The Flight Instructor Guide is an online resource to assist new and aspiring C-category instructors. It provides briefings, whiteboard layouts, and diagrams.
Revised 2023
Download: Flight Instructor Guide [PDF 21 MB]
A hardcopy version is also available to purchase by participants through Vertia at a cost of $70.50 plus GST:
Vertia: 2023 Flight Instructors Guide(external link)
For rotary, see the Helicopter flight instructor manual.
This section of the Flight Instructor Guide supports the Instructional Techniques Course required for an instructor rating.
Flight Instructor Code of Conduct [PDF 279 KB] - standards of behaviour expected from everyone involved in flight training, jointly developed by the Civil Aviation Authority and Aviation New Zealand.
These first seven lessons are provided in this recommended order. Please refer to your CFI for the order your organisation uses.
The order for the following eight lessons will be dictated by the conditions on the day, the student’s ability to learn the new material, and their progress in mastering the skills.
Please refer to your CFI for the order your organisation uses.
The order of the next twelve lessons will be dictated by conditions on the day. It's expected that the student be sent solo to practise these manoeuvres in the training area on a regular basis between dual lessons. Please refer to your CFI.
The instrument lessons are to be carried out as dual instruction only and will be dictated by the conditions on the day. For the compass turns and night flying lessons, these will also involve solo practise subsequent to dual instruction. Please refer to your CFI.
Navigation is much more than simple map-reading, and this navigation section of the Flight Instructor Guide refers to the guide Practical Flying Guide 1: Visual Navigation. The techniques recommended in the guide are thoroughly explained and are not repeated here. To understand the intent of the lessons, the techniques to be taught, and the briefings in this section, it is essential the instructor is familiar with the guide.
If you have any questions about this topic, use our contact form, or email licensing@caa.govt.nz.
