For many people, learning to fly is a dream come true. But have you ever considered teaching flying? To be a flight instructor?

A flight instructor is someone who instructs others on how to fly planes. Specific powers allowed to holders of a flight instructor certificate differ by country, but in general, a flight instructor helps an aviator improve or evaluate his or her knowledge and skill level to obtain a higher pilot’s license, certificate, or rating.

Job duties

Flight instructors are in charge of teaching students how to fly in a range of situations, utilizing several roaches such as textbook education, simulators, and actual flight training. Ground-school classes are used by flight instructors to teach students the fundamentals of flying an airplane as well as to assist them to prepare for the written test they will face when applying for their pilot’s license.

They frequently use simulators or dual-controlled planes to introduce students to the experience of flying an aircraft after they have completed their textbook education. Finally, to finish their training, they accompany their students on live flights. Examiners, or check pilots, are some instructors that fly with applicants or pilots to ensure proficiency.

Flight instructors create curriculum to teach students in a classroom setting, lead training flights, assess student proficiency, track student progress, and experiment with innovative teaching approaches. They are in charge of teaching students about aircraft systems, operating procedures, handling crises, issue analysis, aircraft navigation, radio operation, and aerodynamics, among other topics.

Job requirements

Before seeking to become Certified Flight Instructors, most pilots must have either Commercial Pilot Certification, which takes 250 flying hours or Airline Transport Pilot Certification, which requires 1,500 flight hours. To become a flight teacher, you must be at least 18 years old, be able to communicate clearly in English, and have a pilot’s license for the type of aircraft that is appropriate for the flight instructor rating you desire.
Other requirements apply, such as completing knowledge and practical tests and demonstrating a certain number of total flight hours. A flight instructor must be certified in the aircraft type that will be utilized for student instruction. For specialty aircraft like helicopters, the flying instructor must have at least five pilot-in-command hours.

The Advantages of being a flight instructor

• The ability to work freely. International students who want to be flight instructors have two options: work for an educational institution or start their flight school. This is a very appealing alternative for flight instructors who want to be more self-sufficient and work for themselves. The company will thrive and become extremely profitable with luck and talent.
• Being a teacher has many perks. The thrill of giving knowledge to their students is the first response most flight instructors give when asked what they enjoy most about their jobs. Any teacher or instructor can attest to the thrill of watching a student “understand” something they’ve been taught. This is true for flying instructors as well. It’s tremendously fulfilling to know that you’re in charge of someone else’s education.

• Earn money by flying. The ability to earn a living as a pilot is the most significant and satisfying reason to work as a flight instructor. No one would pursue a pilot’s license if they didn’t enjoy flying, and the chance to make a profession doing something you enjoy is something that not many people are fortunate enough to have.

• You are at home every night and generally one weekend day. For many airline pilots, being at home rather than going away regularly is preferable. Are you willing to spend up to 12 nights a month away from your home, family, and friends? This works well for some people, but it may place a strain on their family life for others.

This beside some other advantages as:

• Instructors in aviation are in high demand.
• Getting to know people.
• Highly valued position.
• Acquire experience.
• Challenging

Types of flight instructor certificates

• CFI (Certified Flight Instructor): A single-engine aircraft flight instructor.
• A flight instructor who teaches instrument flying is known as a Certified Flight Instructor – Instrument (CFII).
• A multi-engine instructor (MEI) is a multi-engine aircraft flight instructor.

Aviation growth and the need for flight instructors

Over the years, the aviation sector has seen an increase in global pilot demand, which has resulted in a strong need for training aircraft and simulators in flight schools. Many airlines, on the other hand, are experiencing pilot shortages, which are hurting their everyday operations. Flights lasting more than 12 hours usually necessitate a crew of four pilots. However, due to a pilot shortage, numerous airlines are still flying such long-haul trips with three pilots. The lack of educated pilots to meet the ever-increasing demand is predicted to drive demand for pilot training around the world.

During the forecast period (2022-2027), the civil aviation flight training and simulation market is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 15%.

Sources :

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_instructor
• https://bestaccreditedcolleges.org/articles/flight-instructor-job-description-duties-and-requirements.html
• https://www.internationalstudent.com/study-aviation/ten-reasons-to-pursue-flight-instructor-career/
• https://www.goflyaviation.com.au/latest-news/five-reasons-for-becoming-a-flying-instructor/
• https://atpflightschool.com/become-a-pilot/airline-career/flight-instructor-certificate.html
• https://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/4756859/civil-aviation-flight-training-and-simulation
• https://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/4756859/civil-aviation-flight-training-and-simulation
• Main Image credit: www.aeroexpo.online