Transport Canada’s Minimum Requirements for Completion

Knowledge Requirements—Groundschool Instruction

Candidates must complete a minimum of 25 hours of Instructor Rating groundschool instruction which must include the following:

• practical application of the basic principles of learning and techniques of instruction;
• preparation and use of lesson plans;
• procedures for planning and presenting preparatory ground instruction, pre-flight briefings, in-flight instruction, and post-flight debriefings;
• theory of flight required to teach the air exercises;
• aircraft flight manuals and aircraft operating limits;
• presentation of pilot decision-making concepts; and
• the use of the Transport Canada Flight Instructor Guide, Flight Training Manual, Canadian Aviation Regulations, Part IV, and the appropriate Flight Test schedules and guides.

Knowledge Requirements—Written Examination

Candidates must obtain a  minimum of 70% in the written examination Flight Instructor Rating—Aeroplane Class 4 (AIRAF), which includes the following subjects:

• Air Law—Part IV of the CARs—Personnel Licensing and Training, including general rules for pilot recency requirements, administration of pilot licences and ratings, requirements for personal logs; written examination and flight test administration rules; privileges and qualification requirements for permits, licences and rating; medical administrative requirements for pilot training; and regulations pertaining to flight training administration and operations;
• Fundamentals of Instructing—learning factors, including factors that affect preparation, presentation, critique, evaluation methods of student pilots; techniques and methods of flight instruction; techniques and strategies for teaching air exercises; methods of integrating human factors into flight instruction; and effective student communication in the cockpit and on the ground;
• Aeronautics—General Knowledge—effective threat and error management, aircraft flight manuals and operating limitations, and flight test standards.

Experience Requirements

Candidates must complete a minimum of 30 hours of dual flight instruction on overall pilot proficiency and the presentation of all exercises set out in the Flight Instructor Guides and shall include a minimum of 5 hours of training in the teaching of instrument flight skills. A maximum 5 of the 30 hours may be conducted on an approved aeroplane simulator or flight training device.

Skill Requirements

Candidates must successfully complete a flight test  in accordance with Flight Instructor Flight Test Guide.