FAA Part 141 & Part 61 Certified KOAK Flight Line • Oakland, CA +1 800-424-4069
METAR KOAK: 21008KT 10SM CLR 18/09 A3002
FAA Part 141 & 61 Approved 1,500-Hour Builder Pathway Guaranteed In-House Interview

Flight Instructor (CFI / CFII)

Build Your 1,500 Hours — Get Paid to Fly

Turn your flight time into a paycheck. Earn your Certified Flight Instructor and Instrument Instructor credentials, then build the 1,500 total flight hours required for an Airline Transport Pilot certificate while getting paid to teach future aviators at Thrust Flight Academy.

Enroll in Upcoming Class Download Full Syllabus PDF
Target Duration 2-3 Months CFI + CFII Combined
Total Flight Hours 25+ Hrs Instructional Training
Assigned Fleet Cessna 172 Garmin G1000 Glass
Next Cadet Intake Oct 15, 2026 4 Seats Left
Tuition Support 100% Loan Sallie Mae & GI Bill
01 Mission Objective

Teach, Build Hours, and Get Hired

The Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) and Instrument Instructor (CFII) certificates authorize you to teach student pilots — and every hour you instruct counts toward the 1,500 total flight hours required for an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate. Thrust Flight Academy graduates receive a guaranteed interview for an in-house instructor position immediately upon certification.

Fundamentals of Instructing (FOI)

Learning theory, human factors, and effective teaching techniques required for all FAA instructor certificates.

Spins & Unusual Attitude Recovery

Certified spin training and recovery endorsement — required knowledge every flight instructor must demonstrate and teach.

Right-Seat Flight Instruction

Master teaching from the right seat, including talk-through demonstrations and in-flight error correction.

Guaranteed In-House Hiring

Direct pathway to a paid instructor position at Thrust Flight Academy immediately upon certification.

02 Candidate Prerequisites Checklist
Current FAA Commercial Pilot License
Current FAA Instrument Rating
Minimum 250 total flight hours
Current FAA 2nd Class Medical

*Pursuing CFI and CFII together? Combined enrollment saves both time and tuition versus completing them separately.

03 Syllabus Breakdown

Structured 3-Phase Instructor Curriculum

Engineered under FAA Part 141 Appendix F & H guidelines to build both the flying precision and teaching skill every instructor needs.

Learning Theory & Human Factors. Lesson Planning & Endorsement Requirements. Mock Ground Lessons with Peer Review. FAA Regulations for Instructors (Part 61/141).
Right-Seat Flight Instruction Technique. Certified Spin Training & Recovery. Teaching Maneuvers From Demonstration to Correction. In-Flight Error Recognition & Correction.
Simulated FAA CFI Practical Test. Mock Instrument Instructor (CFII) Oral & Flight. Teach-Back Sessions with Chief Instructor. Final Endorsement Sign-Off for Both Ratings.
04 Flight Equipment

Learn to Teach on the Aircraft You'll Instruct In

Every lesson is taught in the same glass-cockpit trainer your future students will fly.

Cessna 172 Skyhawk SP PRIMARY INSTRUCTION AIRCRAFT

Cessna 172 Skyhawk SP

Garmin G1000 NXi Glass Flight Deck — teach the exact panel your future students will need to master from day one.

Cruise 124 kts
Seats 4
Suite G1000 NXi
Redbird FMX Full-Motion FAA LEVEL 5 FTD

Redbird FMX Full-Motion

Practice teaching from the right seat and demonstrating emergency procedures without burning aircraft rental hours.

Logged 10 Hrs
05 Aviation Mentorship

Learn to Teach From Career Educators

Sarah Jenkins

Sarah Jenkins

Academic Director

99.4% student pass rate on FAA written exams. Leads personalized pre-solo and checkride prep sessions.

Ground Instructor FAA Gold Seal
Capt. Alexander Vance

Capt. Alexander Vance

Chief Flight Instructor + MEI / ATP

14,000+ total logged hours. Former SkyWest B737 Captain and training officer with 18 years of FAA Part 141 syllabus standardization experience.

Gold Seal CFI B737 Type
06 What's Next

Your Pathway After CFI / CFII

Most Thrust instructors build their 1,500 hours teaching in-house within 18-24 months, then transition directly into our Advanced Jet & CRM Sim bridge program.

In-House Instructor Position
Guaranteed Interview
Paid Flight Time
Advanced Jet & CRM Sim
ATP-Ready Bridge
Airline Transition
Multi-Engine Instructor (MEI)
Add-On Available
Higher Pay Rate
07 Clarifications

Frequently Asked Cadet Inquiries

Yes. Thrust Flight Academy graduates who join our in-house instructor team are paid per flight hour taught, turning your hour-building phase into an income-generating job rather than an expense.
CFI alone qualifies you to teach VFR flight training. Most cadets add CFII to also teach instrument students, which significantly increases teaching opportunities and pay potential.
Most Thrust in-house instructors reach ATP-eligible hours within 18-24 months of full-time teaching, depending on student demand and seasonal scheduling.
Our Fundamentals of Instructing phase is built specifically to develop teaching confidence from the ground up — most cadets arrive with zero teaching experience.
All-Inclusive Tuition Part 141 Syllabus
$7,400 / complete certification

Or finance from $650/month with 0% down

  • Flight Instruction (25 hrs Dual)$4,800
  • Ground School (25 hrs)$1,400
  • Spin Endorsement Training$450
  • Materials & Lesson Plans$250
  • FAA CFI & CFII Checkride Fees$500

Cadet Intake Form

FAA Part 141 SOP-Based Training Paid Instructor Pathway
Flight Admissions Desk
Speak directly with a flight mentor
(800) 424-4069
Book a 15-Min Advisor Call
Flight Deck Clearance

Ready to Start Getting Paid to Fly?

Bring your Commercial Pilot logbook to our Oakland flight dispatch for a complimentary CFI readiness review.

Apply for October Intake