The 300th Power Hour is set for August 8th

We will cross the 300th episode of our Saturday Power Hour shows on August 8 at noon Eastern time. 

We started in June over 6 years ago and had 8 people. We grew into a real venue for aviation, with now over 500 attending on Saturday and around 160 attending the rebroadcast Wednesday evenings at 8pm Eastern. 

We do a live show on Saturday from Noon to one, and then we do the after-show, where we open the mic and let people talk about all things aviation. Sometimes the after-show goes for 4 hours. 

There is nothing like it. It’s great to have started what has become a tradition for many people. 

Always dense in the show's content and always welcoming of conversation in the hours that follow.

Because it’s our 300th show, we are going to offer some unique, uber-discounted offers. We will also be giving away stuff. 

So, go to our website and register so you get the invite and a few reminders so you don’t miss the show. 

Looking forward to Power Hour 300. 

CFI Aeronautical Knowledge Gaps Course

The CFI Gap Course is built for CFI applicants who want to strengthen the areas traditional training often leaves behind. This course focuses on FOI, endorsements, regulations, lesson planning, and instructional decision-making so applicants can move beyond memorization and actually understand how to teach.

With structured video lessons, paired readings, and knowledge checks, the course helps identify weak areas before they show up on checkride day. It’s designed to give future instructors the clarity, confidence, and depth they need to explain concepts at the level DPEs expect. Click here to claim your discounted 25% OFF Gaps course

Can Flight Instructors' certificates under Part 61 Subpart H use BasicMed instead of a Medical?

Interestingly enough, if a flight instructor doesn’t have to be the PIC of an aircraft, no medical or BasicMed is required (61.23(b)7). 

A flight instructor can fly under BasicMed as long as they meet the requirements and limitations for doing so. This is specified in 61.23(c) (vii), which refers to 61.113(i), which addresses BasicMed. 

The FAA has long held that a flight instructor is not flying for hire when giving flight instruction. That is why no medical or, in some cases, BasicMed is all that is needed. 

Flying for hire would require a second-class medical and a Commercial Pilot certificate. Because a CFI is not flying for hire, the second-class medical isn’t required. 

The CFI is not exercising the privileges of their Commercial Pilot certificate. They only need that and an instrument rating to be eligible for a flight instructor certificate. 

Flight instructors can still charge for ground or flight instruction without holding a medical or BasicMed. Teaching is not flying for hire. 

So the bottom line is that a flight instructor only needs a medical or BasicMed if they need to be the PIC of the aircraft. If they are a Sport Pilot CFI, then just a US driver's license is required to be PIC as long as they fly under the privileges and limitations of Sport pilots. 

Latest post in CFI Study group asks about rudder use when performing Chandelles - Do you know?

Here is the post from the CFI study group on Facebook about rudder use when rolling out of a chandelle. 

About the Chandelle

When rolling out of a Chandelle, which requires less right rudder, when rolling out of a Chandelle started to the left or the right?

And the answer is……  When rolling out of a Right Chandelle.  Why?  When you roll out of the Chandelle in a climbing right turn, you need to use left aileron to roll the airplane level.  That downward deflection of the right wing aileron both raises the wing and creates adverse aileron yaw.  The yaw is to the right, against the left turning tendencies, thus causing you to use less right rudder. 

In the Chandelle to the left, right aileron is used to raise the left wing.  That also causes adverse aileron yaw, but the yaw is in the same direction as the left turning tendencies, so more right rudder must be used.

CFI Bootcamp continues to offer instruction to students even if they don’t come to our campus. 

If you are having difficulties with some aspects of your CFI training and need expert instruction, CFI Bootcamp offers online ground instruction from one of our CFI Bootcamp instructors.  Our CFIs are experts in all areas of the Flight Instructor Airplane Single Engine, Multi-Engine, ACSs, and CFII PTS.  

We can get you through the rough spots in endorsements, regulations, the fundamentals of instructing and teaching, and more.

For others pursuing pilot certificates, such as Private, Commercial, and Sport, we can help with that, too.  

If you are using your own CFI at your local airport, you may feel like your instructor has most of it, but not the FOI, Endorsements, and so on.  That’s where we come in.  We can offer you the right amount of instruction in the difficult areas.  We can also provide mock oral exams and guide you in preparing for your CFI Initial or other checkride.

CFI Study Group offers FREE Tuesday Zoom meetings. 

If you are training for your CFI certificate and you don’t know about the CFI study group on Facebook, you just might want to pay attention.

With over 8000 members and daily posts of questions and advice, this is the place to go if you are in training. 

Join the group by clicking this link. 

They also hold a two-hour Zoom meeting every Tuesday evening.  4-6 Pacific and 7-9 Eastern time.  It’s usually not scripted so that you can ask questions, share issues, and so on. 

The group is moderated by Dorthy Shick, a long-time and highly experienced CFI and former flight school owner. 

Many mentor CFIs, such as Greg Brown, Mike Shiflett, Ben Daniels, and others, regularly attend to provide their expert input and answer learners' questions directly. 

Join the group and show up on Tuesday nights. 

ProTips

1. Prepare a risk assessment for every flight, even to the practice area. Try to fit it into 10 minutes if possible. This teaches routine and consistency in safety of flight. 

2. Make your own short safety briefing card with only essential information to give to your passengers. 

3. Use the time you are preflighting to familiarize your passengers with the airplane, including exits and how to use the doors.