CFI Lesson Plans
Explore CFI lesson plans for private, commercial, instrument, sport pilot, flight instructor, and remote pilot training, organized by FAA certification area.
Flight Instructor Lesson Plans by Certification Area
Use this collection to prepare and organize ground or flight instruction for private, sport, commercial, instrument, flight instructor, and remote pilot training. Each category groups lesson plans by the applicable FAA certification area so instructors and applicants can quickly find the knowledge, risk-management, and flight-training topics they need.
Choose a Category to Explore Lesson Plans
Baseline with the Fundamentals of Instruction
The fundamentals of instructing chapter prepares instructors for their role as teacher, mentor, and coach, including:
Review Private Pilot (Airplane) Lesson Plans
Private pilot (airplane) lesson plans review all topics and standards necessary to meet Federal Aviation Administration requirements, including:
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Preflight Preparation:
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Preflight Procedures:
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Airport and Seaplane Base Operations:
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Takeoffs, Landing and Go-Arounds:
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Task A. Normal Takeoff and Climb. - Related: Crosswind Takeoff and Climb.
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Task B. Normal Approach and Landing. - Related: Crosswind Approach and Landing.
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Task C. Soft-Field Takeoff and Climb (ASEL). -
Task D. Soft-Field Approach and Landing (ASEL). -
Task E. Short-Field Takeoff and Maximum Performance Climb (ASEL, AMEL). -
Task F. Short-Field Approach and Landing (ASEL, AMEL). -
Task G. Confined Area Takeoff and Maximum Performance Climb (ASES, AMES). -
Task H. Confined Area Approach and Landing (ASES, AMES). -
Task I. Glassy Water Takeoff and Climb (ASES, AMES) -
Task J. Glassy Water Approach and Landing (ASES, AMES). -
Task K. Rough Water Takeoff and Climb (ASES, AMES). -
Task L. Rough Water Approach and Landing (ASES, AMES). -
Task M. Forward Slip to a Landing (ASEL, ASES). -
Task N. Go-Around/Rejected Landing.
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Performance and Ground Reference Maneuvers:
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Slow Flight and Stalls:
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Basic Instrument Maneuvers:
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Emergency Operations:
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Task A. Emergency Descent. -
Task B. Emergency Approach and Landing (Simulated) (ASEL, ASES). -
Task C. Systems and Equipment Malfunction. -
Task D. Emergency Equipment and Survival Gear. -
Task E. Engine Failure During Takeoff Before VMC (Simulated) (AMEL, AMES). -
Task F. Engine Failure After Lift-Off (Simulated) (AMEL, AMES). -
Task G. Approach and Landing with an Inoperative Engine (Simulated) (AMEL, AMES).
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Multiengine Operations:
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Task A. Maneuvering with One Engine Inoperative (AMEL, AMES). -
Task B. VMC Demonstration (AMEL, AMES). -
One Engine Inoperative (Simulated) (solely by Reference to Instruments) During Straight-and-Level Flight and Turns (AMEL, AMES). -
Task D. Instrument Approach and Landing with an Inoperative Engine (Simulated) (by reference to instruments) (AMEL, AMES).
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Night Operations:
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Postflight Procedures:
Review Sport Pilot (Airplane) Lesson Plans
Sport pilot (airplane) lesson plans review all topics and standards necessary to meet Federal Aviation Administration requirements, including:
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Preflight Preparation:
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Task A. Certificates and Documents (ASEL and ASES). -
Task B. Airworthiness Requirements (ASEL and ASES). -
Task C. Weather Information (ASEL and ASES). -
Task D. Cross-Country Flight Planning (ASEL and ASES). -
Task E. National Airspace System (ASEL and ASES). -
Task F. Operation of Systems (ASEL and ASES). -
Task G. Aeromedical Factors (ASEL and ASES). -
Task H. Water and Seaplane Characteristics (ASES). -
Task J. Performance and Limitations (ASEL and ASES). -
Task K. Principles of Flight (ASEL and ASES).
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Preflight Procedures:
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Airport and Seaplane Base Operations:
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Takeoffs, Landings, and Go-Arounds:
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Task A. Normal and Crosswind Takeoff and Climb (ASEL and ASES). -
Task B. Normal and Crosswind Approach and Landing (ASEL and ASES). -
Task C. Soft-Field Takeoff and Climb (ASEL). -
Task D. Soft-Field Approach and Landing (ASEL). -
Task E. Short-Field (Confined Area - ASES) Takeoff and Maximum Performance Climb (ASEL and ASES). -
Task F. Short-Field (Confined Area - ASES) Approach and Landing (ASEL and ASES). -
Task G. Glassy Water Takeoff and Climb (ASES). -
Task H. Glassy Water Approach and Landing (ASES). -
Task I. Rough Water Takeoff and Climb (ASES). -
Task J. Rough Water Approach and Landing (ASES). -
Task K. Forward Slip to a Landing (ASEL and ASES). -
Task L. Go-Around/Rejected Landing (ASEL and ASES).
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Performance Maneuvers:
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Ground Reference Maneuvers:
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Slow Flight and Stalls:
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Emergency Operations:
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Postflight Procedures:
Review Instrument Rating Lesson Plans
Instrument rating lesson plans review all topics and standards necessary to meet Federal Aviation Administration requirements, including:
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Preflight Preparation:
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Preflight Procedures:
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Air Traffic Control (ATC) Clearances and Procedures:
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Flight by Reference to Instruments:
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Instrument Approach Procedures:
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Emergency Operations:
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Postflight Procedures:
Review Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Lesson Plans
Commercial pilot (airplane) lesson plans review all topics and standards necessary to meet Federal Aviation Administration requirements, including:
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Preflight Preparation:
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Preflight Procedures:
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Airport and Seaplane Base Operations:
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Performance Maneuvers & Ground Reference Maneuvers:
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Takeoffs, Landings and Go-Arounds:
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Task A. Normal Takeoff and Climb. -
Task B. Normal Approach and Landing. -
Task C. Soft-Field Takeoff and Climb (ASEL). -
Task D. Soft-Field Approach and Landing (ASEL). -
Task E. Short-Field Takeoff and Maximum Performance Climb (ASEL, AMEL). -
Task F. Short-Field Approach and Landing (ASEL, AMEL). -
Task G. Confined Area Takeoff and Maximum Performance Climb (ASES, AMES). -
Task H. Confined Area Approach and Landing (ASES, AMES). -
Task I. Glassy Water Takeoff and Climb (ASES, AMES). -
Task J. Glassy Water Approach and Landing (ASES, AMES). -
Task K. Rough Water Takeoff and Climb (ASES, AMES). -
Task L. Rough Water Approach and Landing (ASES, AMES). -
Task M. Power-Off 180° Accuracy Approach and Landing (ASEL, ASES). -
Task N. Go-Around/Rejected Landing.
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Performance Maneuvers & Ground Reference Maneuvers:
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Slow Flight and Stalls:
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High-Altitude Operations:
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Emergency Operations:
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Task A. Emergency Descent. -
Task B. Emergency Approach and Landing (Simulated) (ASEL, ASES). -
Task C. Systems and Equipment Malfunctions. -
Task D. Emergency Equipment and Survival Gear. -
Task E. Engine Failure During Takeoff Before VMC (Simulated) (AMEL, AMES). -
Task F. Engine Failure After Lift-Off (Simulated) (AMEL, AMES). -
Task G. Approach and Landing with an Inoperative Engine (Simulated) (AMEL, AMES).
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Multiengine Operations:
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Task A. Maneuvering with One Engine Inoperative (AMEL, AMES). -
Task B. VMC Demonstration (AMEL, AMES). -
Task C. One Engine Inoperative (Simulated) (solely by Reference to Instruments) During Straight-and-Level Flight and Turns (AMEL, AMES) Airman Certification Standards. -
Task D. Instrument Approach and Landing with an Inoperative Engine (Simulated) (by reference to instruments) (AMEL, AMES).
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Postflight Procedures:
Review Flight Instructor (Airplane) Lesson Plans
Flight instructor (airplane) lesson plans review all topics and standards necessary to meet Federal Aviation Administration requirements, including:
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Fundamentals of Instructing:
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Task A. Effects of Human Behavior and Communication on the Learning Process -
Task B. Learning Process -
Task C. Course Development, Lesson Plans, and Classroom Training Techniques -
Task D. Student Evaluation, Assessment, and Testing -
Task E. Elements of Effective Teaching in a Professional Environment -
Task F. Elements of Effective Teaching that Include Risk Management and Accident Prevention
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Technical Subject Areas:
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Task A. Human Factors -
Task B. Visual Scanning and Collision Avoidance -
Task C. Runway Incursion Avoidance -
Task D. Principles of Flight -
Task E. Aircraft Flight Controls and Operation of Systems -
Task F. Performance and Limitations -
Task G. National Airspace System -
Task J. 14 CFR and Publications -
Task K. Endorsements and Logbook Entries -
Task M. Night Operations -
Task N. High Altitude Operations - Supplemental Oxygen -
Task O. High Altitude Operations - Pressurization -
Task P. One Engine Inoperative (OEI) Performance (AMEL, AMES)
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Preflight Preparation:
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Task A. Pilot Qualifications -
Task B. Airworthiness Requirements -
Task C. Weather Information
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Preflight Lesson on a Maneuver to be Performed in Flight:
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Task A. Maneuver Lesson
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Preflight Procedures:
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Task A. Preflight Assessment -
Task B. Flight Deck Management -
Task C. Engine Starting -
Task D. Taxiing, Airport Signs, and Lighting (ASEL, AMEL) -
Task E. Taxiing and Sailing (ASES, AMES) -
Task F. Before Takeoff Check
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Airport and Seaplane Base Operations:
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Task A. Communications, Light Signals, and Runway Lighting Systems -
Task B. Traffic Patterns
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Takeoffs, Landings, and Go-Arounds:
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Task A. Normal Takeoff and Climb -
Task B. Normal Approach and Landing -
Task C. Soft-Field Takeoff and Climb (ASEL) -
Task D. Soft-Field Approach and Landing (ASEL) -
Task E. Short-Field Takeoff and Maximum Performance Climb (ASEL, AMEL) -
Task F. Short-Field Approach and Landing (ASEL, AMEL) -
Task G. Confined Area Takeoff and Maximum Performance Climb (ASEL, AMEL) -
Task H. Confined Area Approach and Landing (ASEL, AMEL) -
Task I. Glassy Water Takeoff and Climb (ASES, AMES) -
Task J. Glassy Water Approach and Landing (ASES, AMES) -
Task K. Rough Water Takeoff and Climb (ASES, AMES) -
Task L. Rough Water Approach and Landing (ASES, AMES) -
Task M. Slip to a Landing (ASEL, ASES) -
Task N. Go-Around/Rejected Landing -
Task O. Power-Off 180° Accuracy Approach and Landing (ASEL, ASES)
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Fundamentals of Flight:
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Task A. Straight-and-Level Flight -
Task B. Level Turns -
Task C. Straight Climbs and Climbing Turns -
Task D. Straight Descents and Descending Turns
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Performance and Ground Reference Maneuvers:
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Task A. Steep Turns -
Task B. Steep Spiral (ASEL, ASES) -
Task C. Chandelles (ASEL, ASES) -
Task D. Lazy Eights (ASEL, ASES) -
Task E. Ground Reference Maneuvers -
Task F. Eights on Pylons (ASEL, ASES)
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Slow flight, Stalls, and Spins:
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Task A. Maneuvering During Slow Flight -
Task B. Demonstration of Flight Characteristics at Various Configurations and Airspeeds (ASEL and ASES) -
Task C. Power-Off Stalls -
Task D. Power-On Stalls -
Task E. Accelerated Stalls -
Task F. Cross-Controlled Stall Demonstration (ASEL, ASES) -
Task G. Elevator Trim Stall Demonstration (ASEL, ASES) -
Task H. Secondary Stall Demonstration (ASEL, ASES) -
Task I. Spin Awareness and Spins
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Basic Instrument Maneuvers:
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Task A. Straight-and-Level Flight -
Task B. Constant Airspeed Climbs -
Task C. Constant Airspeed Descents -
Task D. Turns to Headings -
Task E. Recovery from Unusual Flight Attitudes
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Emergency Operations:
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Task A. Emergency Descent -
Task B. Emergency Approach and Landing (Simulated) (ASEL, ASES) -
Task C. Systems and Equipment Malfunctions -
Task D. Emergency Equipment and Survival Gear -
Task E. Engine Failure During Takeoff Before VMC (Simulated) (AMEL, AMES) -
Task F. Engine Failure After Liftoff (Simulated) (AMEL, AMES) -
Task G. Approach and Landing with an Inoperative Engine (Simulated)(AMEL, AMES)
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Multiengine Operations:
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Task A. Maneuvering with One Engine Inoperative (AMEL, AMES) -
Task B. VMC Demonstration (AMEL, AMES) -
Task C. Demonstration of Effects of Various Airspeeds and Configurations during Engine Inoperative Performance (AMEL and AMES)
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Postflight Procedures:
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Task A. After Landing, Parking, and Securing (ASEL, AMEL) -
Task B. Seaplane Post-Landing Procedures (ASES, AMES)
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Review Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Lesson Plans
Small unmanned aircraft systems lesson plans review all topics and standards necessary to meet Federal Aviation Administration requirements, including:
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Regulations:
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Airspace Classification and Operating Requirements:
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Weather:
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Loading and Performance:
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Operations:

