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.

CFI Lesson Plans

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CFI Lesson Plans

Baseline with the Fundamentals of Instruction

The fundamentals of instructing chapter prepares instructors for their role as teacher, mentor, and coach, including:

CFI Lesson Plans

Review Private Pilot (Airplane) Lesson Plans

Private pilot (airplane) lesson plans review all topics and standards necessary to meet Federal Aviation Administration requirements, including:

CFI Lesson Plans

Review Sport Pilot (Airplane) Lesson Plans

Sport pilot (airplane) lesson plans review all topics and standards necessary to meet Federal Aviation Administration requirements, including:

CFI Lesson Plans

Review Instrument Rating Lesson Plans

CFI Lesson Plans

Review Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Lesson Plans

Commercial pilot (airplane) lesson plans review all topics and standards necessary to meet Federal Aviation Administration requirements, including:

CFI Lesson Plans

Review Flight Instructor (Airplane) Lesson Plans

Flight instructor (airplane) lesson plans review all topics and standards necessary to meet Federal Aviation Administration requirements, including:

  • Fundamentals of Instructing:

    • 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
  • Technical Subject Areas:

    • 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 H. Navigation Systems and Radar Services
    • Task I. Navigation and Cross-Country Flight Planning
    • Task J. 14 CFR and Publications
    • Task K. Endorsements and Logbook Entries
    • Task L. Water and Seaplane Characteristics, Seaplane Bases, Maritime Rules, and Aids to Marine Navigation (ASES, AMES)
    • 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)
  • Preflight Preparation:

    • Task A. Pilot Qualifications
    • Task B. Airworthiness Requirements
    • Task C. Weather Information
  • Preflight Lesson on a Maneuver to be Performed in Flight:

    • Task A. Maneuver Lesson
  • Preflight Procedures:

    • 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
  • Airport and Seaplane Base Operations:

    • Task A. Communications, Light Signals, and Runway Lighting Systems
    • Task B. Traffic Patterns
  • Takeoffs, Landings, and Go-Arounds:

    • 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)
  • Fundamentals of Flight:

    • Task A. Straight-and-Level Flight
    • Task B. Level Turns
    • Task C. Straight Climbs and Climbing Turns
    • Task D. Straight Descents and Descending Turns
  • Performance and Ground Reference Maneuvers:

    • 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)
  • Slow flight, Stalls, and Spins:

    • 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
  • Basic Instrument Maneuvers:

    • 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
  • Emergency Operations:

    • 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)
  • Multiengine Operations:

    • 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)
  • Postflight Procedures:

    • Task A. After Landing, Parking, and Securing (ASEL, AMEL)
    • Task B. Seaplane Post-Landing Procedures (ASES, AMES)
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