In the final installment of our series explaining the ratings required to become a professional pilot, we will focus on the certified flight instructor ratings. The initial Certified Flight Instructor Certificate is included in our Professional Pilot Program. The Certified Flight Instructor Instrument Rating and the Multi-Engine Instructor Rating are optional but are strongly recommended to ensure our pilots have the knowledge and experience to build the hours they need to achieve their goals. Let’s walk you through each of these flight instructor ratings and the benefits they provide.
Certified Flight Instructor (CFI)
The CFI Certificate is required in order to be able to instruct other pilots. While you can apply for low time flying jobs after obtaining your Commercial Pilot Certificate, many employers look for pilots who have higher total time and experience. Being a flight instructor is one of the best and quickest ways to build your flight time and enhance your knowledge.
HAA’s course helps educate you about how to instruct, evaluate, and motivate new students. You will also learn how to provide quality flight and ground training. The course gives you the tools and skills necessary to become an effective teacher ready to educate the next generation of pilots. Once you’re comfortable with sight picture and flying in the right seat, you’ll implement everything that you have learned in your training to date. You’ll build terminology and verbiage to properly instruct while maintaining the safety of the aircraft.
The FAA minimum hour requirement for a Part 141 CFI Rating is 40 hours of ground training and 25 hours of flight training.
Certified Flight Instructor Instrument (CFII)
The CFII course builds on your initial instructor rating and your previous experience in the instrument course teaching you how to instruct student pilots during their instrument training. This training course is focused on allowing you to practice your instructing skills while flying in instrument conditions with limited visibility. It will prepare you to work as a flight instructor in more challenging weather conditions helping students earn their Instrument ratings.
As an add-on rating to either a Single-Engine or Multi-Engine Instructor Rating under Part 141, this course requires 15 hours of flight training and 15 hours of ground training.
Multi-Engine Instructor (MEI)
The MEI course continues to build your instructor knowledge and enables you to instruct private and commercial pilots in the multi-engine aircraft. You will learn how to teach advanced aircraft systems and aerodynamics and will build upon the experience you gained during your multi-engine training. This course focuses on specific issues related to multi-engine flying, including practicing single-engine approaches and landings, aerodynamics, and emergency procedures. Instructors will learn how to efficiently use the simulator to deliver the training in a safe and proficient manner.
When doing this rating as an add-on, the requirement is to have 15 hours of PIC time.
If you have any questions about the instructor ratings or any of our pilot classes, please contact our admissions team at 1.503.726.3000 or info@flyhaa.com. Our admissions counselors are pilots themselves so they have the knowledge and experience to help put you on the path toward your dream of becoming a pilot.