A flight instructor is a person who teaches others to fly aircraft. Specific privileges granted to holders of a flight instructor qualification vary from country to country, but very generally, a flight instructor serves to enhance or evaluate the knowledge and skill level of an aviator in pursuit of a higher pilot's license, certificate or rating.
Contents |
A person who holds a flight instructor certificate ( called a "Certificated Flight Instructor", or CFI) is authorized to give training and endorsements required for, and relating to:[1]
Certain limitations are placed on the instruction a flight instructor may give; for example, flight instructors wishing to train applicants for a flight instructor certificate must have held their own flight instructor certificate for at least 24 months and given at least 200 hours of instruction. Specific training programs have additional requirements or limitations.[2]
Flight instructors in the United States must hold at least a commercial pilot certificate or ATP (Airline Transport Pilot) certificate. Individuals wishing to give instruction in airplanes or powered-lift aircraft are additionally required to hold an instrument rating in the desired category and class. Holders of a sport pilot certificate may obtain a flight instructor certificate with sport pilot rating, allowing them to give instruction for the sport pilot certificate in light-sport aircraft.
All individuals desiring flight instructor privileges must pass two additional written exams (Fundamentals of Instruction, or FOI; and a knowledge test specific to the category of aircraft in which instructional privileges are desired, such as fixed-wing) as well as a practical test.[3][4] Flight Instructors must be at least 18 years of age to be eligible.
The Flight Instructor Certificate is often mis-identified as a Certified Flight Instructor. The FAA issues Flight Instructor Certificates but does not "certify" instructors. Those issued a Flight Instructor Certificate are technically referred to as Certificated Flight Instructors (CFI) or the holder of a Flight Instructor Certificate, even though it is exceedingly common (even in the FAA) and generally accepted to refer to a CFI as a 'certified flight instructor.'
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.
In the United States, two professional organizations represent flight instructors nationally: Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE) and National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI).
This section currently covers only the aeroplane flight instructor ratings.
In Canada, the holder of a commercial pilot licence or airline transport pilot licence may have their licence endorsed with a flight instructor rating - aeroplane. 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. The Class 4 flight instructor may only conduct training while under the supervision of a Class 2 or Class 1 flight instructor.
After satisfying certain requirements (satisfactory flight test records, experience requirements, written exams, and flight tests), an instructor can upgrade their rating to a Class 3, Class 2, and Class 1 instructor rating. The Class 3 flight instructor does not require the supervision of a Class 2 or Class 1 flight instructor. The Class 2 flight instructor may supervise Class 4 flight instructors and act as the Chief Flight Instructor (CFI) of a flight training unit. The Class 1 flight instructor may give ground school and flight training towards the endorsement of a flight instructor rating.
In order to give instruction towards the instrument rating, multi rating, type ratings, and class conversions (for example, land plane to sea plane), an instructor rating is not necessarily required. The requirements may be limited to holding a commercial or airline transport license and having met certain experience levels (such as time on type and in class). In the case of an instrument rating, the holder of a flight instructor rating can teach it even if they do not have the experience level required for non-flight instructors. Details are contained in the Canadian Aviation Regulations, Parts 401 and 421.
Flight instructors in New Zealand must have a Category A, B, C, D or E flight instructor rating.
The Category E rating is specifically for conducting agricultural (top dressing, etc.) flying instruction. Category D flight instructor may conduct type ratings for any aircraft for which they hold a type rating. Category C flight instructors cannot send students on their first solo, and must operate under the supervision of a Category A or B flight instructor.
The Chief Flying Instructor (CFI) is the flying instructor responsible for all flight training at an organization.
NZ CAA Advisory Circular on Flight Instructor Ratings