How much does the FI cost?

The Flight Instructor Rating typically costs €5,000–€10,000 for flight training, excluding theory exam fees. Costs vary significantly by country and training organisation.

How long does the FI take?

The Flight Instructor Rating typically takes 4–8 weeks to complete, depending on your existing experience and how intensively you train.

What licence do I need for the FI?

You need a CPL(A) or PPL(A) (authority-dependent) to begin Flight Instructor Rating training.

All add-on ratings

Flight Instructor Rating

The Flight Instructor (FI) rating authorises pilots to provide flight instruction to PPL and CPL student pilots. It is both a rewarding career path in its own right and the most common way for newly qualified commercial pilots to build hours towards an ATPL. FI training includes an intensive instructional technique course, teaching you how to explain, demonstrate, and debrief flying exercises to students at different stages of training.

Duration

4–8 weeks

Typical cost

€5,000–€10,000

Requires

CPL(A) or PPL(A) (authority-dependent)

Exam topics

7 key areas

Prerequisites

CPL(A) or PPL(A) with specific hour requirements
200 hours total flight time (EASA)
Night Rating
MEP Rating (for multi-engine instruction)
Valid Class 1 Medical (for commercial instruction)

What you'll learn

Instructional technique — explanation, demonstration, student practice

Airmanship and airspace — taught from the instructors perspective

Exercise sequencing and lesson planning

Common student errors and how to correct them

Emergency exercise teaching (incipient spin, PFL)

Briefing and debriefing techniques

Theory exam topics

These are the areas covered in the written theory exam for the FI.

Instructional technique and teaching theory
Airspace structure and relevant regulations
Exercise sequences (PPL syllabus) — all exercises from first principles
Common student errors per exercise
Emergency exercises and their teaching requirements
Human performance and limitations for student pilots
Meteorology and flight planning at the instructional level

Authority differences

EASA FI(A) Certificate requires 30 hours FI training plus a Skill Test. FAA Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) requires a knowledge test and practical test (checkride). UK CAA follows EASA standards. Most authorities have an equivalent instructor rating.