Ultimate Issue: First Few Hours of Being a CFI Are the Hardest

Here are 12 suggestions to help make your journey as flight instructor a smooth one for both you and your learners.

Meg Godlewski

Friday, July 12, 2024 at 08:57 AM ET

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It’s important to know how to do a go-around. [Credit: iStock]

Key Takeaways:

New CFIs should establish a structured learning environment from day one by using a syllabus, introducing FAA certification standards (ACS), and emphasizing checklists and pre-flight planning (weather/performance).
Adopt a learner-centric teaching methodology by managing your schedule for their benefit, minimizing your time on the controls, providing precise feedback, and allowing students to make safe mistakes as part of the learning process.
Professionalism is key: Plan for alternative ground lessons during poor weather or mechanical delays, and consistently make time to maintain your own flight proficiency and currency as an instructor.

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Congratulations! You earned your flight instructor rating, and now it’s your turn to teach someone else how to fly. But just because you now carry the title of CFI doesn’t mean you know all there is about teaching flying.

I am coming up on 21 years as a CFI, and there are stumbling blocks I’ve seen freshly minted CFIs trip over. Here are 12 suggestions to help make your journey as an educator a smooth one for both you and your learners: