Flight Instructors
An opportunity to teach, learn and gain valuable experience.
It is true that many successful professional pilots enter the airlines without obtaining a flight instructor certificate. Many pilots, however, get to the airlines by teaching other pilots how to fly. Imagine watching your student fly solo for the first time, knowing that you were an integral part of that successful flight. Now think of all the dedication, planning, training and teaching it takes to make something like this happen. This is the beginning of a flight instructor’s life.
WHY SHOULD I GET THIS CERTIFICATE?
The flight instructor certificate is probably the most difficult certificate to achieve. Your ability to plan, present, gather feedback, monitor systems while ensuring that your students are progressing and meeting the standards as a pilot, will expand your capabilities as an aviator. Flight instructors must have a strong knowledge of the subjects they teach. They must be able to successfully use all of their teaching tools to guide students through the numerous certificates and ratings available. Becoming an instructor requires a lot of hard work and preparation, but the rewards and satisfactions are unmatched. Â
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Most ADF students who successfully complete the commercial pilot program from start to finish, will have met and exceeded the required standards of knowledge and skill. This will facilitate their transition to a Certificated Flight Instructor.
We recommend that all Commercial Pilots obtain this certificate. Not only is it beneficial for the newly graduated pilot to get their first job, but it is also a certification that can make a difference in their career and other pilots’ careers. Most major airlines have departments for in-house training or recurrent training, as well as for transitioning pilots to new equipment.Â
This instructor position is one of the most sought-after jobs in the airline industry. Having an instructor certificate can give you the advantage that you need to get the job.Â
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Note: To give any type of instruction in an aircraft, you must have an instructor license.
THE TRAINING PROGRAM
Our Flight Instructor Applicant (CFI)Â program has the following elements:
- The preparation of lesson plans and teaching students with varying backgrounds and skills.
- Evaluation of individual student flight programs.
- Effective pre/post flight instruction.
- Analysis and correction of student pilot errors.
- Flight instructor responsibilities and certification procedures.
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Area 1: Ground Instruction
All major areas of aeronautical knowledge are addressed during 30 hours of ground instruction. Flight Instructor applicants have daily teaching and practice sessions. Each lesson begins with a complete weather overview.
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Area 2: Flight Training
In the aircraft, the CFI must learn to meet a whole new set of challenges. The first challenge is being able to fly the aircraft from the instructor’s seat. This is not as easy as it sounds; all those who have learned to fly with right-side steering can attest to how different it feels initially.
At a more complex level, the pilot has to fly the plane and simultaneously teach the maneuvers. This means being mindful of student errors while calmly explaining the mistake and the appropriate correction. The future pilot is about to move from the position of being a student in the capable hands of an instructor, to being the pilot with the full responsibility for the safety of the flight.Â
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The instructor must help the student learn the best teaching methods for each situation, how to get the message across in a timely manner, and support them in gaining the confidence to take responsibility for the student pilot and his progress. However, you should take into consideration that the training process can be challenging at times. The ADF Flight Instructor Program is designed to make the transition to the instructor position a rewarding and successful one.
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All training is geared towards meeting or exceeding the FAA’s Practical Test Standards (PTS).
What's the next step?
The next step is to obtain the Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) Certificate. This license is obtained after accumulating the required hours of experience flying as an instructor or in other piloting positions.
What's the next step?
The last step is to become an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP). Pilots who want to fly for a major airline will need to have this certificate. ADF Flight School can help you obtain the skills and training you need to achieve the highest level of ability and precision.
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