Certified flight instructor instrument requirements

ADVANCE FLYING ACADEMY

To become a Certified Flight Instructor – Instrument (CFII), you must meet specific FAA requirements, including certain flight hours, training, and exams. Here’s a breakdown of the requirements for obtaining the CFII rating:

Prerequisites to Become a CFII:

Hold a Current CFI Certificate:
- You must already hold a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) certificate. The CFII rating is an additional qualification on top of the CFI.
Hold an Instrument Rating:
- You must have an Instrument Rating (IR). This is because the CFII allows you to teach students to fly using instrument-only procedures (i.e., under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR)), so you must have that same qualification yourself.
Meet Flight Hour Requirements: To be eligible for a CFII, you need to meet certain flight time requirements set by the FAA:
- Total Flight Time: A minimum of 250 hours of total flight time as a pilot.
- Instrument Flight Time: You must have a minimum of 40 hours of actual or simulated instrument flight time, including at least:
  - 15 hours of instrument training with an instructor.
  - 3 hours of instrument flight training within the 2 months prior to applying for the CFII rating.
- Cross-Country Flight Time: At least 50 hours of cross-country flight time as pilot-in-command (PIC). You should have accumulated this as part of your instrument flight training or other earlier ratings.
- Solo Flight Time: There is no specific solo time requirement for the CFII, but you must have soloed as part of your prior certifications.
Pass the FAA CFII Knowledge Test:
- You must pass the FAA Knowledge Test (written exam) specific to the CFII. The test covers:
  - Instrument flight rules (IFR) and regulations.
  - Flight planning for IFR operations.
  - Aerodynamics, navigation, and weather interpretation.
  - Aircraft systems relevant to IFR operations.
  - Flight maneuvers specific to IFR conditions.
The CFII Knowledge Test is based on the Instrument Rating written test, but with an added emphasis on teaching and instructing instrument flight procedures.
CFII Practical Test (Check Ride):
- After meeting the flight hour and knowledge test requirements, you must successfully complete a CFII practical test (also known as a check ride) with an FAA examiner.
- During this test, you will demonstrate:
  - Your ability to teach instrument flight procedures.
  - Your ability to perform various IFR maneuvers.
  - How to conduct and explain instrument approaches, missed approaches, and other IFR flight tasks.

CFII Training:

CFII training typically includes:

Ground school (classroom instruction or online courses) covering theoretical aspects such as IFR flight rules, weather interpretation, and navigation.
Flight training with an instructor to develop the practical skills required for instrument flight, including both simulated and actual instrument flying in various conditions.

The flight training typically includes:

Performing instrument approaches (ILS, VOR, GPS, etc.).
Flying holding patterns and missed approach procedures.
Practicing IFR procedures in different types of weather conditions.
Teaching and demonstrating various instrument maneuvers like precision and non-precision approaches.

Other Requirements:

Medical Certificate: You must hold a valid FAA medical certificate appropriate for your pilot privileges (typically a Class 2 medical is required for a CFII).
English Proficiency: You must be able to read, speak, write, and understand English to meet FAA standards.

Summary of CFII Requirements:

Hold a current CFI certificate.
Hold an Instrument Rating (IR).
Minimum 250 total flight hours.
Minimum 40 hours of instrument flight time (including 15 hours of flight training with an instructor).
Pass the FAA CFII knowledge test.
Complete a practical test (check ride) with an FAA examiner.
3 hours of instrument flight training within the last 2 months.
50 hours of cross-country flight time as PIC.

Cost and Time to Obtain the CFII:

The time and cost to get the CFII rating will depend on your existing flight hours, your ability to meet the requirements quickly, and the cost of flight school instruction. On average, it may take 10–20 hours of flight time with an instructor and several weeks of ground school to complete. The cost is typically $2,000 to $5,000 depending on your location and the type of aircraft used for training.

By meeting these requirements and successfully completing the training and exams, you'll be able to earn your Certified Flight Instructor – Instrument (CFII) rating, allowing you to teach IFR procedures and expand your role as a flight instructor.

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