2026 Accelerated CFI & CFII Programs Now Open

As the year winds down, it’s time to start looking ahead — because CFI Bootcamp’s 2026 calendar is live, and spots for our most popular programs are already filling fast.

Whether you’re preparing to earn your initial Flight Instructor Certificate or advancing to your Instrument Instructor rating, our Accelerated CFI and Accelerated CFII Programs deliver a structured, high-intensity path to success that’s unmatched in the industry. 

Accelerated CFI Program — Finish Fast. Build Confidence, and Teach Confidently.

Our flagship Accelerated CFI Course is designed for pilots ready to step into instruction with confidence, structure, and checkride-ready precision with-in a 3 week period. After completing our Online CFI Course and over seven days of focused ground instruction, you’ll master what a true Flight Instructor is expected to demonstrate after receiving your certificate. Our ground school covers every major topic area and will help instill confidence with-in the dreaded FOI, FARs, presenting skills, and teaching methods… 

• Taught by former examiner and career CFIs

• Built to build an edge & kick imposture syndrome. 

• Combines checkride prep, lesson planning, and real-world scenarios 

• Receive your ground knowledge endorsement

• Available Virtually, in Palo Alto, CA and Miami, FL locations year-round

Get Started Now →

Accelerated CFII Program - Spend 10 days on campus with us. 

Over three immersive days, and a few flight days you’ll gain the tools to teach IFR procedures, brief approaches, and prepare instrument students with confidence and clarity.

• Covers advanced weather, instrument systems, and IFR flight planning

• Includes checkride-focused oral prep and scenario-based training

• Designed for both active CFIs and future career instructors

• Flexible schedules available across our 2026 class calendar

We’ve made scheduling your training smoother than ever with our “Get Started” process — a clean, systematic user experience showing every class date, location, and format for both 2025 and 2026. 

Get Started Now →

Private Pilot Smart Study Pro: Study Smarter, Fly Better.

The Private Pilot Smart Study Pro has officially launched — and it’s already transforming how student pilots prepare for their private pilot checkride. Designed from the ground up around the Airman Certification Standards (ACS), this system turns disorganized studying into a structured, results-driven process that matches the way the FAA actually tests.

Smart Study Pro combines audio lessons, visual study PDFs, and interactive video content — allowing students to absorb information anywhere: during commutes, workouts, or between flights. Each Area of Operation and Task is broken down into practical language with visual guides that reinforce both knowledge and judgment.

Unlike generic ground schools that overload students with facts, Smart Study Pro teaches connections — the “focused” areas behind each task area. It integrates common errors, decision flows, and real-world application so pilots can visualize the examiner’s intent and respond confidently during the oral and practical exams.

The best part? Every purchase includes unlimited access and a full year of free updates as the FAA revises the ACS. This ensures pilots always study from current, relevant materials. For instructors, it’s also a powerful teaching aid — helping standardize pre-checkride preparation across students.

As one recent student wrote:

“Smart Study Pro made the ACS make sense. It built real confidence, not just memorization.”

If your goal is a smooth, confident checkride — this is the product for you.

Explore Smart Study Pro →

Special Guests: Rod Machado & The CFI Round Table, Part Two

Watch the Power Hour Replays →

October brought two of the most engaging Power Hours we’ve hosted this year — both centered on what defines great instruction, practical teaching, and the mindset of lifelong educators.

Rod Machado: What I’ve Learned from 52 Years of Teaching Landings

Rod Machado joined us for an unforgettable deep dive into the art and science of teaching landings. With over five decades of instruction behind him, Rod reminded everyone why the fundamentals never fade. His insights blended timeless stick-and-rudder principles with modern teaching psychology — all grounded in the belief that simplicity creates mastery.

He shared the story of the 1940s Ercoupe experiment, an aircraft with no rudder pedals that taught coordination through simplification. The result: students soloed faster, smoother, and with more confidence. Rod emphasized that as CFIs, our job isn’t to impress — it’s to simplify the complex until learning feels natural.

From his famous “Pizza Slice” and “Runway Expansion Effect” techniques to his belief in building visual judgment before relying on numbers, Rod’s presentation redefined how we think about landings. He demonstrated “sampling the response,” a subtle elevator pull-and-release during flare that teaches finesse instead of force.

His closing advice was as practical as it was inspiring:

“Observe others, borrow ideas, and teach to your student’s learning pace. Mastery doesn’t come from control — it comes from understanding.”

It was a masterclass in both technique and teaching philosophy — a reminder of why every instructor’s voice and method matter in shaping tomorrow’s pilots.

CFI Round Table, Part Two: The Instructor’s Voice

This month’s CFI Round Table brought together Mike, Dorothy, Greg, Rex, Jeff, and others for a deep, open discussion about the current state of flight instructor training — what’s working, what’s missing, and how CFIs can better prepare the next generation of pilots.

The group identified several training gaps across the industry, including the lack of structured syllabi, inconsistent onboarding processes, and limited exposure to rare or advanced flight scenarios. Mike emphasized the role of syllabi as “roadmaps” to operational competence, while Dorothy stressed the importance of setting expectations early — from cost transparency to training timelines. Greg and Rex added that many CFIs could improve lesson planning by integrating FAA resources like the Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge and the Airplane Flying Handbook into daily instruction.

The conversation also explored how instructors can tailor their approach based on student goals — whether recreational or career-bound — and how communication, mentorship, and trust remain the foundation of effective flight training. Dorothy and Rex noted that strong CFI-student partnerships build confidence and efficiency, while Greg reminded attendees that the best instructors “stay students for life.”

The roundtable closed on a forward-looking note, with updates on MOSAIC, sport pilot regulations, and medical certification pathways. The group agreed that clarity, structure, and community are the keys to improving both instructor performance and student success in 2026 and beyond.

MOSAIC Is Done: The New Era of Recreational Flying

 Watch “MOSAIC Explained” Power Hour →

After more than a decade of effort from the EAA, FAA, and many in the general aviation community, the MOSAIC rule (Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification) is officially complete — and it’s reshaping the landscape of flight instruction and personal aviation forever.

Effective October 22, 2025, approximately three-quarters of the general aviation fleet will now be within reach of sport pilots. This monumental change means that recreational flying will no longer be limited to small, low-performance LSAs — but will now include a wide range of capable, certified aircraft that were once out of reach.

By July 24, 2026, new aircraft built under the MOSAIC framework will begin entering the market — with drastically reduced certification costs and more freedom for manufacturers to innovate. This means a new generation of sleek, safe, and cost-effective airplanes designed for both training and recreation.

MOSAIC introduces “Sport Pilot 2.0.” It’s not just an update — it’s a redefinition. Pilots can now earn their certificates in less time, with fewer barriers, and at significantly lower cost. The rule expands sport pilot privileges, enabling them to fly larger, faster, and more capable aircraft — many of which are already common in the GA fleet. It also broadens the scope of Sport Certified Flight Instructors (CFIs), allowing them to teach in more aircraft categories and under more flexible conditions.

This isn’t just regulatory reform — it’s a revival of grassroots aviation. It opens the door to students who might have otherwise found flight training inaccessible. It also creates new opportunities for flight schools and CFIs to reach a broader audience of future aviators.

Our MOSAIC Explained Power Hour discussed,  affordability, and innovation. It bridges the gap between recreational and traditional GA training, ushering in an era where pilots can build experience, confidence, and community without the weight of unnecessary regulation.

Welcome to the new age of recreational flight — where access, safety, and excitement come together like never before.

Pro Tips for Flight Instructors & Students

1. Teach Power-Off First When students learn landings with the engine at idle, they’re forced to see and feel how energy dissipates naturally. This builds instinctive understanding of sink rate, glide path, and attitude control. Once visual judgment is strong, adding power becomes a refinement — not a crutch. Power-off teaching simplifies variables and accelerates learning precision.

2. Use Chair Flying Daily Chair flying isn’t about pretending to fly — it’s about mentally rehearsing success. Encourage students to visualize flows, callouts, and control movements while seated safely on the ground. Ten minutes of focused chair flying each day reduces in-air workload, sharpens muscle memory, and boosts confidence in real flight.

3. Limit Altitude Callouts Calling out “20 feet, 10 feet, 5 feet” may sound helpful, but it teaches dependence — not awareness. Every runway has its own slope, texture, and visual cues. Train your students to rely on sight picture and peripheral perception instead. Confidence grows when judgment replaces measurement.

4. Trim for Hands-Off Stability Pilots who fight the controls are often fighting trim. Teaching proper trim technique until the aircraft flies itself allows focus to shift from “control pressure” to “situational control.” A properly trimmed airplane is your second instructor — steady, stable, and honest about attitude and performance.

5. Debrief with Purpose A debrief shouldn’t just replay what went wrong — it should explore why it happened. Encourage students to analyze the decision chain, identify missed cues, and describe what they’d do differently next time. Reflection transforms experience into learning and strengthens judgment — the ultimate goal of every CFI.