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HOW TO BECOME A CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (CFI)
As you progress through your aviation career, you may consider earning your flight instructor certification. As a certificated flight instructor, you can build flight experience quickly to meet airline and corporate hiring minimums. Being a certified flight instructor is a challenging and rewarding career that utilizes all you have learned during your flight training. Flight instructors aim to be role models in the aviation community, sharing knowledge and experience with their students, and for many people, it is the first job in aviation that earns them a paycheck.
WHY SHOULD I BECOME A CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR?
There are many reasons why pilots choose to become a CFI, with the most common reason being to gain experience and build flight time. Most jobs in aviation, especially commercial airline pilot jobs, require a certain amount of flight time to be eligible. Many candidates opt to teach flight training to students due to the fast-paced environment and the opportunity for steady gains in flight time hours. By teaching students how to safely and effectively operate aircraft, flight instructing also reinforces the knowledge you gained during your flight training. Over time, flight instructors become very knowledgeable, skillfully polished pilots who are also privileged to train and endorse other pilots to take FAA practical tests.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO EARN A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATE?
While there is no specific time requirement to become a flight instructor, all flight instructors must obtain at least a commercial pilot license as part of their eligibility requirements. The commercial pilot license requires 250 hours of flight time as a pilot, with several associated sub-requirements. A pilot who plans to become a flight instructor is essentially preparing for the role from the first day they begin flight training, meeting the demands of each rating (essentially a milestone) along the way.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATIONS?
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- Certified Flight Instructor (CFI): A flight instructor for single-engine aircraft
- Certified Flight Instructor – Instrument (CFII): A flight instructor who teaches instrument flying
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WHAT IS A CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S SALARY?
Salary for flight instructors varies from state to state, is dependent on the company for which you work, and can vary widely depending on your qualifications. While some companies pay CFIs a yearly salary, most pay is earned as an hourly wage. Compensation at an hourly rate can also be paid at different rates for the different types of instruction you are providing. For example, one might earn a higher hourly rate for flights and a lower hourly rate for ground and simulator (AATD) instruction.
The average hourly wage for a Flight Instructor in the United States is $54 as of December 2023, but the range typically falls between $50 and $61. The hourly rate can vary widely depending on many important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, and the number of years you have spent in your profession.
WHAT ARE THE ELIGIBLITY REQUIREMENTS FOR A CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR?
To earn a private pilot certificate, a pilot must:
- Be 18 years of age
- Read, speak, write, and understand the English language
- Hold either a commercial pilot certificate or an airline transport pilot certificate and an instrument rating
- Have logged at least 250 hours of flight time
- Hold a valid FAA 3rd Class Medical Certificate (or higher)
- Receive a logbook endorsement from an authorized instructor on the fundamentals of instructing
- Pass a knowledge test on the aeronautical knowledge areas appropriate to the flight instructor rating sought
Reference 14 CFR §61.103 for the entire list of eligibility requirements.
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