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Flight Instructor Course

This is your chance to excel and teach young aspiring pilots how to fly. Turn your passion for flying into a career!

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Flight instructor course

Flight Instructor (FI)

Lisbon or Viseu

The FI – Flight Instructor course is more than just a career step, it is an opportunity to actively contribute to the training of the next generation of aviation professionals while strengthening your own skills and enhancing your value within the industry.

At our academy, the FI(A) course has been designed to ensure technical excellence, instructional rigour, and practical application in a real training environment. Throughout the programme, you will deepen your aeronautical knowledge and develop the skills required to teach, guide, and assess future pilots with confidence and professionalism.

Upon completing the FI(A) course with us, you will obtain an internationally recognised qualification, as well as strong instructional skills that open the door to a wide range of opportunities in aviation – from flight instruction to the development of other advanced roles within the industry.

This course is intended for pilots holding a valid PPL(A) or ATPL(A) licence who wish to pursue a career as flight instructors. Upon successful completion of the course, they will be qualified to train ab initio students and may apply to any EASA ATO (Approved Training Organisation in Europe).

The Flight Instructor programme is divided into:
Theoretical instruction with a total of 125 hours.
Flight instruction with a total of 30 hours.
Tests and examinations.

Theoretical Instruction:
– Teaching and learning
– Regulations
– Flight operations
– Meteorology
– Engines
– Human performance and limitations
– Extended briefings
– Flight instruction

Practical Instruction:
– Flight instruction: 30h

– Minimum age of 18 years
– Valid Aviation English proficiency
– Valid medical certificate

With a valid CPL(A) licence:
– Have completed a minimum of 30 hours on single-engine aircraft, of which 5 hours must have been flown within the 6 months preceding the pre-entry flight assessment,

– During navigation training, have completed at least 300 NM, including two full-stop landings at two different aerodromes,
Have completed 20 hours of VFR navigation as Pilot in Command (PIC),

– Have a minimum of 10 hours of instrument flight instruction in the relevant category, of which a maximum of 5 hours may be completed in an FSTD.

With a valid PPL(A) licence:
– Meet the requirements for CPL theoretical knowledge,

– Have completed at least 200 hours of flight time on aeroplanes, of which 150 hours must be as PIC.

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curso instrutor de voo
FERFR

Theory

125H

FERFR

Flight

30H

FERFR

Duration

3 to 6 months

FERFR

Price

From 11.500€

Why take the FI(A) course?

Upon completing the FI(A) - Flight Instructor course with us, you will obtain an internationally recognised qualification, as well as strong instructional skills that open the door to a wide range of opportunities in aviation - from flight instruction to the development of other advanced roles within the industry.

Accumulate flight hours

Build flight hours without paying for them? Yes, it’s possible!
Instead of spending money to accumulate flight hours, get paid to fly and build hours legally and efficiently as a Flight Instructor (FI).

Improve your flying skills

By instructing others, you reinforce your own knowledge, refine your precision, and build confidence in every phase of flight.

Increase employability

Airlines value flight instructors.
Experience as an FI demonstrates professionalism, maturity, and leadership - qualities that airlines highly value in First Officers and future Captains.

Leadership and responsibility

As a Flight Instructor, you do more than fly, you help shape the next generation of pilots while developing leadership and decision-making skills that will benefit your entire aviation career.

Flexibility and career opportunities

Whether you are looking to build flight hours before joining an airline, work as a freelance instructor, or pursue a long-term career in flight training, there are multiple paths available to match your ambitions and lifestyle.

Career launchpad

Many airline pilots began their careers as flight instructors. It is not a detour, it is one of the most respected pathways to building experience, confidence, and a successful future in aviation.

Airplane Instructor Course

What will you learn?

Learn how to deliver clear, engaging, and effective lessons, both in the classroom and in the cockpit.
Develop the skills required to instruct during flight, with a focus on safety, communication, and real-time error correction.
Aprende a ensinar a importância da segurança operacional, gestão de risco e tomada de decisão crítica no ambiente de voo.
Gain the ability to prepare complete training sessions, including learning objectives, flight planning, briefings, and debriefings.

Develop the skills to evaluate, guide, and monitor student progress in a fair, constructive, and professional manner.

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The FI (A) qualification is not just a license

It’s a gateway to a long and meaningful career in aviation, whether as a professional instructor, future captain, or both.
IR(A)
FI UPRT

About airplane instructor training

Upon completion of the Flight Instructor course

Upon successfully completing the FI(A) Flight Instructor course, you will receive a qualification officially authorising you to work as a flight instructor, recognised by both EASA and ANAC. With this qualification, you will be able to:
Provide flight instruction for PPL(A) and/or ATPL(A) courses

You will be authorised to provide practical flight training and theoretical support to new student pilots beginning their journey in aviation. This is one of the most important stages in a pilot’s training, and you will now be able to be part of it as a mentor and instructor.

– You will be able to join the team of instructors at Approved Training Organizations (ATOs), both in Portugal and in any country that follows EASA regulations. This is an excellent opportunity to develop a solid career and gain relevant experience in the civil aviation sector.

– Giving instruction is one of the most efficient and respected ways to accumulate flight hours as a pilot in command (PIC), a fundamental prerequisite for career advancement — especially for those wishing to apply to airlines or progress to other licenses and qualifications.

With experience and further training, you can expand your career and obtain other qualifications, such as:

Instrument flight instructor

– Instructor for different classes of aircraft (e.g., multi-engine)
– Multicrew cooperation instructor (essential for airline training). These certifications further enhance your value as a professional and significantly expand your opportunities in the aviation training sector.
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When I finished the ATPL (A) I considered the different possibilities such as a career as an instructor, for which I always felt I had a vocation, I chose to do the IFA course as a prerequisite. I chose to do the course because first and foremost it is a vocation to give instruction, to teach others and then I certainly felt that from the point of view of my career it was a good addition, a type of path that certainly increases my experience and makes me a better pilot.
Filippo LanzFI(A)
Training to become a Flight Instructor gave me a deep understanding of both technical procedures and teaching methods. The course challenged me to master the balance between safety, technique, and effective instruction. It was during this FI training that I learned how to support students’ progress, correct mistakes safely, and foster confidence from the very first lessons.
Francisco Amaral
Francisco Amaral FI(A)
The FI course was demanding, combining theory, flight practice, and pedagogical training. It pushed me to learn not just how to fly, but how to teach - from structuring lessons to guiding students safely through their first flights. Going through the FI training helped me understand how to balance technical accuracy, safety, and progressive autonomy for students, preparing me to become a confident and effective instructor.
Nuno Inocentes
Nuno InocentesFI(A)
Becoming a Flight Instructor was a challenging journey that combined flight practice, theoretical study, and teaching techniques. The FI course taught me how to structure lessons and safely guide students through their first flights. The training prepared me to balance technical accuracy, safety, and progressive autonomy - giving me the confidence to help students grow from their first nervous flights to fully capable pilots.
Luís Tavares
Luís TavaresFI(A)

Application process steps:

The registration process for the FI(A) – Flight Instructor course was structured to be simple, transparent, and monitored at every stage.

To discuss registration requirements and terms, the applicant will be contacted by phone or email. At this stage, the person responsible for registration will answer all questions.

Submit all required personal documents:

– Valid Medical License
– Valid CPL License
– IFA and ANAC Forms
– Identification document
– Last 3 pages of Logbook
– Valid Aeronautical English

– 5h SEP on the last 6 months – 300 NM – 10h IFR – 20h VFR CC in SEP

– Interview with CFI/HT
– Documents delivery
– Enrolment Payment
– Assessment Flight (280€)
– Contract Sign

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Frequently Asked Questions - Airplane Flight Instructor Course (FI)

The average duration of the Flight Instructor course is 6 to 8 months, depending on the student’s availability and weather conditions. The programme combines intensive theoretical training with practical flight instruction, ensuring a solid and progressive learning experience.
Yes. The certification issued by IFA follows EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) standards, which means it is recognised in all EASA member countries. Upon successful completion of the FI course, pilots may work as instructors at any ATO (Approved Training Organisation) within the EASA system and, in many cases, can obtain recognition in third countries through licence conversion.

No. To enrol in the Flight Instructor (FI) course, the applicant must hold at least:

  • A CPL(A) licence or an ATPL(A)

Yes. The course is fully approved by EASA and delivered in accordance with Part-FCL (Flight Crew Licensing) requirements. IFA is a certified ATO, audited and recognised by the Portuguese Civil Aviation Authority (ANAC), ensuring that all training meets the highest European standards of safety and quality.

Employment is not guaranteed.

Potential opportunity (subject to availability): students who stand out during their training may be selected to join IFA’s team of flight instructors, depending on the academy’s operational requirements and individual performance. This is an excellent opportunity to build experience and begin a solid career in aviation.

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Clear up all your doubts!

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