When Do You Know It’s Time To Change CFIs?

If you are not learning, if the CFI is not getting through to you, it is time to make a change.

Meg Godlewski

Tuesday, August 09, 2022 at 08:27 AM ET

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Here are a few smart tips to help you decide if you should change flight instructors. [File Photo: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

It is acceptable and often beneficial for a flight student to change instructors if learning is ineffective, or due to mismatched schedules, learning/teaching styles, or personality conflicts.
Key reasons to consider a change include an instructor prioritizing hour-building over the syllabus or finding you achieve better breakthroughs with another CFI.
While a change can be positive, having multiple instructors can sometimes lead to repeated training or confusion due to differing teaching approaches, though some flight schools successfully utilize this model.

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One of the most frequently asked questions at a flight school is, “Is it OK to change instructors?” The answer is yes. If you are not learning, if the CFI is not getting through to you, it is time to make a change.

Red Flags for Change

Your Schedules Don’t Match

You want to fly five days a week and your instructor is only available two days a week, or your CFI is only available in the mornings and it’s better for you to fly in the evenings. Or perhaps the CFI has various slots here and there, and you want a specific time and day every week, or at least consistency. A change of instructor will facilitate this.