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6 Answers

What is an ideal age to become a flight instructor

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Flight Instructor

I am planning on starting flight training in my early forties. But I don't want to simply stop at getting a PPL. My goal is to become a CFI. Am I starting too late? Any suggestion on how I should go about planning my flight training?

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6 Answers



  1. Gavin on Nov 14, 2013

    It’s never to late to start. The road to become a CFI is a long and hard one, but very rewarding. My suggestion for you would be to fly as often as you can. It took me 2 1/2 years to go from zero time to a CFI. But that was in a college setting, only flying 3 times a week, and not flying for 3 months during the summer. I had a class mate that trained every single day, and became a CFI in just over a year. The harder you study the easier and quicker things will happen. I wish you the best of luck. Here’s my email if you have any other questions, ghahn09@gmail.com. I will be glad to answer any questions you have

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  2. Brian on Nov 15, 2013

    One of the better instructors I have known started training in his 40s and for the last 5 years has given more than 1,000 hours dual given. It’s not too late to start. All that matters is your determination to make it work.

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  3. flymatch on Nov 20, 2013

    Thanks Gavin and Brian for your helpful suggestions.

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  4. Best Answer


    FlyHighBird on Nov 20, 2013

    One more response. I became a flight instructor in late 2012, at the ripe old age of 57. I started flying at 50, and completed my instrument and commericial certificates by 55 (I worked full time and took a break between ratings.) When I was encouraged by fellow pilots and my instructor to become a CFI, it took two years to get there, but it was worth every minute.
    If you really want to teach, then go for it. It’s never too late, and its one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done. I’ve completed over 250 hrs of dual given in the past year (while still working full-time in my other profession.) I’ve loved every minute of it, and plan to continue as long as I physically am able.
    One plus to beginning as an “older” instructor, is the years of life experience we have, and a level of maturity that is sometimes not as developed in the younger instructors. I’ve found this to be a plus as I instruct other older student pilots (one in his 70s.)
    If you do indeed launch on this flight path, you may contact me at cobysena@gmail.com. I would be happy to be a listening ear, and provide help and encouragement.

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  5. Michael on Nov 20, 2013

    I think that age makes a better instructor. I have worked in this industry since I was 16 in many roles. One observation I made very early on was that there was a lack of “depth” in the instructing industry because too many people saw it as a stepping stone to the airlines. Very few people would give it a chance as a career. Those that did usually (although not always) were the more mature students. They tended to take a bigger interest in the student, in the topics taught and in the industry they worked in rather than watching the VDO go around.

    Michael

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  6. Michael on Nov 20, 2013

    Instructors that are more mature and quite often better instructors. I have been in this industry for many years, having worked in the airlines and instructing. One of the stand out things about aviation is that a lot of it is taught by the most junior/least experienced people in the industry. People who start a bit later seem to have a better understanding of life and take to instructing a bit better (in my opinion only). They seem to be able to focus a bit more on the student, the topics, the industry and not just watch the VDO turn over as they build time for the airlines.

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