CFI Marketplace
Find a CFI
Connect with a verified FAA Certificated Flight Instructor for live one-on-one ground instruction. Sessions run on Pilot Standard's secure video room. Pick the path that fits your situation.
Option 1
Browse the directory
See every verified CFI currently listed in the public marketplace. Filter by certificate level, specialty topic, hourly rate, and this-week availability. Pick a CFI yourself, read their bio, and book directly against their published availability.
Best when you know what you're looking for or want to compare instructors.
Option 2
Find me a CFI now
Pick a block length, choose a date and time, and post a quick request. Every verified CFI who has opted into broadcast emails receives it instantly. First to accept becomes your instructor. Pay up front; if no one accepts before your scheduled time you are fully refunded. Both of you get a confirmation email when a CFI accepts.
Best when you need help soon and don't care which qualified CFI takes it.
+ sales tax and payment processing fees
Verified CFIs only. Sessions are billed securely through Stripe Connect. Payouts subject to platform and payment processor fees.
Session change policy
When a session is accepted:
- A session commitment forms at the moment of acceptance. From that point, the cancellation terms below apply to both the student and the instructor.
- On the help board, the student authorizes payment when the request is submitted, and that payment is charged when an instructor accepts the request.
- For a direct booking, the student selects a specific instructor and payment is charged when the booking is confirmed.
- Acceptance schedules a live online ground session at the agreed time. Both parties commit to attend, or to follow the cancellation terms below.
Student cancellations:
- Before a CFI accepts an open help request: the request is cancelled, no session is created, and the student receives a full refund or release of any authorization.
- more than 24 hours before start: full refund; the instructor receives no payout.
- 2 to 24 hours before start: 50% refund; the remaining 50% is settled under instructor payout rules after the review window.
- less than 2 hours before start: no refund unless required by law or approved by admin review; the session is marked as a late cancellation.
- Student no-show after the scheduled start: treated the same as a late cancellation when the instructor is present and available.
Instructor cancellations:
- instructor cancels at any time before the session: the student receives a full refund; the instructor receives no payout.
- Instructor no-show: the student may report the no-show after 15 minutes from the scheduled start if the session never entered in-progress status.
- Confirmed instructor cancellation or instructor no-show adds 1 CFI cancellation strike for marketplace review.
- Three CFI cancellation strikes within a trailing 90-day period triggers admin review of marketplace eligibility.
Unclaimed requests and no-shows:
- If no CFI accepts a help request before the request deadline, the request closes and the student receives a full refund or release of any authorization.
- If neither party joins within 15 minutes of the scheduled start, the session is closed, the student receives a full refund, and no instructor payout is released.
Instructor compensation is released after the session review window when applicable.