How do I become a certified flight instructor?
What Are the Eligibility Requirements to Become a CFI?
- Be 18 years of age.
- Hold either a commercial pilot certificate or airline transport pilot certificate and an instrument rating.
- Have logged at least 250 hours of flight time.
- Hold a valid FAA 3rd Class Medical Cerificate (or higher)
How long does it take to become a certified flight instructor?
For aeroplanes you must have at least 200 hours flight time as pilot and 100 hours flight time as pilot in command. These aeronautical experience requirements must be met before you start your flight training for a flight instructor rating.
How much do flight instructors make?
Unless you own a flying school your pay may always be less than an airline pilot particularly when you first start instructing. However, once you have gained considerable instructing experience it is possible to earn anywhere from $60,000 to $85,000 a year as a fulltime professional flight instructor.
Is a flight instructor considered a teacher?
A flying instructor is more than someone who teaches you how to fly a plane. A flying instructor is a leader, a mentor, a confidant, a safety net, a psychologist, a teacher, a risk manager and in the end, could become a friend for life.
How hard is CFI training?
All the myths surrounding the CFI start to become fears. The pilot who had never failed a checkride faces the thought of failure since this is the hardest certificate to get. In one FSDO area, initial CFI applicants succeed only 18% of the time. The pass rate is low for a few reasons.
Are flight instructors in demand?
High demand for flight instructors. Flight instructors are in high demand at the moment, and are expected to remain so for many years to come. Profound change, prompted by new legislation in the US and by the rapid growth of airline and business aviation, is expected to come to the flight-training industry.
Why do flight instructors get paid so little?
Supply and Demand: There are lots of pilots who want airline jobs and not very many of those jobs available. Huge supply of labor and little demand for it drives wages down in any industry. Not just the airlines. This is why most current pilots were in favor of the ATP rule.
Is becoming a CFI difficult?
Can you make good money as a CFI?
Income for a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) generally ranges from $30,000 to $60,000 per year ($15 to $30 per hour), but this depends greatly on experience, location, weather, hours flown, and demand. The greatest factor in compensation is how many hours you are able to fly.
Is it hard to become a flight instructor?
Working as a flight instructor is extremely challenging. It is said that the flight instructor certificate is one of the most difficult check-rides in all of aviation. While for some international students, this might not be much of a draw, many people who are drawn to the aviation field are looking for a challenge.
What kind of license does a flight instructor have?
Initially, the pilot is endorsed as a “Class 4” flight instructor. This allows the pilot to deliver flight training towards the issuance of a recreational pilot permit, private pilot licence, commercial pilot licence, night rating, and VFR over-the-top rating.
What kind of flight instructor teaches instrument flying?
Instrument Rating Instructor (IRI) teaches instrument flying towards an instrument rating. Class Rating Instructor (CRI) instructs on a certain class of aircraft towards a class rating for those who already hold a license.
Can a lighter than air instructor be a pilot?
Those airmen who hold commercial privileges in lighter-than-air aircraft (balloons and airships) have flight instructor privileges in those category and classes they have on their pilot certificate. Lighter-than-air flight instructor privileges do not get placed on a flight instructor certificate.
Do you need a CFII to be a flight instructor?
the three hours of training with reference only to instruments in preparation for a private pilot certificate, note that this does not need to be a CFII. an instrument rating, only if the CFI has an instrument instructor rating (CFII); This cannot be given by a “safety pilot”.
