How to become a professional flight instructor?

5 Answers

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   Bellanca Decathlon on Dec 09, 2010

   The typical order of events to become a flight instructor is private pilot, instrument rating, commercial pilot and then CFI-A. This example does not include any multiengine training, which of course would be neccesary if you wish to be a multiengine instructor (MEI). You may also want to be an instrument instructor (CFI-I).
   Under Part 61, this requires at least 250 hours, plus the time for the commercial and CFI checkrides, that you will have to beg, borrow or steal. Attending a Part 141 or 142 school can reduce these hourly requirements.
   You are smart to avoid a degree in Aeronautical Science or some equivilent. (Trust me – I have one…) If you do decide to complete college, choose a more general degree.
   Some common paths include using a local flight school in your spare time, or attending an “accelerated” course such as All ATP’s. You may be capable of “paying-as-you-go” at a local flight school. Some even have Part 141 certification that could save you some money. Accelerated courses obviously require money to be paid out faster, which usually means loans for the common guy. They can assist you with securing financing.
   Life as a full-time flight instructor can be tough. Many CFI’s are just “building hours” in order to apply at airlines. Other’s instruct part-time or have succesfully built good reputations allowing them to command higher rates, or serve niche markets. Another option is getting a job at one of the few “ab-initio” training centers here in the US which serve foriegn airlines. Places such as Flight Safety are another option, but will require you to gain experince elsewhere first.
   Good luck with your flight training! We need good instructors out there who really want to be flight instructors.

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   Wesley Beard on Dec 09, 2010

   I think every pilot should instruct for a couple years so I admire your goal.  I thought I was a very good pilot when I started instructing and quickly found myself learning just as much as my students as I taught them how to fly.  I consider myself now a much better, proficient pilot. 
    
   The path to becoming an instructor is pretty straight forward.  It really depends on what you want to fly after achieving the CFI certificate.  First, you will need to progress through your ratings: private pilot, instrument rating, commercial certificate.  The requirements are listed in FAR 61.183.
    
   Let me provide you some suggestions to get there quicker.  A lot of it will have a upfront cost but will end up saving you costs in the future.
   1.  The private pilot certificate is all about visual flying.  Don’t stare at the instruments, look outside the airplane and learn what cues to use to stay at the correct flight attitude.  For example, to remain in level flight, concentrate on keeping the nose of the airplane a fixed distance off of the horizon.  To keep your heading correct, concentrate on keeping the nose of the airplane pointed directly at some land feature (mountain peak?) in the distance.  Learn to listen to the engine, if the RPM sound changes pitch, something has changed.  If you can develop these habits early in your flying career, all of the maneuvers will become quite easy.  The first 7-10hrs or so, I will typically cover up all the instruments so my student cannot see them to develop this habit.  Later on, I will uncover the instruments and allow them to confirm what they already know outside the airplane.
    
   2.  Don’t be afraid to ask questions and expect your instructor to spend time before and after each flight explaining what you are going to do for the flight and then critique what you did after the flight.  Try really hard to understand the “why” in the maneuver and it should come much easier.  For example, if the subject is steep turns and you don’t really understand how an airplane turns don’t be afraid to ask.  Your instructor should have the ability to answer all of your questions.
    
   3.  Once the private pilot is achieved, go have fun taking family and friends on short cross countries for brunch or shopping.  You will need 50hrs of cross country time (Part 61 training) to qualify for the instrument rating.  The regulations allow the passengers to pay for part of the flight.  Take them up and have them help you build hours.  It will benefit you and aviation as a whole.
    
   4.  The instrument rating is where you will learn to trust your instruments.  A lot of time in front of a flight simulator like MS Flight Sim X will help you master the IFR procedures.  Spend time visualizing the procedures and then go fly them.  When you take your instrument written test, plan to take the CFII and IGI tests at the same time.  All three tests are from the same FAA test bank.  When you get your rating, determine to fly “actual instrument” cross countries with a competent instrument rated pilot.  Those few hours will expose you to the practical aspect of instrument flying. 
    
   5.  At this point you may have 150hrs of flight time.  I would start my commercial training (you need 250 hrs total time) and work on my CFI at the same time.  At this point, you should be able to find good references for the commercial maneuvers you will have to perform.  Take the commercial PTS, and start creating lesson plans for each of the required tasks and have your instructor help you.  Read the fundamentals of instructing book and take observation rides while a CFI is giving instruction to another student to see how they do things.  Fly from both seats, left and right and get proficient at the maneuvers.  When you are ready hopefully you will be right around the 250hr mark and ready to take both the commercial and CFI test.  If done right, you could be a CFI at around 254 hours. 
    
   6.  The CFI is by far the most difficult checkride you will have to face in your aviation career.  The study requirements are outrageous and the breadth of knowledge you have to know is breath taking.  With that said, it is not a insurmountable feat.  Open up the commercial and CFI practical test standards and look at each reference (things like Airplane Flying Handbook, AC 00-05F, etc) and read every reference from cover to cover.  Each task in the PTS states the references where you can go to learn about that task.  When you have read those references, created lesson plans for all the tasks from a private pilot and commercial pilot PTS books and have correlative knowledge you’ll be ready for the checkride.  One last thought on the CFI, take time to gather 5 or 6 CFI’s in your area and have them ask you any question they can think of about aviation.  You’ll quickly discover if you are truly ready for the checkride.  When you take the CFI written test, make time to take the AGI test as well.  They are both from the same test question bank. 
    
   It all boils down to how much time you are willing to spend outside of the “classroom” learning and reading material.  I had a friend you went to a school and received a commercial single engine certificate 8 months after starting to learn how to fly.  The only thing he did was fly the airplane and not much studying the books.  When I started teaching him how to become a CFI, I would sit and listen to him teach me something he had no clue about.  It really was quite sad.  He, however, took my advice and studied 8 hours a day for the next 6 months to receive his CFI certificate.  He is now a very knowledgeable, proficient instructor.  He went a step further and required is commercial students who wanted to also get their CFI’s to teach him the commercial maneuvers with his help.  In the end, his students earned the CFI certificates in record time.  I was quite impressed with the instructor he became.

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   Kent Shook on Dec 09, 2010

   I would add to Wesley’s excellent answer that you should try to get some good real-world experience in while you’re working through your ratings. LONG cross country flights are the best way to do this – Get out of your familiar local area. See different terrain, work with different controllers, see different weather patterns. The best part is – It’s really fun to do this too! But there’s a big difference between a CFI with 1000 hours and a CFI with 1 hour that’s been repeated 1000 times.

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   Micah on Dec 10, 2010

   Good advice from Wesley.  Two more things to consider:
    
   1. Not all “flight schools” are as expensive as ERAU.  Many public universities have aviation programs.  The aviation degree may not be what you’re looking for, but the student loans could help.  New laws on student loans may change the dynamics up, but when I “went back to school” 10 years ago to pursue flying, the public university that was 1hr from my house and offered me student loans was an excellent choice for my training.
    
   2.   Don’t underestimate the advantage of free experience.  Get to know the people where you decide to train and spend as much time as is reasonable “hangar flying” (ie, talking about all of the various aspects of flying) and sit in the back watching other students fly.  Most students participate in the hangar flying, but I have seen very few who sit and watch another student learn how to fly.  If I could “do it all over again” I would spend a lot of time watching others learn and watching their instructors teach them–especially during instrument training.

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   Heather McNevin on Dec 18, 2010

   If you can afford it, I’d recommend completing some glider training and an emergency upset or basic aerobatic course sometime during your journey to CFI.  I found that those experiences made me a better pilot and helped me pass on those lessons and values to my students.
   During your training, always hold yourself to a set standard and have a purpose for each flight, even if its just a “fun” flight.  For example, when I go fly for fun, I hold myself to ATP altitude and heading standards and I also have made up “games” to play in flight.  For example, if I’m flying and wanted to divert to another airport, I’ll first guess the distance and time to get there and turn to a heading I believe would get me there.  I then dial it into the GPS and see how close I was.  Or I’ll monitor an ATC frequency and try and picture all the traffic they are talking to and find them if I can.  Doing these types of activities keeps you engaged and makes you a proficient pilot.
   During your training, remember YOU are the customer.  So if you feel your CFI is not providing the best training for you, get a different one!  I know many students that stuck with a CFI for a long time based on not wanting to upset anyone or cause problems.  You are paying for your training and you deserve a dedicated professional instructor.
   Good luck in your training, it’ll be a great journey!

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