View from inside a small airplane cockpit flying over the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco Bay during sunset.

Pick your path to the left seat

We built a faster route for every pilot. From first lesson to dream cockpit. Turn 200 hours of prep into a two-minute download.
CFI CANDIDATE

I'm a CFI Candidate

No guesswork. Pass faster with Nate’s system and complete CFI lesson plans.
INSTRUCTOR

I’m a Flight Instructor (CFI)

Teach better. Build hours. Open doors. Get the airline path guide.
SCHOOL

We’re a Flight School

Higher pass rates. Happier students. Stronger brand. Standardize quality across all CFls.

Trusted by students, instructors, flight schools

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4.8/5 from 400+ reviews

Thank you!

I wanted to take a moment to say thank you for everything you do. Your products were a major part of my success in earning my CFI, CFII, and MEI back in 2017, and they've remained an invaluable resource throughout my aviation career.

I am currently an active-duty U.S. Naval Officer and have been serving for the last 21 years. Since 2017, while concurrently serving on active duty, I've also worked part-time as a CFI to gain the experience needed for my post-Navy career goal of becoming an airline pilot. During that time, I've had the privilege of teaching roughly 300 students, including about 20 who went on to earn their flight instructor certificates. Every one of those instructor candidates has followed my recommendation to purchase the "Whole Shebang" just as I did. The clarity and practicality of your material truly set the standard, and I still use them almost daily while instructing.

Your products have helped me far beyond my initial instructor ratings. I relied on them again to refresh my knowledge while preparing for my ATP and 737 type rating, which I obtained in 2021, and that solid foundation made a significant difference.

I'll continue sending my future instructor candidates your way because I genuinely believe in the value you provide to the aviation community. Thank you for everything you do to support pilots at every level.

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KJ

Review for The Whole Shebang

Stop reading reviews and just buy it. There is an unbelievable amount of high-quality content in this package. As the description reads, there are Word files, Excel files, PowerPoint files, PDF copies of all of it, compiled Word files with navigation and bookmarks for easy cross referencing, syllabi, extra endorsement plans, etc. I could go on for past the character limit of this review. Consider it this way: the Whole Shebang is $175. I instruct out of a small airport in a corn field so my rate is $45/hr. Is this set of documents more than I could do in just under 4 hours? Yes, and it's not even a close race. Stop reading and just buy it.

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Bo Landess

Best money you will spend! Get the "Whole Shebang"!

The Backseat Pilot lesson plans are simply some of the best money you will spend in aviation! They are incredibly comprehensive and the ebook is a fantastic format, allowing easy and efficient access on your iPad. These lesson plans have literally saved me hundreds of hours. They are not simply to pass the checkride, I know I'll be referring to them throughout my flying career. I bought the "Whole Shebang", and it was well worth it. The BSP reference card is the best I have seen, and is definitely a permanent addition to my knee board.

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Garrett Point

Great Products!

I have been using The Backseat Pilot's products for years now. I passed my CFI and CFI-I check rides using their lesson plans and I continue to use them for my students now. Their VFR/IFR reference card is permanently attached to my kneeboard and now The Holds reference card will also be permanently attached. The Backseat Pilot has great products that are continuously updated. The Whole Shebang package is great for CFI candidates! Thanks Nate, you guys are doing a great job!

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B. PARKS

Just buy it all!

After searching for the better part of a year for a solid 'kit' to start my Initial CFI from, I found "The Backseat Pilot". I can count on one hand the number of product reviews I have written online... I am rarely so impressed with a product/service and its value that I am willing to write anything.

But... "The Backseat Pilot" kits are different - they are all EXCEPTIONALLY well written, well researched and great as a basis for an expanded kit of your own making or as complete standalone options.

The Whole Shebang is without a doubt one of the BEST VALUES in all of aviation!

I used the ASE CFI kit for my Initial CFI and passed without a hitch the FIRST TIME!    Just buy them - you won't regret it!

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Anthony Jones

The values we fly by

Wingman Mentality

Always ready to guide, mentor, and support you.

Crafted

Built with precision and refined through real CFI feedback.

Forged in Flight

We build what works in the real world, because we’ve lived it.

Boundary‑Breaking Modernization

We adopt new tech when it truly makes training better.

All Signal, No Noise

Clear, distilled tools that cut through clutter.

Collage of three images: top-left shows airplane wing flying over river and forest with mountains in the background; bottom-left shows a smiling pilot in uniform seated in cockpit; right shows a smiling man in military flight suit and blue cap standing in a stadium.
Smiling man wearing a blue uniform jacket with a white shirt and tie against a dark background.
Built by Nate
CFI, CFII, MEI, USAF C-17 Instructor Pilot & Major Airlines Pilot

From Penniless CFI to Industry Leader

Nate graduated top of his class from US Airforce Pilot Training and logged over 8,500 flight hours after founding Backseat Pilot. But he started with nothing, as a broke CFI, he focused on perfecting his reference cards and lesson plans.
When other CFIs began requesting more, he realized he’d created something valuable: a systematic approach to instruction that consistently produced exceptional pilots.
Our Partners

Partner flight schools and podcasts using and endorsing Backseat Pilot

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FAQ

A few of our most common questions. Find more answers to your questions on our FAQ page.

Still have questions?

Can I use the lessons on my checkride?

Definitely! Many pilots have (and passed)! We do, however, recommend that you use our lessons to supplement your own or go through and add/remove/edit the information to ensure you're well prepared for the checkride and are comfortable with the format and flow of the lessons.

And the FAA agrees. Straight from the Aviation Instructor's Handbook:
"Commercially developed lesson plans are acceptable for most training situations, including use by flight instructor applicants during their practical tests. However, all instructors should recognize that even well-designed preprinted lesson plans may need to be modified. Therefore, instructors are encouraged to use creativity when adapting preprinted lesson plans or when developing their own lesson plans for specific learners or training circumstances." (Page 7-9)

What formats is the content delivered in?

Whatever works for you! All content is provided as:

  • PC: Word & PowerPoint
  • Mac: Pages & Keynote
  • PDF

They also work great with Google Docs & Slides.

AND all documents are provided as individual files as well as eBooks with full navigation!

How do I download the content?

After checkout you'll be provided instructions to create an account on the website. The account is tied to the email address used when you place the order.


Login whenever you need to and access the most current content.

How do the updates work?

As content is added or updated, you'll receive an email summarizing the updates. Login to your account, click the My Digital Content button, and you're set!

Are there any subscription fees or future costs?

Nope! Leave the updates to us. One cost, free updates for life. The goal is to continue finding ways to add value without adding costs.

Pilot wearing headphones operating controls inside a small airplane cockpit with multiple digital flight instruments and navigation displays.

Pick your path to the left seat

CFI CANDIDATE

I'm a CFI Candidate

No guesswork. Pass faster with Nate’s system and complete CFI lesson plans.
INSTRUCTOR

I’m a Flight Instructor (CFI)

Teach better. Build hours. Open doors. Get the airline path guide.
SCHOOL

We’re a Flight School

Higher pass rates. Happier students. Stronger brand. Standardize quality across all CFls.