This document outlines the evaluation philosophy and training standards governing CFI Academy’s Part 141 programs.
Last Updated: February 15, 2026
Purpose
CFI Academy exists for a singular purpose: to develop professional flight instructors.
Certification is a regulatory event.
Instructional competence is a professional standard.
The FAA Airman Certification Standards (ACS) and Part 141 End-of-Course (EOC) testing standards are intentionally written as certification thresholds. Those standards establish the floor of competency required to hold a certificate.
At CFI Academy, minimum standards are not treated as training targets.
Minimum Certification vs. Professional Preparation
The ACS establishes observable tolerances and task requirements that determine whether an applicant is safe and competent to be certificated.
Those standards are intentionally written as minimum acceptable performance.
Professional instructors, however, must demonstrate:
Consistent control: not tolerance-level control
Structured instructional delivery: not memorized explanation
Applied risk management: not theoretical awareness
Professional judgment under pressure: not marginal performance
For this reason, CFI Academy maintains internal training standards that exceed minimum ACS tolerances.
Training is intentionally structured to create measurable performance margin.
Performance margin ensures that even on a difficult day, under stress, or in unfamiliar circumstances, a candidate remains safely within certification standards.
Stage Check Philosophy
Stage checks at CFI Academy are formal calibration events, not administrative milestones.
Advancement through the course requires demonstration of instructional depth, maneuver consistency, and risk management application beyond minimum certification thresholds.
A candidate may be held at a stage check when:
Instructional explanations lack structure, clarity, or depth
Maneuver performance demonstrates edge-of-tolerance control
Risk management principles are not clearly verbalized and applied
Professional instructional demeanor does not meet expected standards
A stage check hold is corrective, not punitive.
Remediation is structured, documented, and objective.
Advancement occurs only when readiness is clearly demonstrated.
End-of-Course Evaluation Integrity
Under Examining Authority granted pursuant to 14 CFR Part 141, End-of-Course practical tests are conducted by designated Airman Certification Representatives (ACRs).
The EOC evaluation confirms readiness for certification.
It is not a learning event.
Candidates who do not meet published standards will not pass.
Evaluation integrity takes precedence over pass-rate optics.
Certification is earned, not managed.
Performance Margin Doctrine
Minimum standards certify pilots.
Elevated standards produce instructors.
CFI Academy’s doctrine requires:
Consistent maneuver performance within published tolerances
Instructional presentations aligned with FAA methodology
Demonstrated application of risk management principles
Professional cockpit and classroom presence
The objective is not simply successful completion of a practical test.
The objective is durable instructional competence.
Transparency & Accountability
CFI Academy publishes annual training and evaluation data, including:
Enrollment totals
Stage check hold rates
First-attempt EOC pass rates
Overall EOC pass rates
Remediation outcomes
Transparency reinforces accountability.
Integrity in evaluation protects the value of every certificate earned at CFI Academy.
Leadership Commitment
Since 1998, my work in flight training has been grounded in a single principle: training standards must exceed testing standards.
The FAA establishes minimum certification criteria to ensure safety and competency. As instructors, our responsibility extends beyond minimums. We are entrusted with developing professionals who will themselves train and evaluate future pilots.
CFI Academy’s doctrine reflects that responsibility.
We will hold candidates when standards are not met.
We will remediate when improvement is required.
We will certify only when readiness is demonstrated.
Integrity in evaluation protects not only our examining authority, but the value of every certificate earned here.
Manpreet “Prince” Singh
Chief Flight Instructor
CFI Academy
