What does a pilot instructor do?
The key role of a Pilot Instructor is to teach students procedures and techniques about how to fly aircraft. They offer instruction for both on the ground and in the sky, prepare lesson plans, and assess and monitor students performance.
Pilot instructor responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real pilot instructor resumes:
- Manage a wide variety of stock, including ammunition and high-value items.
- Serve as a professional pilot managing a flight crew and ensuring safe transportation of VIP's internationally.
- Single pilot IFR certify SA-365.
- Perform air refueling, airlift, navigation, surveillance and reconnaissance missions.
- Specialize in teaching instrument skills to experience clients seeking additional certification such as ATP.
- Ensure quality, delivery, budget and environmental objectives are met and fulfill HQ directions.
- Preform weapons control and surveillance, data link, and data management functions in aerospace systems.
- Assist in the entire accreditation and certification process to find and remedy major shortfalls at Barksdale AFB.
- Perform flight duties and responsibilities relate to CFI position, maintain student records, billing, and scheduling.
- Instruct or evaluate students in the basic techniques involve in flying light single-engine airplanes under VFR and IFR.
- Evaluate education materials prepare by higher headquarter, such as lesson plans, training videos, and PowerPoint slides.
- Develop storyboards and PowerPoint presentations.
- Design and implement an automate combat mission analysis program.
- Negotiate and administer services and commodity contracts for Lackland AFB.
- Engage primarily in examining airmen certification from private pilot certificate through MEI.
Pilot instructor skills and personality traits
We calculated that 12% of Pilot Instructors are proficient in FAA, Simulator, and Instructor Pilot. They’re also known for soft skills such as Problem-solving skills, Quick reaction time, and Communication skills.
We break down the percentage of Pilot Instructors that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- FAA, 12%
Developed Aircraft Minimum Equipment List operating procedures in collaboration with FAA Aircraft certification branch and Company Maintenance director.
- Simulator, 11%
Performed routine and no-notice evaluations of civilian contract instructors in the classroom environment and T-37 simulator missions.
- Instructor Pilot, 7%
Performed Instructor Pilot and OC/T duties in the evaluation of several National Guard Units during numerous weekend and annual training events.
- Aircraft Systems, 6%
Provide detailed training/crew interaction with advanced aircraft systems to meet standards for initial and Instructor C-130J certification.
- DOD, 6%
Apply all knowledge of DOD instruction, policy and procedure as it applies to specific missions.
- Pilot-In-Command, 6%
Served as Pilot-in-Command EC 145 & EC 135, Night Vision Goggle Instructor, and Base Safety Representative.
Most pilot instructors use their skills in "faa," "simulator," and "instructor pilot" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential pilot instructor responsibilities here:
Problem-solving skills. One of the key soft skills for a pilot instructor to have is problem-solving skills. You can see how this relates to what pilot instructors do because "pilots must be able to identify complex problems and figure out appropriate solutions." Additionally, a pilot instructor resume shows how pilot instructors use problem-solving skills: "identify system deficiencies and coordinate corrective action with flight operations manager and contractor standardization pilot advising of conflicts and possible resolutions. "
Quick reaction time. Another essential skill to perform pilot instructor duties is quick reaction time. Pilot instructors responsibilities require that "pilots must respond quickly, and with good judgment, to any impending danger." Pilot instructors also use quick reaction time in their role according to a real resume snippet: "accumulated over 1,231 hours/673 sorties of tactical flying time,556 combat flight hours in support of operation enduring freedom. "
Communication skills. This is an important skill for pilot instructors to perform their duties. For an example of how pilot instructor responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "pilots must speak clearly when conveying information to air traffic controllers and other crew members." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a pilot instructor: "led combat missions providing network & communications relay to coalition forces. ".
The three companies that hire the most pilot instructors are:
- CAE43 pilot instructors jobs
- OBXtek12 pilot instructors jobs
- FlightSafety International4 pilot instructors jobs
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Compare different pilot instructors
Pilot instructor vs. Check airman
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, pilot instructor responsibilities require skills like "faa," "simulator," "dod," and "crm." Meanwhile a typical check airman has skills in areas such as "flight training," "line checks," "airmen," and "cargo operations." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
The education levels that check airmen earn slightly differ from pilot instructors. In particular, check airmen are 1.8% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a pilot instructor. Additionally, they're 1.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Pilot instructor vs. Captain/check airman
Each career also uses different skills, according to real pilot instructor resumes. While pilot instructor responsibilities can utilize skills like "simulator," "instructor pilot," "aircraft systems," and "dod," captain/check airmen use skills like "passenger safety," "line checks," "flight training," and "unscheduled."
Average education levels between the two professions vary. Captain/check airmen tend to reach lower levels of education than pilot instructors. In fact, they're 6.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Pilot instructor vs. Plane captain
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, pilot instructors are more likely to have skills like "faa," "simulator," "instructor pilot," and "dod." But a plane captain is more likely to have skills like "hand tools," "cleanliness," "maintenance manuals," and "fod."
Most plane captains achieve a lower degree level compared to pilot instructors. For example, they're 11.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.8% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Pilot instructor vs. Air ambulance captain
Types of pilot instructor
Updated January 8, 2025
