Take Instructing to New Heights
What is a Flight Instructor Rating?
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When you complete your initial Flight Instructor Rating, you also need to complete it with at least one training endorsement. Most pilots choose to complete the Grade 3 Training Endorsement, as this offers the widest initial scope to be able to instruct. The following training endorsements are available.
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1. How do I become a flight instructor?
To become a flight instructor, you need to complete a Flight Instructor Rating (FIR) course. To be eligible to commence the FIR course you must hold either a PPL, CPL or ATPL plus at least 200 flying hours (including 100 as PIC). CASA requires that flight instructors have completed a Principles and Methods of Instruction (PMI) course plus at least 1 training endorsement in addition to completing an instructor training course and passing the instructor rating aeronautical examination.
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2. What are training endorsements?
A training endorsement allows you to instruct someone for specific pilot authorisations. At Learn To Fly Melbourne, we offer Grade 3, Grade 2, Grade 1 Training Endorsement; Multi-Engine Training Endorsement; Instrument Rating Training Endorsement; Aerobatics & Spinning Training Endorsement; Design Feature Training Endorsement and Night VFR Rating Training Endorsement.
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3. What can a flight instructor do?
Flight instructors can teach student pilots and conduct flight and theory training for pilot licences, ratings and endorsements, with limitations. There are 3 levels of flight instructor, known as grades; flight instructors will start at grade 3 and can complete further training to advance towards grade 1. Flight instructors are able to complete training endorsement courses that allow them more flight training privileges, including conducting training for specific ratings, endorsements and flight activities, as well as sending students solo and conducting flight reviews.
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4. What are the benefits of becoming a flight instructor?
Becoming a flight instructor is an enormous benefit to your professional development as a pilot as well as your career. Learning how to effectively teach different personalities and different learning styles is a worthy life skill on its own, and applying it to flight training scenarios, in turn, enhances your own flying knowledge and skills. Flight instructors are in demand in the aviation industry worldwide and that demand will only continue to grow. In addition, a flight instructor role allows you to get paid while you build your flight hours towards being eligible for other opportunities like direct entry airline pilot roles.
Flight Instructor Rating FAQ
Training Endorsements Summary
Multi-Engine Training Endorsement
An excellent option for flight instructors that want the opportunity to build more multi-engine flying hours, a Multi-Engine Training Endorsement allows you to teach the syllabus for the Multi-Engine Class Rating course.
Grade 3 Training Endorsement
Grade 3 Training Endorsement allows you to teach RPL, PPL and CPL syllabus. This offers the greatest initial instructing scope for new instructors.
Grade 1 & Grade 2 Training Endorsement
Progressing to Grade 2 and Grade 1 status allows instructors to grow their flight training capabilities and expand on their privileges, including sending students solo, assessing KDRs, granting licence endorsements, and supervising other instructors.
Instrument Rating Training Endorsement
An Instrument Rating Training Endorsement allows you to conduct Instrument Rating flight training. This means you can continue building overall flight hours in more conditions and helps to maintain your instrument flying proficiency.
Aerobatics & Spinning Training Endorsement
The Aerobatics & Spinning Training Endorsement allows you to instruct the aerobatics and spinning training syllabus. Aside from being a lot of fun, these flight activities are important for maintaining your ability to handle abnormal aircraft situations.
Night VFR Training Endorsement
If you are looking to build your flying hours faster, being able to fly at night is a huge advantage. The Night Visual Flight Rules (VFR) Training Endorsement allows you to train and conduct flight reviews for the Night VFR course.
Design Feature Training Endorsement
Some aircraft have features that require additional training, such as a tailwheel undercarriage, retractable undercarriage, and manual pitch propeller control (MPPC). A Design Feature Training Endorsement allows you to teach the syllabus for any design feature endorsements you hold.
About Our
Instructors
Kenny Won
Grade 1 Instructor
Training:
FIR, CPL & More
Kenny Won
Grade 1 Instructor
Grade 1 LTF Instructor Kenny Won is originally from Korea and grew up in Hong Kong, and was fascinated by planes from a young age. He still clearly remembers a visit to the cockpit of an Airbus A320 during a flight when he was about 7 or 8 years old, and making the decision that this was what he wanted to do in the future.
Kenny started flying in 2017 in the USA, and obtained his PPL training part time whilst also studying at University. Following Uni, he returned to Hong Kong and worked in another industry for a couple of years before a career in the sky called to him.
He came to Australia and completed his CPL and Flight Instructor Rating with us here at LTF in 2019, and we’re now thrilled to welcome him back as an Instructor. Kenny’s ultimate goal is flying with an international airline.
Nick Harris
Head of Operations | Flight Examiner
Training:
Multi-Engine, IFR, Formation & more
Nick Harris
Head of Operations | Flight Examiner
Originally from London, Senior Base Pilot and Grade 1 Flight Instructor Nick Harris has been flying for over 12 years. He tells us that it “seemed like a good idea at the time” to become a pilot, but we think that maybe it had more to do with growing up watching the Concorde take off over his house (um, that’s pretty awesome).
As an instructor, Nick loves seeing how excited students get after their first solo, or after passing their flight test.
He hopes to one day fly a Tiger Moth around Australia – and in fact, he’s actually building one at the moment to do just that!
Lachlan Smith
Grade 1 Flight Instructor
Training:
FIR, Multi-Engine, IFR & More
Lachlan Smith
Grade 1 Flight Instructor
Lachlan, a passionate aviation enthusiast, has been captivated by flight from a young age. Born with a deep-seated curiosity for flying, this lifelong interest in aviation would ultimately become the driving force behind his remarkable journey.
As a dedicated training manager, Lachlan has channelled his passion into assisting aspiring aviators in achieving their goals with precision and efficiency. With an unwavering commitment to guiding students towards their aviation dreams, he strives to ensure that they meet their objectives on time and with minimal delay. Lachlan knows that every moment counts in the world of aviation, and he brings his expertise and dedication to bear in helping students navigate their training with the utmost efficiency.
Outside the realm of aviation, Lachlan finds solace and joy in his love for sports and travel. Whether it's cheering for his favourite team on the weekend or embarking on adventures to explore the world, he embraces the thrill of these activities with the same fervour that drives his work. Through these interests, Lachlan maintains a balance in his life, allowing him to recharge and bring fresh perspectives to his students and colleagues.
In all of these endeavours, he embodies a spirit of enthusiasm and dedication that continues to inspire those around him.
Joshua Best
Student Training Manager | Flight Examiner
Training:
Multi-Engine, FIR, IFR & more
Joshua Best
Student Training Manager | Flight Examiner
Josh started his flying training at age 16 but was born with aviation in his blood. He remembers flying around the Victorian Gippsland region in Cessna 172s with his grandfather as a small child, as well as regular trips to some of the larger airports to watch the “big planes” coming and going.
As a Flight Instructor, Josh loves the fact that every day there is something different to teach. He’s also a big fan of the fact that typically, every customer or student leaves with a smile on their face after flying.
Whilst Josh would one day love to fly in a domestic passenger transport role, his ultimate goal is to join the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
David Buultjens
Grade 1 Flight Instructor
Training:
Multi-Engine, FIR, IFR & more
David Buultjens
Grade 1 Flight Instructor
Born in Sri Lanka, Grade 1 LTF Flight Instructor David Buultjens moved to Australia as a 7-year-old with a dream to one day be a pilot and have the “best office view in the world”.
He started his flight training in 2013 and has now been instructing for nearly 3 years. He loves being able to help those with a passion for aviation to accomplish their flying goals.
Whilst he’s already achieved his childhood dream of having the world’s best office view, he’d love to one day work with a major international airline.
Lawrence Byrnes
Grade 1 Instructor
Training:
Multi-Engine, Formation, Aero & more
Lawrence Byrnes
Grade 1 Instructor
Grade 1 Flight Instructor Lawrie Byrnes has a LOT of aviation experience, having been flying for over 50 years! He grew up in Melbourne and was always fascinated with model aeroplanes as a youngster.
It wasn’t until later on when he was being escorted around Vietnam in C130 Hercules aircraft that he truly realised that the pilot life was his calling. His career has seen him flying for regional airlines and charter in an impressive range of aircraft that includes the Mitsubishi MU-2, Douglas DC3, Cessna Citation, Beechcraft 1900 and Piper PA31 Navajo.
Lawrie loves striving for accuracy in his flying, and after his extensive career, he has turned his attention to Aerobatics, Formation and IFR. We’re thrilled to have such an experienced pilot on board to head up our Formation and Aerobatics Endorsement courses.
Shayaan Sohtra
Grade 2 Flight Instructor
Role:
RPL, PPL, CPL & More
Shayaan Sohtra
Grade 2 Flight Instructor
Shayaan is a Grade 2 Flight instructor here at Learn To Fly. Growing up in the Middle East — Shayaan was always travelling to see family in other countries. Shayaan shares his favourite part about holidaying was boarding the aircraft, which kickstarted his fascination for aviation. He always knew he wanted to be a pilot from a very young age.
When Shayaan moved to Australia, he started flying at Moorabbin when he was 16. He was able to obtain his RPL at 17 and continued flying after finishing school and later finished his PPL, and CPL with us here at Learn To Fly. Shayaan also achieved his MEIR as well as FIR with us at Learn To Fly.
Shayaan is outgoing, vibrant and personable and always loves a good discussion.
What he enjoys about instructing the most is getting to know students' dreams and ambitions and helping them achieve them! Shayaan believes that motivation is a great drive but flight training is sometimes challenging so his goal is always to communicate and challenge students to think outside the box.
Shayaan is living part of his dream right now because ever since he started flight training he wanted to be an instructor. In the long term, he aims to fly the PC-24 for the RFDS, helping people and meeting their needs.
Hannah Burnett
Grade 1 Flight Instructor
Role:
RPL, PPL, CPL, FIR & More
Hannah Burnett
Grade 1 Flight Instructor
Hannah was born and raised in Melbourne. She studied for the Diploma of Aviation and went on to achieve her CPL and Multi-engine Class Rating.
When going on holidays, Hannah often looked forward to flying. Pursuing an aviation career was always on her mind as a possibility after high school, but she first attended university for a year. After that year, she realised that her passion for aviation was stronger, and had never looked back.
Hannah loves instructing her students, she takes great joy in passing on her knowledge and seeing them progress. She says it is very rewarding to watch them develop their own skills and show understanding of her lessons.
Hannah would love to one day fly for a major airline. In the immediate future, she looks forward to becoming a grade 1, and then multi-engine instructor.
Martin Hussey
Grade 2 Flight Instructor
Role:
RPL, PPL, CPL & More
Martin Hussey
Grade 2 Flight Instructor
Martin's fascination with aviation took root when a family trip exposed him to the world of flying. A chance to explore the cockpit ignited a lifelong passion for aviation.
Having completed a Bachelor of Aviation in Queensland, followed by rigorous training at the Qantas Group Pilot Academy, he relocated to Melbourne and further fortified his expertise by achieving his G3 FIR at Learn To Fly. Martin aspires to progress through the instructing ranks, aiming for Grade 2 and, ultimately, a Grade 1. Beyond his instructional role, his sights are set on serving with either the Royal Flying Doctor Service or the airlines.
When Martin's feet are on the ground, he finds joy in sports like Cricket, AFL (where he passionately supports West Coast), and Formula 1. His curiosity about the world drives him to explore different cultures through travel, an endeavour that enriches his perspective. Martin finds profound fulfilment in imparting his wisdom to eager minds, witnessing their growth, and guiding them toward achieving their flying ambitions. Through every takeoff and landing, Martin's journey continues to be one of passion, determination, and pursuit.
Our
Graduates
