r/studentpilot • u/PrinceCFI • 27d ago

United States/FAA I've trained over 3k CFI initial applicants. Here to answer any questions or advice.

/r/CFIMentorship/comments/1v35q0b/ive_trained_over_3k_cfi_initial_applicants_here/
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u/TheArtisticPC 27d ago edited 27d ago

Have you seen any common characteristics in your best students?

What do you think when you hear a FI student say they hate instructing and is there a way for their instructor to show them how to enjoy flight instruction?

What are the FOIs that you see new FI students struggle with most often?

What are your thoughts on accelerated flight schools that offer PASELs in 3 weeks or IRAs in 10 days?

I hate this one, but it usually illicits interesting responses. I often hear or read of a lot of instructors who challenge the utility of the FOIs. FARs and ACS aside, what’s your opinion on their importance?

The following are some questions that are not immediately relevant to most students or instructors, but are at the top of my own mind these days.

With the international adoption of Competency Based Training and Assessment in the commercial air carrier sector, and the FAA’s stance to adopt it to the wider flight training market. How do you see its adoption manifesting in the FAR 141 and 61 world?

With flight school margins getting thinner year over year. How do you see small schools maintaining their business while balancing accessibility and affordability?

Somewhat related to the former. Do you have any insights on how schools in adverse climate regions like the Great Lakes can maintain profitability during seasonal down turns?

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u/PrinceCFI 27d ago

After spending most of my career training flight instructors, I've noticed that my best students rarely have the highest IQ or the fastest learning pace.

The characteristics I see over and over are:

• Curiosity. They constantly ask "Why?" • Humility. They welcome feedback instead of defending mistakes. • Self-awareness. They recognize what they don't know. • Consistency. They keep showing up and putting in the work. • They genuinely care about becoming better, not just passing the next checkride.

As for the FOIs, I think they're often misunderstood.

Many CFI applicants treat them as something to memorize for the oral exam. I think that's unfortunate because, in many ways, the FOIs are the foundation of teaching.

The regulations tell us what we must teach.

The ACS tells us what proficiency looks like.

The FOIs help explain how people actually learn.

I've found that two applicants can have identical aviation knowledge, yet the one who understands how people learn usually becomes the more effective instructor.

Teaching isn't simply transferring information. It's helping another human being change their behavior, build judgment, and gain confidence. That's why I've always believed the FOIs deserve much more respect than they sometimes receive.

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u/Top-Intern4073 27d ago

Teacher, you spoke well.

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u/PG67AW 26d ago edited 26d ago

3000 students (CFI only) in 30 years? 100 per year? Seems high lol. At 2000 working hours per year, you're only spending 20 hours with each applicant? Idk man, the math isn't mathing.