New FAA Training Standards for Certified Flight Instructors Effective May 2025
The FAA has unveiled the updated Airman Certification Standards (ACS) for Certified Flight Instructors (CFI). This marks the most significant overhaul to flight instructor training in nearly a decade. The new Flight Instructor for Airplane Category Airman Certification Standards (FAA-S-ACS-25) will be implemented from May 31, 2025.
One of the key modifications reintroduces stall warning activation and “minimum controllable airspeed” during slow flight demonstrations. This addresses previous concerns about loss-of-control incidents. The revised standards also modernize training by permitting the use of electronic flight bags and computer-generated flight plans. Furthermore, they place a greater emphasis on risk awareness and mitigation.
David St. George, the executive director of the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE), stated that the update process began in 2016. This was when issues were identified with the private pilot ACS that eliminated minimum controllable airspeed requirements. The release of the 111-page document was delayed due to the pandemic. However, it represents a comprehensive overhaul of CFI training standards.
Source: Flying Magazine