How Do I Deal With the ‘Ghost of CFI Past’?

Advice offered for new flight instructors taking over students accustomed to less structured training.

Meg Godlewski

Wednesday, October 21, 2026 at 11:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

The right CFI for you will take into account your capabilities and goals. [Credit: FLYING Archive]

Key Takeaways:

Acknowledge that students often become attached to previous instructors; maintain patience and focus on teaching rather than competing with past methods.
Justify the use of checklists by referencing Airman Certification Standards (ACS) requirements and explaining their value for procedural memory and safety.
Explain that a syllabus streamlines education, ensures comprehensive coverage of required material, and prevents deficiencies that could hinder checkride readiness.
Consistent application of sound teaching methods and positive results will eventually shift students' focus from past instructors to completing their certificates.

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Question: I am a Part 141 trained flight instructor, and I just landed my first job at a Part 61 flight school. I have three learners. All of them had other instructors who left for the airlines. I’ve been on the job for three weeks, and I keep getting pushback from the learners who keep telling me I’m too strict because I want them to use a syllabus and have more emphasis on the checklist. It’s just not how the previous CFIs did things. I don’t want to bad-mouth another CFI, but I’m getting tired of being the bad guy when I am trying to instill good habits. How do I fix this?

Answer: Ah, yes, the “ghost of CFI past.” Most instructors have encountered this. It’s like going on a date with someone who is on the rebound. You will hear about your predecessor. Comparisons will be made.