Ok, so you are a new CFI. Ready to take on the world, teach all comers to defy gravity, and be a pilot like you. It’s pretty cool.
But along with this comes a level of professionalism that you should bring to job. It comes with any job, but in many cases, there is little that separates a CFI from a student other than a couple of checkrides, a little flight experience, and some study.
The reality for many CFIs is that they are of the same age, or just slightly ahead of many of their students in their career aspirations and, in some cases, living in the same places as their students. This is especially true in many academy-style training environments or collegiate training operations where students are rapidly turned into CFIs and end up working with their recently former fellow student compatriots. For many CFIs, this is their first actual job. It takes effort to get good at this or any job.
Completing your CFI certificate is a big accomplishment. A step along the path of being a professional aviator. And it isn’t just about being a professional pilot. It is something different, and it is about being a teacher, a mentor, and a guide for others. It comes with different responsibilities than just flying a plane from place to place.
But it is also just a first step. It is part of a learning process and of professional development that starts and never truly ends. It is an important phase of not only your own aviation career but also of others with whom you work.
The CFI ACS specifically addresses a testing task, “Elements of Effective Teaching in a Professional Environment,” which has sub knowledge, skill, and risk management items on the professionalism topic.
- FI.I.E.K3 – Flight instructor qualifications and professionalism;
- FI.I.E.R2 – Exhibiting professionalism; and
- FI.I.E.S1 – Deliver ground or flight instruction on an evaluator-assigned Task in a manner consistent with instructor responsibilities and professional characteristics as stated in K1 through K5.
While you may have been tested on this a little bit in your practical test for the CFI certificate, the real test is when you start actually instructing. The real world test of these items is where it becomes reality.
Let’s talk about a few pieces of advice that relate to these items that perhaps didn’t get a deep dive of coverage in your training or testing to become a CFI. Let’s talk it a little deeper and make it a little more personal.
Embrace Continuous Learning
As a CFI, your role extends beyond just imparting knowledge to your students. It is crucial to remain a lifelong learner yourself. Stay up-to-date with changes in aviation regulations, technological advancements, and emerging best practices. Keep learning by attending seminars and workshops, many of which are available online for free. This will enhance your skills and knowledge. Seek out educational content, even if it’s just 10-15 minutes of videos on YouTube a couple of times a week. Engage with experienced CFIs, network within the aviation community, and seek mentorship opportunities to further develop your teaching techniques. Continuous learning will improve your instructional abilities and ensure that you provide your students with accurate and relevant information.
Cultivate Effective Communication
Strong communication skills are paramount for CFIs. Be clear, concise, and organized in your instructions. Adapt your teaching style to accommodate each student’s learning preferences and abilities. Encourage open dialogue, actively listen to your students, and provide constructive feedback. Effective communication creates a positive and conducive learning environment, allowing students to ask questions, seek clarification, and voice their concerns. Additionally, develop a professional rapport with your students by fostering trust, respect, and empathy. Building a strong student-instructor relationship enhances the learning experience and encourages student engagement and motivation.
Doing all of this means more than just going flying. Be a communicator. That is teaching.
Prioritize Safety
Safety is the foundation of aviation, and as a CFI, it is your responsibility to instill a safety-oriented mindset in your students. What you start them with will take them through their entire pilot pathway. Emphasize the importance of adhering to standard operating procedures and pre-flight planning, and don’t compromise on aircraft safety. Encourage risk management and decision-making skills, teaching students to recognize and mitigate potential hazards. Lead by example and demonstrate a commitment to safety in all aspects of your instruction.
Tailor Instruction to Individual Needs
Every student is unique, with varying strengths, weaknesses, and learning styles. Tailor your instruction to cater to individual needs, adapting your teaching methods and techniques accordingly. Identify students’ strengths and build upon them while addressing areas requiring improvement. Set realistic and achievable goals, providing them with the necessary guidance and resources to succeed. Remember that learning to fly can be challenging sometimes, and your role as a CFI is to provide guidance, motivation, and mentorship throughout the process.
Develop Organizational and Time Management Skills
Being a CFI entails managing multiple responsibilities, including scheduling lessons, preparing lesson plans, evaluating student progress, and maintaining accurate records. Develop strong organizational and time management skills to ensure smooth and efficient operations. Use calendars, checklists, and digital resources to stay organized and effectively manage your workload. Prioritize tasks, allocate sufficient time for lesson preparation, and maintain accurate and up-to-date student records. Too few CFIs really excel at this, and their students’ training records demonstrate this fact. Too often, students are left at checkride day needing more information to be documented so their test can proceed. Get in the habit of delivering good record keeping as the training is given to best serve your students.
Don’t Get Overly Personal with Your Students
Frequently, CFIs are of very close age to their students. Many times a CFI finds themselves completing their certification and instructing people of their own peer group, potentially even friends.
But the CFI needs to honestly think about how they behave around their students and what their reputation is as a professional.
I am not saying you need to no longer be friends with people you were before, but you need to be an example of professional aviation. Some things need separation.
While there will always be exceptions, generally, the following represents some really good advice tips:
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- Don’t date your students.
- Don’t drink with your students.
- Don’t drink with your fellow employees.
Working as a CFI is a job. Not a party. This isn’t a high school clique.
If you do any of these, you run the risk of extra drama invading your work. If you go out partying, and people will know it, make sure there is ZERO question that you have left sufficient time between that activity and when you will fly again. You can’t afford to be the CFI that people saw at a party or the bar at 2 am, and now they are flying that 8 am flight. They may wonder about your professional decision-making choices.
When I owned a business years ago, an old friend gave me sage advice. He said, “Don’t drink in the town where you have a business.” The rumor mill will spread and undermine you.
Sure, there are exceptions to all of these rules. You can find examples of life-long couples who met in a student/CFI relationship. There are certainly people who I have provided training to whom I now count as one of my ‘drinking buddies’ and, in some cases, first met because they sought me out for some instruction. But all of those things are exceptions, and I ensure that if those activities occur, they are well separated from any flying activities. With those exceptions, I can tell you I have seen hundreds of examples that went bad compared to the few that ended up good. If you are going to ignore these three tips, do it very carefully and understand the risks.
Being a CFI isn’t just about your knowledge and skills as a pilot. It is also about your professional conduct. If you take this part of the job as seriously as the rest, you will be seen as a professional. Isn’t that something a good CFI would want to be?
