For career minded pilots, Havens Aviation’s Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) course is generally the third step in your training, after achieving your Private and Commercial ratings. Frequently, the first paid position a commercial helicopter pilot will be eligible for is a flight instructor position. These positions typically require approximately 300 hours of flight time (typically the minimum number of hours required by insurance companies of instructor pilots) and are an excellent way for you to build time and experience at this early stage in your flight career.

What Are the Requirements to Earn a CFI in Helicopters?
Pilots must be rated as a Commercial Pilot in Helicopters to earn the CFI License. We find that most frequently 10-20 hours of training is sufficient for pilots with recent helicopter experience.

Havens Aviation’s CFI Curriculum:
As a flight instructor, you will carry responsibilities unlike any other profession. Not only are you responsible for the aircraft you are training in, but also for the student you teach. Havens Aviation’s CFI curriculum will prepare you for the transition into this new challenging role and help you find your comfort as an instructor. CFI student pilots will learn to operate the aircraft from what might be the unfamiliar side of the aircraft, along with a comprehensive study in the “Fundamentals of Instruction.” Proper teaching technique, lesson planning, and dealing with differing levels of student comprehension are all covered in detail. Our goal is to graduate flight instructors who are excellent pilots as well as motivators and educators. Our training will emphasize how to combine the flight skills you’ve learned as a Commercial Pilot with the knowledge areas that will make you a highly successful CFI.