Why So Many CFIs Are Struggling with the FOI (And How to Fix It)

Oct 11, 2025

If you’re working toward your CFI, there’s one topic that can make or break your check-ride — and too many people are brushing right past it.

We’re talking about the Fundamentals of Instruction (FOI).

Examiners across the country are saying the same thing: CFI applicants are showing up unprepared. Not weak on flight maneuvers, not lost on regulations — but struggling with the teaching side of instruction.

The FOI isn’t just a written test subject. It’s the backbone of what makes you a teacher, not just a pilot. And that means there’s no shortcut through it.



You Can’t Fake the FOI

Kenny’s seen it firsthand through the Final Approach Course. Great pilots, plenty of hours, sharp communication — but when it’s time to apply FOI concepts like learning plateaus, primacy, or defense mechanisms, the wheels start coming off.

The truth? You can’t fake an FOI discussion. Examiners know the difference between memorized answers and real understanding.

That’s why Kenny calls repetition the “CFI superpower.” The more you teach it to yourself, write it down, talk through it, the more it sticks.

“You don’t learn FOI by reading it once. You learn it by writing it, teaching it, and repeating it.”


What Examiners Are Saying

After more than 25 years working with the same examiner, Kenny’s heard the same warning again and again:

“Most applicants aren’t ready for the FOI.”

And it’s not just in Indiana. This is happening all over the U.S.

Applicants underestimate how deep the FOI questions go. They think they can pass with a few flashcards and a highlighter. But the FOI isn’t just about definitions — it’s about explaining how people learn, how you communicate, and how you adapt when things go wrong.

The instructors who pass aren’t the ones who study the most — they’re the ones who practice teaching it.


Repetition Builds Real Instructors

At H.O.G.S., we’ve always said the best CFIs are built, not bought.
The same goes for knowledge.
If you want to pass your CFI check-ride and go on to be a truly effective instructor, commit to doing the work.

Write it.
Say it out loud.
Explain it to someone else.

Repetition is how instructors are made — and it’s the only way to master the FOI.



Free Tools to Help You Study Smarter

You don’t have to do it alone. H.O.G.S. has free study resources designed to help you sharpen your FOI understanding and reinforce the fundamentals that matter most.

📘 Private Pilot 101 – A Helicopter Training Blueprint
📕 Top 10 Check-Ride Tips PDF
📗 H.O.G.S. Study Guide
📙 Helicopter Maneuver Guide

And if you’re close to your CFI check-ride, our Final Approach Course is designed to get you trained, tested, and certified — all in one trip.

👉 FinalApproachCourse.com
📲 Or text Heather at (574) 767-1797 to book your spot.