Work-Induced Fatigue and Burnout Among Flight Instructors

FAA regulations limit flight training to 8 hours in any 24 hours, but this doesn't apply to non-flying instructor duties. Certified Flight Instructors (CFIs) often face long hours, irregular schedules, and low pay, contributing to the transient nature of flight instruction as a stepping stone to an airline pilot career. Resulting fatigue and burnout jeopardize training quality and flight safety.

This research uses a unique survey methodology combining original and validated questionnaires to identify factors contributing to fatigue and burnout among CFIs, extending to assessing impact on CFI and student perspectives on training quality and safety. Focus groups with a representative sample of CFIs and flight students capture context behind the survey insights and allow generalization for the USA.

The research challenges the conventional treatment of CFIs as trainees and proposes recommendations to enhance their work-life quality, expanding previous research by including collegiate and fixed-base operator environments — potentially impacting ~125,000 CFIs in the United States.

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