What Is a CFI? How to Choose a Flight Instructor

The person in the right seat shapes your training more than the airplane or the school. Here's what the letters after an instructor's name mean, how to check them, and how to tell whether an instructor is right for you.

What does CFI mean?

CFI stands for Certified Flight Instructor, a pilot who holds an FAA flight instructor certificate. In the regulations they're called an "authorized instructor," and only an authorized instructor can give the training and logbook endorsements that count toward your certificate.

To earn a flight instructor certificate for airplanes, a pilot must (14 CFR 61.183):

• Be at least 18.
• Already hold a commercial pilot or airline transport pilot certificate, plus an instrument rating.
• Pass two knowledge tests: one on the fundamentals of instructing, and one on aeronautical knowledge for the rating.
• Get flight training and an endorsement in stall awareness, spin entry, spins and spin recovery, and show they can teach it.
• Pass a practical test with the FAA or an examiner, demonstrating they can teach the maneuvers as well as fly them.

To keep instructing, a CFI has to meet recent-experience requirements every 24 calendar months, for example by completing an instructor refresher course or endorsing students who pass their checkrides (61.197).

CFI, CFII, MEI: the ratings

The letters describe which ratings are on the instructor certificate:

• CFI: can teach in single-engine airplanes, including everything for a private pilot certificate.
• CFII: also holds an instrument instructor rating, so they can teach the instrument rating.
• MEI: can teach in multiengine airplanes.

A ground instructor is different. A basic or advanced ground instructor can teach the knowledge areas and endorse you for the private pilot written test, but can't give flight training (61.215).

How to check an instructor's certificate

Any pilot certificate can be looked up on the FAA's Airmen Inquiry site. Search by name and state. The listing shows the certificates and ratings the pilot holds, including the flight instructor certificate. It takes a minute, and no good instructor will mind that you checked.

What a good instructor does on every lesson

The certificate tells you someone met the FAA standard. How they teach is what you'll notice. Look for these:

• A briefing before you fly. You should know what you're working on today and what "good" looks like before the engine starts.
• A debrief after. What went well, what to fix, and what the next lesson is.
• Hands on early. On a discovery flight and on your first lessons, you should be flying the airplane, with the instructor talking you through it.
• Clear endorsements and records. Your instructor must sign your logbook for every flight or ground lesson they give you, and keep records of the solo and test endorsements they've given for 3 years (61.189).
• Straight answers about cost and progress. You should always know roughly where you are in the syllabus and what's left.

There's also a legal limit worth knowing. A flight instructor may not give more than 8 hours of flight training in any 24 consecutive hours (61.195(a)). Instructors get tired like anyone else.

Questions to ask before you commit

1. Will I fly with the same instructor most of the time? Changing instructors every week costs you time, because each new person re-checks what the last one taught.
2. When are you available? Match their schedule to yours: weekday evenings, weekends, mornings.
3. How long have you been instructing, and what are your plans? Many instructors are building hours toward an airline job, and that's normal. Ask how long they expect to stay, and what happens to your training if they leave.
4. How do you track my progress? A written syllabus, a portal, notes in the logbook: something you can see.
5. What do you expect from me between lessons? Reading, a video, a checklist to memorize. A good instructor gives you homework so lesson time goes to flying.

Can I switch instructors?

Yes. Under Part 61 your training belongs to you. Your logbook records every lesson and endorsement, and a new instructor can pick up from there after a flight to see where you are. If an instructor isn't working for you, say so. Switching is better than quitting.

Who teaches at Merlin

Merlin has two instructors at Northeast Philadelphia Airport. I'm Isaac Prestwich, the owner, and I'm a CFI and CFII. Dillon Strietzel is a CFI. You can read about us both on the instructors page. Every lesson is one-on-one in our Direct Fly Alto, N159G.

If you're comparing schools as well as instructors, use our 10 questions to ask a flight school.

---

The best way to judge an instructor is to fly with one. Book a discovery flight: you'll get a briefing, fly the airplane, and see how we teach. Rates and training paths are on the training options page.