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becoming a cfi/cfii

Asked by: 3057 views FAA Regulations, General Aviation

What would it take for a very recently retired airline pilot to become a chi/cfii?

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2 Answers



  1. flyingv on Dec 08, 2015

    Basically it’s just a lot of studying and putting together lesson plans. The oral portion of the check-ride is pretty thorough (mine was 6 hours long). It is good to be ready for anything. Other than that, it’s just a matter of doing commercial and private maneuvers from the right seat while simultaneously talking through them and being able to explain them well.

    Was there anything specific that you were wondering about?

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  2. Dr.Buhalov on Dec 13, 2015

    Yeah I would agree on that, if you want to be really prepared, make all the lesson plans for each item in the PTS for CFI, if you need an example of a lesson plan, get the Aviation Instructors Handbook (free from the FAA in as a PDF document). Heres a few tips that I found useful:

    1. Majority of the PTS calls for the items in the following texts: PHAK, FAR/AIM, AIH, AFH and the obvious charts and AFD’s that you use, as well as the manual for the A/C you are flying. All other texts are supplement to those listed above, so start reading the above items first

    2. When studying, dig deep into the text, study everything, it will take time and lots of effort, ask questions, have someone ask you difficult questions. But when it comes to your oral, make it as simple as possible. For example I could tell you everything about how an airfoil works (from a Pilots perspective) the CL, CP and all the lift formulas that go along with it….but on my oral, the examiner asked me “why don’t you show me how this thing flies”. I took a piece of paper, drew a very simple airfoil and said “High pressure on the bottom, Low pressure on the top as the air travels across the airfoil, the airfoil will lift”. its a very simple 2nd grader explanation and the examiner was happy.

    3. Referencing point number 2, keep things very very simple, find ways to explain aviation to a second grader and you’ll be fine. The examiner knows you know everything, he is looking on how can you teach the material in simple ways and if he wants to know more, he will ask. Don’t dig yourself holes by answering more than you were asked for.

    Hopes this helps, good luck. (oh and score 100 on your written, if you dont, you’ll need to go over the missed PLT codes, but hey, at least you know what to study)

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