30-Day CFI-I Academy
CFI-A & CFI-I
CFI-A & CFI-I PROGRAM DETAILS
30-DAY CFI-A/CFI-I ACADEMY
Get signed off in both CFI-A and CFI-I in just 30 days.
COURSE CONTENT
- 104 hours classroom instruction
- 10 hours individual ground instruction
- 6 hours dual simulator
- 14 hours dual Cessna 172 or Piper 100i
- Unlimited solo simulator access
PREREQUISITES (30-Day Programs)
If you are missing any prerequisite, call us and we can help you get what you need quickly. You can also consider one of our 1-on-1 custom programs.
- FAA single engine commercial pilot
Certificate with instrument rating
(or single engine ATP)
- Valid FAA medical certificate
- CFI-A, CFI-I and FOI Written
- Spin endorsement
1-ON-1 CUSTOM PROGRAMS
If you are looking to get your CFI-I or CFI-A and have specific scheduling needs or want a focused 1-on-1 experience for any type of training, American Flyers can customize a program just for you.
WHY GO FOR THE CFI-I?
Our CFIs hone skills on landings, maneuvers, and VFR cross-country flying, however, these areas reflect only a small portion of what is demanded of pilots in the airlines. While there is little direct relationship in flying lazy eights and flying a jet, there is a direct and immediate relationship between flying instruments, regardless of flying a 172 or a 747.
According to hiring managers, when airlines consider hiring a new First Officer, one of the first things they look at is “how” the pilot got those hours. A pilot whose hours were obtained by working in a position that had them continually testing and improving their instrument skills is likely to be put through to the next round of the process. The CFI-I only takes a couple of additional weeks to earn, and the ROI will last a lifetime.
AMERICAN FLYERS DIFFERENCE
Since 1939 American Flyers has trained pilots in a proven systematic way that has been refined and taught by retired naval aviators and seasoned airline pilots. This has allowed us to perfect our training process which has influenced industry standards for flight training. We not only train pilots, we train pilots in a way that empowers them to teach professionally and share their passion for flying with future pilots.
PROGRAM INFORMATION
American Flyers started training flight instructors in 1939. Since then we have trained more flight instructors than any other flight school in the world. Our extensive history of success speaks for itself and of how we train. Success is what we consistently strive for with each and every one of our students.
The teaching methodology, the curriculum, and the tools are all standardized in a cohesive way. Our students know what to expect each day and how each lesson builds upon the previous lesson. This allows a very practical learning environment that makes sense and is easy to reproduce when teaching others.
At American Flyers, our students know they are receiving the highest quality training and hours from a team that values flight education and bases their entire operation around it. The skill sets gained in the air and on the ground give our students the knowledge required to be exceptional future instructors.
We offer customized training options that are tailored to our students’ individual needs. This is one aspect of American Flyers that is unique in the industry. We give our students virtually unlimited choices in creating flight instructor training programs. From a 1-on-1 course to a 15-Day or 30-Day program, American Flyers can meet your specific scheduling needs.
When you work for American Flyers you are an employee with benefits and you get to gain quality flight experience at one of the world’s top flight schools. Our employees are part of the American Flyers team and never an independent contractor.
Every CFI graduate that completes the 15-Day or 30-Day CFI Academy receives access to our online FIRC course. This allows you to renew your certification every two years at no additional cost!
PASS YOUR CFI AND COME WORK
FOR AMERICAN FLYERS!
AMERICAN FLYERS IS HIRING NOW!
If you are an energetic and patient CFI interested in sharing your passion with others, then we would like to talk with you. American Flyers is looking for Full and Part-Time Flight Instructors, both recently certified and with previous teaching experience. BUILD YOUR EXPERIENCE WHILE GETTING PAID! LEARN MORE
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)
The 30-Day CFI Academy is a dual-certification program. According to American Flyers, the intensive curriculum is designed to help pilots earn both their Certified Flight Instructor – Airplane (CFI-A) initial certificate and their Certified Flight Instructor – Instrument (CFI-I) rating within a single 30-day training cycle.
The academy features a highly structured, full-immersion curriculum. The training package includes:
- 104 hours of formal classroom instruction.
- 10 hours of individual one-on-one ground instruction.
- 14 hours of dual flight instruction in a Cessna 172 or Piper 100i (practicing maneuvers and teaching from the right seat).
- 6 hours of dual simulator training, alongside unlimited solo simulator access to practice instrument procedures and lesson delivery.
Before starting the course, applicants must hold an FAA Commercial Pilot Certificate with a Single-Engine Land rating and an Instrument Rating (or a Single-Engine ATP). Additionally, pilots must possess a valid FAA Medical Certificate and have already completed three FAA knowledge tests: the CFI-A written, CFI-I written, and the Fundamentals of Instructing (FOI) written. A valid spin endorsement is also required.
Earning the Instrument Instructor (CFI-I) rating significantly enhances a pilot’s professional viability and hiring appeal. As noted by American Flyers, commercial airlines heavily favor candidates who have spent their instructing careers continually testing, sharpening, and improving their instrument and IFR skills. The CFI-I ensures that an instructor can teach complex instrument procedures, yielding an excellent long-term return on investment for their future airline career.
Yes. Every pilot who successfully completes the 15-Day or 30-Day CFI Academy receives complimentary, lifetime access to the American Flyers online FIRC (Flight Instructor Refresher Course). This allows graduates to satisfy their FAA regulatory certificate renewal requirements every two years for the rest of their careers at no additional tuition cost.
Yes. American Flyers actively recruits from its academy graduates, offering a Guaranteed CFI Interview. Instructors hired by American Flyers are brought on as formal employees with benefits (such as 401K contributions, paid vacations, and group medical insurance) rather than independent contractors. This employment pipeline allows new CFIs to build high-quality flight hours, gain professional experience, and receive direct visibility with American Flyers’ commercial airline partners.