Becoming a Certified Flight Instructor
To become a copilot for a commercial airline or a Fortune 500 company, you must gain experience by building up your total flight time. The FAA requires 1500 hours of total time for you to have an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate, and this is required to fly as a captain on most turboprops or jets. For pilots who enjoy teaching, becoming a CFI or Certified Flight Instructor is the best way to go. As a commercial pilot you can also build your time by doing aerial photography, banner towing, and sight-seeing tours.
A student training to become a certified flight instructor is being prepared to train student pilots, private pilots, instrument pilots, commercial pilots, and multiengine pilots. That being said the student is only as good as his instructor. Becoming an instructor is very rewarding but, it comes with much responsibility. To sleep well at night after an eight-hour day of pilot training, an instructor must know in his heart that he has given 100% effort to the students that are depending on him. Before signing a student to fly solo in the traffic pattern or on a cross country, the instructor should have extensively measured the student’s ability to perform well on his own. There can be no doubt in your mind when your signature is placed on a certificate or on an application authorizing a student to fly solo. Where there is doubt, the instructor will have no peace. So we want to be conservative and make sure that we as instructors have thoroughly trained and evaluated our students every step of the way. There can be no surprises.
At a busy flight school, instructor pilots can earn a good living while building up 800-1000 hours of flight time per year. By becoming an instructor, you will learn to become more exact in all things related to flying. This will make you a more professional commercial pilot, and prepare you for the Airline Transport Pilot position with a major airline or corporate flight department.
Training pilots on the primary and advanced levels require an instructor to start from the beginning and help the student to experience slow and steady growth. Patience is a virtue that is most desirable for the instructor pilot on any level. Learning plateaus are a normal part of pilot training however, diligence and determination will pay off. Learn to enjoy pilot training with your student by celebrating the victories. For example, a student’s first landing without you as the instructor touching the control wheel, or a first supervised solo that was completed successfully, or when a student returns home from his first solo cross-country flight. These are successes to be celebrated prior to the flight test. When a flight test has been completed successfully, you and your student should celebrate the achievement that you worked on together. It was a team effort, and by both of you giving 100% effort the outcome was successful. This is something to be proud of.
The flight instructor certificates that are available for you to obtain at Fly Legacy Aviation are as follows:
Certified Flight Instructor CFI
The trainees will master the skills of the Private and Commercial Pilot ratings. Also, they will learn how to be an effective teacher and understand all FAA rules and regulations that accompany being an instructor. The trainee will learn in this training through the use of the simulator and aircraft.
Certified Flight Instructor Instruments CFII
The trainee perfects both teaching and instrument flying skills while sitting in the right seat of the cockpit, develops the knowledge and ability to teach others instrument flying procedures. Training utilizes instrument equipped aircraft and a AATD simulator. The training course consists of 10-20 hours of flying and 10-20 hours of ground time.
Certified Flight Instructor Multi-Engine CFMEI
The trainees will master the skills of the Private, Commercial, and Instrument Pilot skills flying multi-engine plane from the right seat. Also, trainee will learn how to be an effective teacher. The trainee will learn in this training through the use of the simulator and aircraft.
Certified Flight Instructor Airline Transport Pilot CFIATP
Certified Flight Instructor FAQs
How much does it cost?
The full Certified Flight Instructor course costs $5,455 and you can either pay prior or pay as the course continues. Request our free Fly Legacy Aviation flight school brochure for the exact breakdown of all costs and fees.
Do you offer flexible scheduling and payments?
Yes, Fly Legacy Aviation offers flexible scheduling and payments, encouraging students to partake at their own pace.
How long does it take?
You will be working with one instructor for the duration, and will have a personalized schedule based on your availability and desired pace. Some students complete this course in under a couple of weeks, others take longer. Again, it is all based on the students themselves. We offer highly experienced flight instructors who will thoroughly guide you through the program.
How long is one class?
Standard lessons are three hours long, which you can schedule on all days of the week, from 7am to 7pm.
How much does one class cost?
If you pay as you go, a three-hour lesson will be around $400. The exact amount will depend on how much flying versus ground school you would do in each lesson.
Do you offer financing?
We offer affordable flexible aviation loans with our financing partners at Meritize. For more information or to apply today go to apply.meritize.com.