Specific activities of Master CFI that might lead to employment opportunities

As I mentioned in the first broadcast of FM Ginowan's "Naoya Tamanaha's Let's be Pilots" in 2022, I would like to have many more Master CFIs this year! Here's what I'm hoping for. The photo below will take you to the link, where I talk about what I want to pass on to pilot instructors starting around 45 minutes in.

What is your goal as an instructor pilot?

The certification has been used for many years as one way to earn flight hours. What have our predecessors done to support the aviation industry while they were instructors? What is expected of you by the examiner when you make your instructor certificate?

If you take a close look at the requirements for Master instructor qualification, you can find out what they are. As an instructor, you are expected to contribute to the aviation industry as an educator. And, as a professional pilot, keep working hard to improve yourself. That's what it says.

From the employer's point of view, they will see something shining in the instructors acting on this philosophy.

Activities as an Instructor

There are many areas of aviation law that require the instruction of an instructor, or an instructor can only do that.

Here are some examples

・Training, classroom instruction, ground school, and documentation required for the Private Pilot and Commercial Pilot Pilot certificates.

・Training, classroom, ground school, and field test recommendations required for Instrument and Multi-Engine ratings.

・Training, classroom instruction, and endorsement for Tailwheel, Complex, and High-Performance aircraft

・Training, classroom instruction, and endorsement for Flight Review and Instrument Proficiency Check required pilots to fly as captains.

・Flight review and instrument proficiency check flights, classroom training, and endorsement for pilots required for the FAA WINGS Program (pilot proficiency program)

・Pilot checkout for aircraft rental and flight requirements

・Training progress stage checks/progress checks

These are the core of the job as an instructor, but many tips come from these. The pilot in front of you will give you hints.

Observe them and think about what is best for them. These are the basics of customer service.

Working as an Educator

You should also observe the work of other instructors and try to figure out what you can do to improve your skills now. Find the strengths of yourself and your school and try to figure out what you can do to make them stronger. At the same time, if you find weaknesses, think about what you can do to improve them.

Here are some examples.

・Create presentation slides and other materials necessary for the instructor activities mentioned above.

・Create and conduct a specialized ground school on your excellent subject.

・Create the presentation slides and materials necessary for the ground school.

・Provide ground school for individuals and groups and schools and organizations.

・Create and conduct seminars that focus on subjects you are good at.

・Create the necessary presentation slides and materials for the seminar.

・Create and distribute brochures, manuals, guidebooks, etc., for your school.

・Publish your materials publicly in a blog, magazine, or book.

・Develop and test your training methods, ideas, and exams.

・Develop and test your training methods, ideas, departmental tests, etc.

・Write an aviation summary or report with your analysis.

Educator and Instructor activities are always connected. Tips for ideas should come from your daily work and communication with pilots. If you are not intentionally focused on them, you may not notice them. Sometimes ideas come from other areas of everyday life. Let me give you an example from my own life.

I often had to check the cross-country flights of the trainees (checking the numbers) and the weight and balance numbers to give them clearings. The instructors around me said, "That's a hassle..." I made a program in Excel to match the school's form. Is it troublesome? Is it inconvenient? This is your chance.

I took a customer service class that all the employees of the US military department took. I took a customer service class that all employees of the U.S. Armed Forces were required to take. After seeing how everyone participated and worked in groups, I incorporated it into my ground school.

When I went to the local dentist, there was a slide show in the waiting room with information about the features of the clinic. The contents and the way it was displayed were so unique that I couldn't stop looking at it. I immediately incorporated it into my school.

As I continued to do this, people in the upper management started laughing and saying, "He is never satisfied.

Working as a Service to the Aviation Community

There are many aviation organizations out there. You don't just join them; you do a service to them.

Here are some examples.

・Joining the FAA Safety Team and supporting the Team

・Serving as a Provider or Representative on an FAA Safety Team

・Taking action on FAA NPRM (Notice of Proposed Rule Making).

・Support career fairs at local high schools and universities.

・Launch an aviation website.

・Support the activities of aviation organizations such as AOPA, EAA, Young Eagle, CAP, etc. Accept a position.

・Provide advice to new CFIs.

・Advise pilot trainees and candidates.

You will gain a broader perspective and more profound knowledge through these activities. A treasure of information. A prize of information, a gem of ideas. Above all, you will find that your network will begin to expand significantly.

Activities as Professional Activity

As it has been said that a good pilot is always learning, this is an activity to improve one's own knowledge and skills.

Here are some examples.

・Receive training on new aircraft and avionics.

・Attending a safety seminar.

・Challenge a new certificate/rating.

・Take ground school, training, or practical tests.

・Challenge a new endorsement.

・Take a class at a university (aviation-related).

・Travel cross-country in an airplane.

・Take a self-study course via the Internet or study materials

・Take FAA WINGS Program and raise your level.

・Receive your own Flight Review, IPC, checkout, etc.

By obtaining information from outside resources, you can expand your knowledge as an instructor or educator and improve your services to the aviation community. And most importantly, you will expand your network. Take your business card with you and be proactive.

The first step is to become an Associate Master CFI.

You need at least 16 credit hours of activity (32 for Master CFI). 1 credit is about 15 hours, so you need 240 hours of training in total. That's a lot of time.

That said... The first year as an instructor is a struggling one. You don't have time to think about these things. Having experienced this stage myself and having seen many new instructors, I can speak from my own experience.

Each of the four activity categories has its own set of required activity hours.

Instructor Activity: 8 credits (120 hours) in at least two different activities

Educator Activity: 2 credits (30 hours)

Service to the Aviation Community: 2 credits (30 hours) in at least two different activities

Professional Activity: 2 credits (30 hours) in at least two different activities

Keep a record of all activities and keep witnesses to help you create your portfolio later. Remember that these people may serve as references for your visa application as described below.

Why an Associate Master CFI?

While a regular Master CFI requires 32 credit hours of activity and two years of experience after receiving your CFI, an Associate Master CFI does not require two years of experience. And it's only half that, 16 credits! The sooner you gain experience, the sooner you can get your Associate Master CFI. This is super good news! However, you need to have at least 500 hours of Dual Instructed the actual aircraft.

I wrote in another blog that you should get the FAA Ground Instructor. This is because the activities required to become an Associate Master CFI can be accomplished with a Ground Instructor.

Did you know that Ground Instructor Certificate is a national certification earned by either a Private Pilot or an inexperienced pilot?

I've also written in another blog that there are many things you can do upfront like this. Why do this? Because you want to work, right? But what about the visa issues? What do you think about it? This is the way to do it.

U.S. Work O1 Visa Requirements

Also known as the Artist Visa, this visa is for individuals with extraordinary skills. On January 21, 2022, the Biden administration announced that it would be expanded to include individuals in STEM fields. As a pilot instructor, you now have a better chance of getting a work visa as a pilot.

To work to fly as an instructor, usually, as an internship (training period) on a student visa, is used with a limited duration. If you are a pilot, you have up to three years to do what you have to do before seeing the next light during your training period.

For the O1 visa, you only need three out of the following seven to meet the requirements; Master CFI status falls under (2).

(1) Evidence that the applicant is a recipient of a nationally or internationally recognized award for achievement in their field of expertise.

(2) Documents proving that the applicant is a member of an academic society or other organization recognized by experts in the field as an organization to which only those with outstanding achievements are admitted.

(3) A copy of the serials of any articles on the achievements and performance of the applicant in the field that have been published in professional journals, prominent trade journals, or other prominent mass media publications.

(4) In cases where the applicant has been a judge of the achievements or works of others in his/her field of expertise, documents prove this fact.

(5) If the applicant has made significant contributions in the field of science, academia, or business through his/her original achievements, a document proving this fact.

(6) Copies of academic papers published in professional journals, trade journals, or other prominent mass media that deal with the applicant's field of expertise, if the applicant has published such papers.

(7) Evidence that the individual receives a larger salary or other remuneration than other individuals in the same field if any.

Where do the activities required to obtain a Master CFI fall?

Please be aware that your activities should fall into these categories. What you write is somewhat ostentatious, but this is what you should aim for. By aiming for this, you will be seen by employers. They will recognize you. They will respect you. They will approach you. They will sponsor you. It will also increase your chances of getting a visa. That's what I'm talking about.

Do you understand the path to Master CFI that leads to employment?

Most importantly, the students in front of you are very satisfied. What you do for others will come back to you. He who can give will be given.

In order to do this, it is necessary to behave from a different perspective, as I suggested this time. In this way, we can help create an industry where students do not drop out. I am carrying out the activities of my Master CFI to make the aviation industry thrive.