CFIA & CFII Academy Overview

Become a world-class flight instructor with Thrust Flight’s premier CFI Academy. You’ll experience CFI training unlike any other flight school in the country.

Enrollment Update

At this time we’re no longer enrolling outside students in the CFI Academy. All students who join us for the Zero Time to Airline program will participate in our CFI Academy and CFII Academy. If you want to learn more about our flight instructor course continue reading.

Get the details on our CFI and CFII academies including pricing, timeline, and what you’ll need to get started. After reviewing this information please give us a call at 972-735-9099. You can also reply to the email we sent you with your questions.

We can’t wait for you to fly with us!

Why Join the CFI Academy

This is the most rigorous CFI training program in the country. It is not easy, casual, or for the faint of heart but it is straightforward.

We produce hundreds of flight instructors every year and know exactly what steps you need to take to become a great flight instructor. Our CFI Academy will walk you through every step, building your knowledge and abilities so you can deliver phenomenal training to your future students.

Our group-based approach is unique in the industry. And it’s one of the reasons our academy is able to produce so many top-tier flight instructors.

Pricing

CFI Academy: Our CFI Academy has two pricing options based on what aircraft you’ll be flying. The approximate total cost in a Cessna 172 or Piper Archer TX is $5,190.

CFII Academy: The approximate total cost for the CFII Academy is $4,390 in either a Cessna 172 or a Piper Archer TX.

The classroom portions of your training are $1,895 for CFI Academy and $1,095 for CFII Academy. The remaining balance of the programs for actual flights is billed at an hourly rate and will vary depending on the student.

No Fly Academies: Our CFI no-fly academy is $1,895 and the CFII no-fly is $1,095. These are in-person academies for those who are doing their flying elsewhere.

Timeline

The CFI Academy is 15 days. The first 10 days are classroom training. Approximately the next 5 days are dedicated to additional one-on-one ground training and flight training.

For the CFI No-Fly Academy, the course is the first 10 days.

The CFII Academy is 10 days. The first 5 days are classroom training and approximately the last 5 are dedicated to the flight portion.

For the CFII No-Fly academy, the course is the first 5 days.

Upon the completion of your training and a successful mock oral exam, our team can schedule your checkride, However, it may require additional time beyond the 15 days to complete your checkride, depending on weather and examiner availability.

What is the No-Fly Academy

While the majority of our CFI Academy students fly with us, a portion of our students prefer to attend the ground portion with us and fly at their home airport.

The no-fly academy allows you to work with our incredible team of academy instructors and then do your flying at your own pace. At this time we do not offer a virtual option for our CFI Academy.

Aircraft Rates*

The CFI Academies include a set amount of flight hours. If you need additional flight time you can book it at the following rates:

Piper Archer with A/C

Cessna 172 with A/C

If you will be training in a Cessna 172, the flight portion of your training will be at our Denison, TX location. This is located approximately 1 hour north of Addison. Plan on attending the ground portion of your training at Addison and then moving to Denison for the flight portion of your training.

CFI Academy Prep Course

The CFI Academy includes an online pre-requisite CFI prep course. This course is critical to getting the most out of the in-person academy and will also help you prepare for your checkride. It ensures you enter the academy with the required baseline of knowledge so you can hit the ground running on the first day.

You’ll receive access to the prep course as soon as you enroll. We require all CFI academy students to complete the course at least 3 days before the academy begins.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the refund policy?

If you wish to cancel your CFI or CFII Academy, we will provide a full refund, less a drop fee. Drop fees vary by the amount of advanced notice provided before the scheduled class start date:

• More than 30 days before the scheduled start date: $150
• 5 – 30 days before the scheduled start date: $250
• Less than 5 days before the scheduled start date: $500

Can I reschedule my academy?

You may reschedule your CFI or CFII Academy at no charge if requested more than 30 days before the class start date. Postponements within 30 days will be charged a change fee as follows:

• 15 – 30 days before the scheduled start date: $150
• 5 – 14 days before the scheduled start date: $250
• Less than 5 days before the scheduled start date: $500

If the published CFI/CFII Academy fee for the rescheduled course is different than the original fee, you are responsible for any increase or will be refunded any decrease.

New Student Checklist

The checklist below is intended as a guide so you know what to expect in order to start your CFI/CFII training.

Before working on any of these items please speak with a member of our team so we can address any questions and guide you through the process.

If you’re joining us for a no-fly academy, the only documents you need to submit are your ID, Pilot Certificate, and to sign the rental and services agreement.

Deposit Details

In order to reserve your spot in our CFI or CFII academy, you’ll need to pay a $1,000 deposit when you enroll in the class. The remaining balance will be collected 2-3 days before the academy begins.

Document Deadline

All of the following documents must be submitted at least 7 days before your academy start date.
If all documents are not submitted when due, program enrollment will be moved to a future available date and subject to rescheduling fees

1. Medical Certificate

We’ll need a copy of your current medical certificate. If you no longer have a medical certificate you’ll need to get a new one before you can train with us.

2. Document Signatures

These are documents you’ll sign during the onboarding process. They are collectively called the Rental and Service Agreement.

Rental Agreement

Dispatch Policies

Refund Policy

3. ID & TSA Verification

We’ll need a copy of your government ID along with your birth certificate or your passport. These documents are used for TSA verification. If you’re a permanent resident please see the TSA Approval section below.

4. Aircraft Rental Insurance

Non-owned aircraft rental insurance is required for every student whether they’re flying solo or with an instructor. “Non-owned” Rental insurance may be obtained through Avemco Insurance Company by visiting their website or by calling 1-888-241-7891. Be sure to use the promotional code. “TF16”.

Insurance Coverage	Amount
Standard Bodily Injury	$25,000
Property Damage	$250,000
Non-Owned Aircraft Physical Damage/Liability	$30,000

*Non-Owned Aircraft Insurance can be either Single-Engine or Multi-Engine. As a CFI/CFIIstudent, you’ll be training in a single-engine aircraft so your rental insurance should match.

5. Pilot Certificate

We’ll need a copy of your current pilot certificate, both front and back.

TSA Approval (Permanent Residents Only)

In order to flight train in the United States, approval is required through the Transportation Security Administration. You can begin the process by doing the following:
1. Visit www.flightschoolcandidates.gov and create a New Candidate Account (top right corner of the screen).
2. Complete the application using the following codes:

Course IDs:
Sport/Private=”101″
Instrument=”102″
Multi=”104″

Aircraft ID Codes:
Sport/Private=”CRUZ” & “C172”
Instrument=”C172″
Multi=”PA44″

Once your TSA application has been submitted, you’ll be notified via email of the status and any further steps that may be necessary for you to complete. Once approved, you (and Thrust Flight) will be notified via email, and flight training may begin.

What to Do Next

If you have additional questions or you’re ready to get started simply click here to send us a text if you’re on your phone or give us a call at 972-735-9099.

Housing

If you need housing while you attend the CFI/CFII Academy, we’ve partnered with a few local hotels to offer a discounted rate. Click the link below to view more information on housing options.

View Housing Info