Steve from New York just sent me a question about how to become an flight instructor:

I want to train to be a CFI as a second career and I’m perplexed about the steps to take. I want thorough training so that I can be a professional CFI and be able train with confidence. I’m currently hold a Private with Instrument but I am not current for IFR. What should I do? I live in NYC area cost and time are important.

Well, first of all Steve, you have made a great choice to be a flight instructor.  General aviation right now is really hurting for CFIs, especially those who might make flight instruction their profession and treat the position with respect instead of just a stepping stone in a career.

If I were to meet with you and give you a career coaching path that would take you from where you are today to a CFI, here are the steps that I would recommend.  This is assuming that you have the commercial pilot time requirements met, and your goal is to instruct primary (private) students in airplane single-engine land only.

1) Find a good, experienced professional flight instructor.  Ask at your local FBO, pilot club, and airport for someone who has a few gray hairs and very flexible hours.  You’ll want someone who comes highly recommended. In order to train potential CFIs, they need to make sure they meet the requirements of 14 CFR 61.195 (h).

2) Start work on your commercial certificate ASAP.  Sit down with your instructor and go over the commercial pilot experience requirements and then set a realistic goal and the steps for completion. If your goal is to get into the right seat quickly as an instructor, just focus on your single-engine commercial license for now.  Reference 61.121 thru 61.133 for more information about the commercial pilot requirements.

3) Immediately begin work on your CFI. The requirements to be a CFI is that you are 18 yrs. old, a commercial pilot’s license and a third-class medical (for airplanes).  You’ll have to complete TWO knowledge tests.  One on FOI (fundamentals of instruction) AND an addtional flight / ground instructor knowledge test.  You can see the rest of the requirements by visiting 14 CFR 61.181 thru 61.199.

You’ll notice that I didn’t mention anything about becomming instrument current or getting a multi-engine rating.  That’s because neither of those things are necessary to become a CFI.  As long as you have a instrument rating, you will be able to get both a commercial and flight instructor certificate.  Of course, at some point you will still need to become instrument current to act as a PIC on a instrument flight plan but you can probably work your instrument recency requirements during either your commercial or instructor training.

You’re also not required to have a multi-engine rating to instruct either.  You won’t be able to instruct or fly a multi-engine airplane, but if your goal is just to instruct in a single-engine airplane, all you need is a commercial and instructor certificate (they are seperate) and a third class medical.

Once you have your CFI, you’re ready to start teaching!  A flight school will make sure you get checked out in their airplane.  Once your employed (even part-time) you may also find that the flight school will help you with your multi-engine ratings and additional instructor instrument rating so you can give instrument training.

If you goal is to become a successful and in-demand CFI, there is a great book written titled “The Savvy Flight Instructor” by Gregory N. Brown.  Great book about the business aspect of being a flight instructor.  Highly recommended read if you want to know about how to treat student pilots as customers and clients, instead of just “students”.  (I wish more schools required their CFIs to read this book)

Again, I appalaud the steps you are willing to take to become a CFI.  If you have any questions, you can comment on this post and I’ll be happy to address them.

Like always…

Fly Safe

Just got a question from Kerry who asks:

I have a renewed interest in getting my private certificate. I did have over 40 hrs of flight time albeit 20 years ago. The school I received instruction from is no longer in business and I have no personal contact with the instructors I flew with. I believe I have retained much of the knowledge learned, even so long ago.  Is there some way to demonstrate proficiency and knowledge to receive credit for this past experience?

Great question Terry and I’m sure one that many people, who have taken a break from flight training, have asked before.

Here’s the good news: flight time has no expiration date.  That means the time you had towards your training then will still count towards your training now.  As far as the FAA is concerned, there is no limitation on the flight training you have previously received and it can be counted as credit towards the required number of hours (40).

Here’s the bad news:  Proficiency comes with a natural expiration and your current flight instructor has to be comfortable signing the required endorsements and pilot applications, regardless of your previous training.   When it comes right down to it, you could have met and exceeded the required number of hours ten fold, but until your instructor feels that you are safe, proficient and competent he has no legal obligation to endorse you.

One other note, a lot of things have changed!  In the past twenty years, there have been dramatic changes in the country’s airspace structure and weather reporting formats (among many many other changes).   Basically, in some small ways, you are going to have to start from scratch anyhow.

I know it might be frustrating to have to start completely over but the human mind has an amazing ability to retain information.  The trouble is recalling that retained information when it is useful and practical.  You might think you remember a lot from before, but the true test will be when you start having to recall those previously learned muscle memories in flight.

Just pick a good instructor, be patient and trust his judgement. He’ll solo you when you’re ready and he’ll sign you off for your practical test when you are ready; not a moment too soon or too late.

I hope this helps and as always…

Fly (and train) Safe!

This question comes from John who asks:

Can a CFI instruct without a medical? Under what circumstances?

Hi John.  Thanks for taking the time to submit your question.

A CFI can flight instruct without a medical as long as he is not the PIC (pilot-in-command) or a required crewmember.  To demonstrate this point, here are some examples of when a flight instructor could instruct without a current medical certificate:

• As a flight instructor during a biannual flight review (BFR)
• As a flight instructor for an instrument or commercial pilot certificate as long as no “hood” time was involved (also known as simulated instrument conditions).
• As a flight instructor in a glider.
• As an instructor during training given in a flight simulator.
• As a check airman or examiner for a test given in a flight simulator
• Ground instructing (duh)

Operations that require a flight instructor to have a current medical (at least third class):

• Private Pilot training
• Instrument training under simulated instrument conditions.  The reason?  The flight instructor is now a required crew member which requires a valid medical certificate
• [Edited] Instrument training in real IMC (unless the pilot-in-training meets the requirements to act as PIC in IMC: rated, current, recent and valid medical.)
• If giving required training for a expired BFR, a medical would be required because the flight instructor would be the PIC not the pilot seeking the BFR
• Multi-engine training when the student pilot did not yet have a multi-engine rating (even if the student pilot had a commercial license) because the flight instructor would be the PIC (which requires a medical)

Those are all the examples I can think of for now.  If you have some more examples of when a medical is or is not required for a flight instructor be sure to add your suggestions as a comment to this post.

Thanks again for asking and as always…

Fly Safe!