courses are more expensive than private pilot flight training courses. Many companies give CFIs a yearly salary, but most pay is hourly. 

According to industry averages, CFI pay ranges from $40 to $80 per hour and $40,000 to $75,000 per year. Where flight training is specialized, such as Palo Alto California, you may expect to find CFI pay ranges from $90 - $170 per hour.  

Fundamentals of Instructing (FOI) Knowledge Test

This test covers all the instructional topics that you can find in the aviation instructor’s handbook. For this test, you have 1.5 hours to answer the 50 questions, and the minimum passing score for this test is 70%. 

If you already have a flight or ground instructor certificate and hold a teacher’s certificate for 7th grade or higher or are a university teacher, you don’t need to take the FOI test. But, still, you must understand how the FOI principles apply to flight students.

What are the Passing Criteria for the Practical Test?

The ACS contains all the essential information related to the test. This will help you understand what the DPE expects from you on the practical test. The applicant must demonstrate satisfactory performance regarding knowledge of the fundamentals of instructing and technical subject areas. 

He/she must also know the instructor's responsibilities regarding pilot certification, logbook entries, and endorsements. Furthermore, the applicant must know runway incursion avoidance and how to teach it to students. 

The applicant must have the ability and capability to demonstrate and instruct procedures and maneuvers up to the level of commercial pilot skills. They must also show competence in describing, recognizing, analyzing, and correcting the common errors simulated by the examiner. Finally, they should know how to create and use the lesson plans and course syllabus. 

Conclusion

Becoming a Certified Flight Instructor is a significant achievement in your aviation career. Meeting CFI requirements is not just a regulatory necessity; it's a commitment to ensuring the mentoring of future pilots. Whether you're an aspiring CFI or looking to enhance your existing qualifications, understanding and fulfilling these eligibility requirements is the first step to becoming a proficient and influential aviation instructor.