Chief instructor qualifications

This regulation sets the minimum qualifications for someone to serve as chief instructor at an FAA-approved Part 141 flight school.

All chief instructors must hold appropriate pilot and flight instructor certificates for the aircraft category/class they'll oversee, maintain recent flight experience per §61.57, and pass knowledge and proficiency tests covering teaching methods, relevant regulations, and the specific course standards.

The flight time requirements vary by course type:

• Recreational/Private pilot courses: 1,000 hours pilot-in-command (PIC) plus either 500 hours of instructing over 2 years or 1,000 instructing hours
• Instrument rating courses: 1,000 hours PIC, 100 hours actual/simulated instrument time, plus either 250 hours instrument instructing over 2 years or 400 instrument instructing hours
• Advanced courses (commercial, ATP, etc.): 2,000 hours PIC plus either 1,000 hours instructing over 3 years or 1,500 instructing hours

Glider, balloon, and airship chief instructors need only 40% of these hour requirements. Ground school chief instructors need one year of ground instruction experience at a certificated school.

*This is a plain-English summary for study only. The official 14 CFR text on this page is controlling — always read the current regulation and consult a CFI.*