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I live in EASA-land (Europe), here we call our flight instructors simply that, "FIs". That they hold an instructors certificate is simply implied. Why are flight instructors in FAA-land (US) called CFIs? Is there any historical reason why the "C" is always added to the abbreviation, e.g. in the past there was a difference between certified and non-certified FIs (if there ever was such a thing)?

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  • $\begingroup$ I would imagine that it's because at one point in aviation history, there were no such things as "certified" flight instructors. Much as in many places in the US, one can set up as say a driving instructor without any formal certification. $\endgroup$
    – jamesqf
    Commented Jan 8, 2021 at 20:08

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Certified flight instructor = CFI. Add a multiengine rating to your CFI and now you are a multiengine flight instructor, or MEI. An instructor with single and multiengine instructor ratings is commonly referred to as a CFI/MEI. What if you are a CFI but only in gliders? CFI-G is the most common shorthand.

Pilot authorizations are specifically called "certifications" in the US, not "licenses." My guess at the inclusion for the C in CFI is that any pilot can provide instruction but only appropriately certified and rated instructors can provide training that can be counted for a student's training for a new certification, flight review, or whatever.

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    $\begingroup$ I guess that makes total sense and nicely shows the subtle differences between European and American mentality. The American being more practical, as by nature every pilot can instruct another person, thereby necessitating the need for the C in CIF, where as Europeans would always think you need some licence/certificate first before you give somebody advice ;) $\endgroup$
    – wowpatrick
    Commented Jan 8, 2021 at 15:57
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Actually, in the US, the accepted term for a flight instructor by the FAA and the general aviation (not to be confused with General Aviation) public is Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI). An instructor for instrument ratings is called a Certificated Flight Instructor-Instrument (CFII). This is opposed to a Basic Ground Instructor (BGI) or an Advanced Ground Instructor (AGI).

Although these terms are not defined in Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations governing aviation, they are used extensively thought out this document. So is the term authorized flight instructor (which is defined). People may have simply followed the lead of the predominant legal authority.

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  • $\begingroup$ Dean, normally I love your answers, but I beg to differ. And so does the FAA, in their on-line glossary here: faa.gov/jobs/abbreviations/#tab-C $\endgroup$
    – Michael Hall
    Commented Jan 8, 2021 at 21:50
  • $\begingroup$ Thanks @MichaelHall. Same here. Like I said, the term is accepted by the FAA. But, I have yet to see it defined in the FAR/AIM. Although, there are a lot of terms prescribed for use that are not defined in the FAR/AIM. Thanks for the reference, though. I greatly appreciate it, and will bookmark it. $\endgroup$
    – Dean F.
    Commented Jan 8, 2021 at 22:44

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