CFI / CFII License

Picture: Landing at Catalina Airport

Certified Flight Instructor (CFI/CFII):

The CFI Certificate is one of the most respected among the aviation community. As a flight instructor, you are tasked with teaching all aspects of aviation in a safe, effective maner. Students as well as other pilots respect the CFI for the hard work dedication and knowledge required to teach flight.

Different from other Pilot Certificates, the Cerified Flight Instructor is an addition to an existing Commercial or ATP certificate, it grants the Pilot the priviledge of giving flight instruction for any other certicate or rating. the CFI must maintain currency on a two year basis by doing recurrent training.

A Certified Flight Instructor may give instruction for private pilot, commercial, ATP, and CFI certificates. In order to provide instruction for an Instrument rating a CFI must recieve training specifically for that priviledge, this is a Certified Flight Instructor of Instruments (CFII). Similarly in order for a Flight Instructor to give instruction for a Multi-Engine rating, the CFI must have recieved specifc training for the additional priviledge, Multi-Engine Certified Flight Instructor (MEI).

The knowledge and experience requied to be a CFI is very high, and the roll a CFI has in aviation is a demanding and important one. With proper training, a CFI certificate can be achieved and the process streamlined.

Requirements for a CFI:

-Must be at least 18 years of age

-Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English Language

-Must hold at least a Commercial Pilot Certificate or Airline Transport Pilot Certificate

-Must pass two knowledge tests and a practical test

How to get Started:

Once you recieve a commercial or ATP certificate, a pilot may be eligible to get a CFI certificate. Although no additional flight time is required, a pilot seeking a CFI must be able to teach ground lessons and Flight lessons in all aspects required by the student. A written knowledge test is required, and the practical test is taken with an FAA Examiner.