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How to Find the Right Flight Instructor

When you acquire pilot certificates and ratings rapidly, you may be ready for the next check ride while flying on a temporary certificate. But is that legal? [Credit: iStock]
When you acquire pilot certificates and ratings rapidly, you may be ready for the next check ride while flying on a temporary certificate. But is that legal? [Credit: iStock]
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Interview several flight instructor candidates to find the right match, evaluating their personality, teaching philosophy, and professional background.
  • Prioritize instructors who demonstrate professionalism through structured training, utilizing a syllabus, and providing thorough pre- and post-flight briefings.
  • Ensure the instructor's availability aligns with your schedule, and expect to pay for all instruction time (ground and flight) as it reflects their professionalism and the value of their expertise.
  • Be open to instructors from diverse backgrounds, as their quality of training is more important than matching your demographic.
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Learning to fly most any aircraft requires you to work one-on-one with a professional pilot called a certificated flight instructor—which refers to the FAA credentials that this person must hold. You may have worked closely with an instructor when you learned to drive, scuba dive, ride a horse or any number of similar activities, so you know that choosing the right person to guide the way is critical to your success.

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