Become a Flight Trainer

Professional pilots can choose to become instructors after years of experience. In the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) monitors and certifies all pilots and instructors. You will be required to prove your flight hours, take a written test and take a practical test. Ground flight instructors deliver lectures and assign textbook reading to teach the theory of piloting aircraft. Later, they use flight simulators and accompanied flights to deliver further experience. Find out how to become a flight trainer.

Steps

1. Obtain pilot certification. Flight instructors must first be certified pilots before training others. You can enroll in an FAA certified flight school as soon as you are 16.
   • You will be required to have at least 250 flight hours before you can get your Commercial Pilot Certification. These hours are with a licensed flight instructor. Some other types of flying, such as helicopter, require a lower number of flight hours.
2. Undergo a medical examination. All pilots are required to pass a medical examination before being licensed.
3. Apply for pilot ratings. Throughout the career, most pilots apply to receive advanced pilot ratings in order to move up the ranks with their chosen aircraft.
4. Complete 5 years of experience as a professional pilot. Although this is not strictly necessary for all types of flight, commercial pilots must have 1,500 hours of commercial flight experience in order to apply to become a flight instructor. It is always a good policy to spend 5 to 10 years working in an industry before becoming a full-time flight instructor.
5. Choose the type of aircraft on which you would like to instruct. Many of the tests are plane specific, such as sport, helicopter, glider, airplane or gyroplane. To become an airplane flight instructor you will need to show flight hours for single and multiple engine aircraft.
6. Consider enrolling in a flight instructor training course. These courses often last approximately 2 months and train you in over 150 hours of ground and flight instruction. These courses will allow you to shadow other instructors and you may be given job placement upon completion.
7. Call the FAA to schedule a ground instructor or flight instructor examination. Call 800-947-4228 to schedule an examination with the Computer Assisted Testing Service (CATS).
   • You will be required to take a written test of between 25 and 100 questions.
   • If you fail a flight instructor test, you may be required to submit a report of your test failure and proof of additional instruction.
8. Apply for jobs as a flight instructor. Most instructors begin by teaching ground instruction and then moving on to flight instruction. In some cases, you may be required to write your own instruction course and materials.

Things You'll Need

• FAA pilot certification
• Medical exam
• Work experience
• Additional flight ratings
• Flight instructor training course (optional)
• FAA ground instructor test
• FAA flight instructor test
• Instruction course/materials

Related Articles

• Become Qualified to Fly a Plane
• Become a Certificated Flight Instructor
• Become a Southwest Airlines Flight Attendant
• Pass Flight Attendant Training

References

• http://education-portal.com/articles/Flight_Instructor_Job_Description_Duties_and_Requirements.html
• http://gregbrownflyingcarpet.com/opportunity-knocking-become-a-flight-instructor/
• http://www.aviator.edu/home/flight-training-programs/faa-flight-instructor-training-package.aspx
• http://www.catstest.com/html/applicants/faa/flight_instructor.html

See also

• Fly a Cessna 182
• Start Up a Boeing 737 800/900
• Do Pre Solo and Solo Flights in Aviation School
• Use Aircraft Rudders Correctly
• Maintain a Straight and Level Flight when Flying a Plane
• Plan and Perform a VFR Flight
• Choose a Flight Instructor
• Become a Flight Attendant on Air Force One
• Achieve PPL in Iceland
• Refuel an F 16 at 500 Mph

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