Staff Flight Instructor

Are you a flight instructor looking to join the best flight school in the country? San Carlos Flight Center is always looking for safe, enthusiastic, and effective flight instructors.

Update 9/12/25: Our hiring rounds for 2026 have been set: January 19, April 20, and August 17.

Here are the dates for our Q1 2026 CFI Hiring round:

• CFI Hiring Info Session: December 6, 4:00 pm (Zoom link)
• Applications and teaching videos due: December 26, 2025 (post on Youtube andsend link to Chief Pilot)
• Ground interviews: Monday, December 29 – Saturday, January 3
• Flight interviews and job offers: Monday, January 5 – Saturday, January 10
• Start date: Monday, January 19, 2026

The Flight Center is different from other flight schools or flying clubs in a number of ways.

We have a strong flying club feel and a great sense of community. We have many events each month, both training and social. We are a Part 61 school that believes in a strong, thorough syllabus that includes many enhanced training experiences (e.g., tower tours, social dinner flights, etc.). We believe in turning out highly competent pilots who had a great time learning to fly.

Expectations of SCFC Instructors:

• Focus on safety
• Professional behavior
• Prepared for student lessons
• Adherence to FAA, airport, and club rules
• Knowledge of our teaching methods
• Good training documentation
• Work well with others (ATC, line service, front desk, mx)
• Effective quality instruction
• Care about quality and our brand
• PIC command of the student's training path

Note: We don't have a minimum hours requirement. Our hiring minimums are tied to knowledge, skills, and personality. New CFIs are welcome to apply.

Our CFI hiring process is as follows:

1 – Exchange of Info

Complete our online Staff Flight Instructor job application. Along with the application, submit a short (5-8 minutes) video of you teaching one of the following Private Pilot ground topics (post on Youtube and send link):

• ABCDEG Airspace
• Pressure and Density Altitude
• Engine Failures in Flight

2 – Ground Knowledge Interview

Select applicants are invited to a Ground Knowledge Interview with a member of our Chief Pilot team. This can be in person or via Zoom. We will test the depth of your ground knowledge and your ability to learn new material as it is presented to you during the interview.

3 – Flight Test

Applicants who pass the Ground Knowledge Interview are invited to complete a flight skills evaluation flight with us. To be offered a position, at minimum, you must be able to demonstrate a controlled takeoff and a safe landing to our standards (parallel, centerline, nosewheel protected). We also look for overall aircraft stability and rudder use.

4 – New Hire Training (2 weeks)

Flight Instructor Trainees begin a paid 2-week onboarding program that covers SCFC teaching methodologies, SCFC's Private Pilot syllabus, local airspace familiarization, business policies/procedures, and fleet checkouts. Instructors are evaluated regularly to confirm that they are competent in our teaching methodologies and club knowledge. Included in the program are two demonstration/evaluation flights during which we show you some SCFC-specific training exercises and methods.

5 – Promotion to Staff Instructor (and assigned students)

At the end of training, successful new hires that meet all these criteria, join the staff as full employee Staff Instructors and are assigned students.

• Pass final SCFC New Hire Training written exam
• Registered as a TSA training provider, and in IACRA
• Demonstrate SCFC takeoff
• Demonstrate coordinated initial climb
• Demonstrate coordinated, crisp roll-into and roll-out of level 30° bank turns
• Demonstrate SCFC power-off stall maneuver
• Demonstrate SCFC approach and landing with stabilized 70 kt final approach into ground effect
• Demonstrate expert control and maneuverability in landing flare (e.g., ability to move laterally in ground effect while remaining parallel, double touch and go)

Requirements:

• FAA Commercial Pilot Certificate
• FAA Flight Instructor Certificate
• FAA Medical Certificate
• Competency in Google Docs, Slides, and Sheets
• Professional attitude and demeanor
• Able to live and work in the United States
• Able to commute to San Carlos for work 5 days a week

Compensation:

• Flight Instructor Trainees earn $19/hour during New Hire Training
• Staff Instructors earn $44.00 – $62.50/hour (depending on experience)
• Kaiser health care contribution
• Enrollment in company 401(k) plan
• Paid vacation
• Discounts on flight training and aircraft rental
• Annual flight credit

San Carlos Flight Center is an equal opportunity employer and participates in the E-Verify Program.