How to Survive When Your CFI Moves On

Having just one CFI or primary instructor for the entirety of your training is becoming increasingly rare. Flight instructor turnover is now a yearly occurrence in most cases. In some areas, Part 135 opportunities are available with even lower entry minimums, which pulls CFIs from the instruction workforce even sooner.

Many flight training students, especially in the Part 61 environment, approach training with the expectation that their CFI will be around a while, just like their piano teacher, math tutor or baseball coach. The reality is the many CFIs aren’t around long enough to see their students through to their checkrides, especially if the student is stretching their training out over the course of many months or even years.

It’s easy to get attached to your flight instructor, and it can be frustrating, disappointing, and even sad when they leave. After all, you’ve spent many hours side by side, in close proximity, sharing challenges and triumphs in a stressful training environment.

Here are some ways that you can survive, and even thrive, if you find yourself transitioning to a new CFI:

MINDSET SHIFT

Stay positive! Don’t be a victim. Approach the situation and your new CFI with excitement and anticipation. Go into training with the expectation that at some point this will happen once, or even more, times. Understand that in some larger flight schools, you might fly with 3-4 different CFIs before your checkride. Understanding that this is a normal part of the industry is half the battle.

COMMUNICATE

Take the initiative, and as soon as possible, get the contact information for your new instructor. Let them know where you’re at in training and the syllabus. Offer a self-evaluation of your strengths, weaknesses, stage of training, learning style, and your background/hobbies. Offer to take your new CFI to lunch and share your goals and timeline. Listen to their story as well. You might discover some common ground or interests, which will make you more excited about working with them.

SYLLABUS USE

If possible, continue using the syllabus you’ve been working from. There will be some parts of training that you’ll have to repeat or demonstrate your skills/knowledge. Yes, this will cost you some time and money, but take it in stride and consider it an opportunity to practice for your checkride. If your new CFI insists on their preferred syllabus, ask for a copy of it.

CHAIR FLY

There may be a week or so of downtime during the transition. Use that time to chair fly your checklists, procedures, and emergencies. You can also use down time for extra study for your knowledge test or ground portion of the checkride.

LOGBOOK AUDIT

Switching instructors can be tricky when it comes to your logbook. Just because your former CFI gave you an endorsement or signed you off for a solo cross country, doesn’t mean it was done correctly. People make mistakes, and your new instructor should do a line-by-line logbook audit with you. Check your calculations, be sure your solo endorsements are correct and up to date, ground instruction logged, and that your aeronautical experience is valid.

Switching to a new instructor isn’t ideal, but if you stay positive and focused on your goals you can survive the transition.