Becoming a CFI, what do I need to know?
 

Sitting at 500 hours and can't find work, so I'm going to take the plunge to become a CFI.

What do I need to know in advance?
What books should I read before I start my CFI training?
What should I study?

get the appropiate PTS, there's a complete list with the handbooks and ACs required.

and the PTS is one of the things on the list :) (plus PPL/CPL PTS)

PHAK, Aviation Instructors Handbook, FAR/AIM, PTS for CFI Private and Commercial

Thank you for the information. I just ordered the Instructor's handbook.

Don't spend nickel.

https://www.faa.gov/regulations_poli...t_handbook.pdf

https://www.faa.gov/regulations_poli...g_handbook.pdf

https://www.faa.gov/regulations_poli...-H-8083-9A.pdf

https://www.faa.gov/regulations_poli.../00-80T-80.pdf



For what it's worth, the FAA does a great job with pubs. I would hit steep turns hard. They exercise a lot of aerodynamic theory in the oral and touch a lot of skills on the practical.

Good luck. Flight instructing is fun!

All the FAA publications including weather and W&B.
They may look a little dated but as far as the FAA is concerned they're gospel.
FARAIM has study guide in front.
Know the AIM backwards.
When I had initial CFI applicants training I would have them teach a steep turn at PPL ( pre solo) level and teach a steep turn at CPL applicant level. There is a lot of difference.

I used to have a lot of fun with "why" sessions. You play pretend you're in ground school with a CFI trainee and every explanation they give you gets countered with a "why" like you're a 4 year old.
It's gets you to think on your toes and what starts as an easy question turns into an 2hr guided discussion.

Very rewarding to do your CFI and teach.

Really? Besides 5 degrees of bank and doing the 2nd turn immediately thereafter, what's the difference?

This is something that is unfortunately perpetuated a lot in CFI checks and training, that the "knowledge level" for Commercial vs. Private is different, as in you go into more depth in systems or something. Nowhere does it tell you to do that. Now, as a CFI, you must understand the theory, aerodynamics, steps, errors, instructional knowledge, etc., but as far as teaching it, you are teaching them to meet the standards. If there are more areas specified in the PTS/ACS, then you have more areas to demonstrate knowledge on, but if not (which is the case much of the time), it's the same level. It's a false idea to think that a Commercial student won't kill you just as dead as a Private one, and that you won't see the same exact errors from both, just possibly that you might see them to different extents, but even assuming that is a bad idea IME.

Agreed.
However you can really overload a pre-solo students with (for them) advanced aerodynamics.
So it's more your teaching style that you need to adapt.
Also much more external references then inside. A CPL student will have their instrument rating so you can practice on a cardinal heading rather then an outside feature like a road or shoreline.
Pull up till the cowling meets the horizon vs pitch change 3 degrees.
With a presolo student I'd initially cover up pitch/bank info to keep their eyes outside.
You get the idea.

Everything.

Or know where to find it.

That, and ground effect is NOT a cushion of air beneath the wings, molecules of air do not race faster over the top of a wing in order to meet up with molecules that passed under the wing, see and avoid isnt accomplished with a radio, and carburetor ice is not a function of closing the throttle. Rudders matter.