In order to become a Flight Instructor it may come as no surprise that you have to undertake a course of flight instruction consisting of a mixture of flight and ground training. You will basically be taught how to teach and fly all the exercises in the Private Pilot Licence (PPL) syllabus - taking part in mock lessons where perhaps your fellow FI trainees will act as your innocent PPL student. At the end of the training you take a skills test, and passing it leads to you attaining a Flight Instructor Rating Restricted: FI(R). The FI(R) rating is initially restricted to carrying out flight instruction under the supervision of a FI(A) approved for this purpose, as follows:

Flight instruction for the issue of the PPL(A) - or those parts of integrated courses at PPL(A) level - and class and type ratings for single-engine aeroplanes, excluding the approval of first solo flights by day or by night and first solo navigation flights by day or by night. Night flying instruction is applicable provided a night qualification is held.

The restriction may be removed on the recommendation of the supervising FI after completion of at least 100 instructional hours, and in addition, the supervision of at least 25 student solo flights. The night flying instruction restriction may be removed by the completion of one flight with a FIC instructor at night. This may be included within the FI(R) course.

This course is delivered at Biggin Hill School of Flying. For further info, download a brochure here.