Definition
A person certificated by the FAA to provide ground or flight instruction to student pilots and other airmen, responsible for teaching aeronautical knowledge, flight skills, judgment, and safe operating practices in accordance with FAA standards.
Plain English
Someone qualified and approved by the FAA to teach others how to fly or to teach the knowledge needed for flying.
Context Anchor
Seen throughout the Aviation Instructor’s Handbook when discussing how instructors teach, communicate, motivate students, and manage human behavior in training.
Derivation
From Latin instruere, meaning 'to build up' or 'to equip.' An instructor literally equips the student with the knowledge and skills they need — a useful image, since teaching flying is less about lecturing and more about building a capable pilot piece by piece.
Why Pilots Care
The aviation instructor is the primary gatekeeper of safe pilot development. Their teaching shapes habits, decision-making, and airmanship that will follow a pilot for their entire career.
Intuition Check
Do not assume an aviation instructor is just an experienced pilot giving tips. In this context, the instructor is responsible for teaching aviation in a structured way so the learner gains real understanding and safe habits.
Example Sentence 1
The aviation instructor reviewed the day's lesson plan with the student before they walked out to the aircraft.
Example Sentence 2
An aviation instructor must evaluate student readiness before endorsing a solo flight.