Chief Flight Instructor Jobs
Chief Flight Instructor jobs are open across flight schools, regional airlines, collegiate aviation programs, and military contract training, from entry-level certified instructors to senior check airmen and standardization officers, with specializations in instrument, multi-engine, and advanced ground training. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Final selection will be contingent upon verification of qualifications and eligibility for FAA approval as Chief Instructor under 14 CFR § 141.35.
Reporting to the Executive Director of Aviation Operations, the Chief Flight Instructor is responsible for administering FAA-approved training curricula, supervising and evaluating flight instructors, developing and implementing standardized training procedures, and ensuring students receive consistent, high-quality flight instruction.
The Chief Flight Instructor will work collaboratively with flight operations management, faculty, maintenance personnel, and the Safety Manager to promote a proactive safety culture, improve operational efficiency, and support student progression and successful completion of flight training programs.
Additional responsibilities include maintaining required FAA training records, overseeing stage checks and instructor standardization, monitoring student and instructor performance, implementing continuous improvement initiatives, and ensuring compliance with applicable university policies and accreditation requirements, including those established by SACSCOC and the Aviation Accreditation Board International (AABI).
The successful candidate must demonstrate strong leadership, sound judgment, effective communication, accountability, and a commitment to developing flight instructors, maintaining rigorous professional aviation standards, and supporting the continued growth and success of Delta State University’s Commercial Aviation program.
The successful candidate must demonstrate strong leadership, sound judgment, effective communication skills, and experience supervising flight instructors, maintain training standards, and ensure regulatory compliance.
A master’s degree in Commercial Aviation, Aviation Management, Aeronautical Science, or a closely related aviation field is preferred but not required.
Demonstrated knowledge of FAA Part 141 regulations, flight training operations, instructor standardization, safety procedures, and regulatory compliance. Strong organizational, communication, and leadership skills are required. Must be eligible for FAA approval as Chief Instructor.
Experience managing a university or collegiate Part 141 flight training program, developing standardized instructional procedures, supervising flight instructors, implementing Safety Management Systems (SMS), and supporting aviation accreditation requirements.
Candidates should identify any previous experience serving as a Chief Flight Instructor, Assistant Chief Flight Instructor, Check Airman, or in another aviation leadership position.
Final selection will be contingent upon verification of qualifications and eligibility for FAA approval as Chief Instructor under 14 CFR § 141.35.
The successful candidate will play a critical role in strengthening flight instructor standardization, promoting a proactive safety culture, improving student training outcomes, and supporting the continued growth and development of the Commercial Aviation program.
This position requires a collaborative, hands-on leader who demonstrates professionalism, accountability, sound judgment, and a commitment to operational excellence. The Chief Flight Instructor will work closely with the Executive Director of Aviation Operations and other departmental leadership to maintain high standards of training, regulatory compliance, and safety.
- Resume
- Cover Letter/Letter of Application
- Teaching Philosophy
- Letter of Reference 1
- Letter of Reference 2
- Curriculum Vitae
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Who's Hiring


What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in chief flight instructor jobs.
- FAA Certified Flight Instructor certificate with Instrument and Multi-Engine ratings
- Airline Transport Pilot certificate or eligibility under applicable FAR requirements
- Minimum total flight hours meeting Part 141 or Part 61 chief instructor standards
- Experience developing or auditing FAA-approved training course outlines
- Demonstrated background supervising, evaluating, and mentoring certificated flight instructors
- Proficiency with flight training management software and electronic training records systems
Tips for Your Chief Flight Instructor Job Search
Tailor your resume to FAA certificates
List every FAA certificate and rating you hold in a dedicated credentials section near the top of your resume. Hiring managers scan for ATP, CFI-I, and MEI before reading anything else, so burying them in a dense work history costs you interviews.
Quantify your flight time by category
Break your logbook hours into total time, pilot-in-command, multi-engine, instrument, and dual given. Vague totals raise red flags with chief pilot reviewers who need to verify FAR Part 141 or Part 61 minimums at a glance.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists chief flight instructor openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Target operators by training certificate type
Part 141 flight schools, Part 135 charter operators, and Part 142 training centers each have different hiring criteria and advancement paths. Filter your search by certificate type so your application speaks directly to the regulatory environment you'd be managing.
Prepare a standardization philosophy statement
Many chief flight instructor interviews open with a question about how you'd enforce training standards across a mixed-experience instructor staff. Draft a two-minute answer before your interview that cites a real scenario where you corrected or mentored a subordinate CFI.
Negotiate a check-ride pass-rate clause
Offer letters at flight schools often tie performance reviews to student check-ride outcomes. Before signing, clarify whether the metric is first-attempt pass rate or overall, and confirm you'll have authority over student progression decisions that affect that number.
Chief Flight Instructor Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most chief flight instructors?
KBFS, UPS, and Orlando Flight School are hiring the most chief flight instructors right now, with openings concentrated in Texas, Kentucky, and Florida, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Demand is highest at Part 141 flight academies and regional airline cadet pipeline programs.
How many chief flight instructor jobs are remote?
About 0% of chief flight instructor openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the hands-on nature of flight training oversight. The sub-areas most compatible with remote work are curriculum development, ground school instruction, and training record audits for multi-location flight school networks.
How do you become a chief flight instructor?
Start by earning your CFI, CFI-I, and MEI certificates, then accumulate the flight time and dual-given hours required under FAR Part 61 or Part 141 for the chief instructor role at your target operator. Build supervisory experience as a lead or stage check instructor, develop familiarity with FAA-approved training course outlines, and document any curriculum development or standardization work you've led before applying.
Can you get hired as a chief flight instructor without prior management experience?
Some smaller Part 141 schools promote experienced senior CFIs into the chief instructor seat with no prior formal management title, especially when the candidate has strong check-ride pass rates and has informally mentored other instructors. Your best path is to request stage check or lead instructor duties at your current school, document standardization projects you've owned, and apply to operators where the chief instructor role doubles as a working instructor position.
What does the chief flight instructor interview process look like?
Most operators run two or three rounds: an initial screening call with HR or the director of operations focused on certificates and hours, a deeper interview with the chief pilot or director of training covering your approach to instructor standardization and curriculum management, and sometimes a practical component where you teach a brief ground lesson or walk through how you'd handle a hypothetical student or CFI performance issue.
Where can I find and apply to chief flight instructor jobs?
You can find and apply to chief flight instructor jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from flight schools, collegiate aviation programs, and airline training centers across the United States. Find roles that match your certificates, hours, and experience level, then apply directly to each listing from the page.
See All 6 Chief Flight Instructor Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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