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3 Answers

independent CFI requirements

Asked by: 5864 views , ,
FAA Regulations, Flight Instructor

Howdy all!  I am on track to get my CFI soon.  My goal is to be a part time independant CFI. I do own my own c150 which I would use/rent out. My question is, what authorizations if any would I need to get from the airport management to work independently out of the airport? Ground instruction would likely be done offsite. The airport already has an FBO with instruction. I wouldn't want to compete, but rather fill a niche...specifically work in the evenings and weekends when the instructors. Dan 

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3 Answers



  1. KDS on Aug 13, 2018

    That is really a question more of human interaction than aviation. What I would recommend is going to that school after you get your certificate and apply as a part-time flight instructor. Be a “value added” to them. Also, find and talk with the airport manager and ask what his rules are. Don’t assume anything. People can be really funny about you getting onto “their turf” and they can be downright hostile if that in any way relates to money, which this does.

    If you don’t get enough flying with the local school to satisfy yourself and want to go ahead with instructing in your own airplane, there are several cautions.There would need to be insurance for the operation and that’s not cheap. You would also need to have 100 hour inspections done on the airplane.

    I had a friend who based his airplane at a private field and paid a fee for keeping the airplane there. The airport owner also made money selling fuel. My friend was a shade tree mechanic. He had an autogas STC on his airplane and used to haul in his own tank of fuel in the back of his truck. The airport owner took a very dim view of that. Then, one day my friend went out to his airplane and found it had been sabotaged. It wasn’t the kind of thing a vandal would do. It was not easy to detect and it was done by someone who knew a lot about aircraft. Had he not discovered it in advance, it had all the potential of resulting in a serious or even fatal accident. None of that is to say such things are normal, but rather that people can attack you in ways you’re not capable of protecting yourself. That can include making complaints to the FAA about something you did or something you didn’t do but they can accuse you of doing. Use caution and think through all of your decisions very carefully before proceeding.

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  2. Mark Kolber on Aug 15, 2018

    >>My question is, what authorizations if any would I need to get from the airport management to work independently out of the airport?

    You need to look at the rules and regulations and “minimum standards” at the specific airport. You may have to ask the airport too. Many have permitting requirements which specifically mention instruction or encompass it in a general “commercial activity” definition. At the same time, even those with an arguably applicable written policy do not apply it, practically speaking, to independent CFIs who do not have an regular and continuous business presence at the airport.

    For example, most of what I do is independent instruction- recurrent training with aircraft owners. I have no airport office. I go to multiple airports in the area to meet my clients. I have never sought nor been questioned about having a permit.

    But on the subject of permits, remember that an aviation business is also a business and may be subject to state regulation. Some states business licensing, recording of business names, and other things, so you will also want to check your state’s business regulations.

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  3. Bryan Kutcher on Aug 23, 2018

    Mainly check out the airport minimum insurance requirements and minimum standards. There may also be a section for commercial or flight instruction operators. There’s nothing wrong with a little bit of competition (or feeling like you are competing) – if you’re a great instructor, folks will see the value and work with you on the weekends / after work.

    There’s no better time to do some part-time instruction! So much activity today.

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