CFI CANDIDATE

An Easier Path to CFI

Go from overwhelmed to confident...with one click.

I built a system that kills the guesswork so you can pass faster.

Nate Ehlers
CFI, CFII, MEI, USAF C-17 Instructor Pilot & Major Airlines Pilot
8,500+
Flight Hours
5,000+
Turbine Hours
CFI/CFII/MEI
Ratings

We'll help you get where you want to go (sooner).

Used by pilots who now fly for the world's best.
An All-In-One CFI Accelerator

More time to focus on Teaching & Flying

Smiling man sitting on a couch using a laptop in a cozy living room.

Lesson Plans

Battle-tested CFI, CFI-I, and MEI lesson plans refined over 10+ years:
  • Fully editable: Adapt our materials to fit YOUR style (Word/PPT, Pages/Keynote, PDFs)
  • FREE Updates for Life: Stay current with evolving regs and content improvements
  • Proven quality: Clean, organized, and hundreds of glowing reviews
  • Save hundreds of hours: Don't reinvent the wheel; use what already works.
  • Flagship product: Most CFIs say their self-built plans never came close.

Tools

Essential tools to study, teach, and think like a CFI:
  • An All in One Toolkit: Setting you up for success during and after training
  • ACS Reviews: Task by task and element by element breakdown of the Private, Instrument, Commercial & CFI ACS
  • Syllabi: Apply your custom tailored Lessons & Slides to teach future Private, Instrument, Commercial, Multi-engine, and CFI students
  • Instructor Workflows: Track student progress through the syllabi, adjust ground & flight hours to customize YOUR training programs
  • Backseatpilot.ai : Your Backseat Pilot AI fueled training partner - Learn, Teach, Receive Feedback
Small twin-engine airplane on runway with propellers spinning and pilot making a peace sign in the cockpit.
Smiling man with beard working on a laptop at a desk in a cozy room with bookshelves and a plant.

Live instruction

Live classes with expert support every step of the way.
  • Learn from the best: Led by a Gold Seal CFI, Assistant Chief, FAASTeam Rep, and USAF veteran.
  • Unlimited access: Join as many classes as you need.
  • Reduce retake risk: Weekly practice and real-time feedback boost first-attempt pass rates.
  • Comprehensive coverage: Mock checkride prep, CFII/MEI sessions, and open office hours.
  • True readiness: Walk into your checkride confident, prepared, and fully supported.

Unbeatable Stats. Unmatched Results. Uncompromising Support.

9 of 10

CFIs prefer Backseat Pilot

30,000+

pilots trained

6 million

hours saved

Over 20%

pass rate boost

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

Five stars icon
4.8/5 from 400+ reviews

From Overwhelmed to CFI

Backseat Pilot has helped thousands of pilots go from anxious and uncertain to confident and ready - faster than they thought possible.

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.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur Link

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.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur Link

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.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur Link

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!

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur Link

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!

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur Link

Anthony Jones

The CFI Community Voted - And Backseat Pilot Was the Clear Winner.

In a poll of the leading online CFI community, Backseat Pilot was preferred by roughly 85% of voters, with the remaining voters split among 3 other options.
Backseat Pilot
85%
Others (3 combined)
15%
Source: CFI Study Group community poll, September 2025.

Aviation's Strongest Guarantee

If you're not happy, we're not happy.

Lifetime Updates

Always current.

Built by Experience

Designed by CFIs and continuously improved by real pilot feedback.

Satisfaction Guaranteed

If you don’t feel fully prepared, we’ll stay with you until you are.

Premier Support

Live classes, proven content, and a team that has your back

Student Success Stories

Hear from pilots who made the leap from Overwhelmed to CFI
"I really recommend it to help you organize and teach."
Mark Ladwig
CFI-I & Former Olympian
"Oh my god, what a time saver… I recommend it without question."
Mike R.
CFI

Share Your Backseat Pilot Success Story

Send us a message sharing Backseat Pilot experience. Get featured + BSP Wingman bonus if published.
Highlights

Get to CFI Faster

Save months of prep, start earning sooner, and reach your dream job faster

Fully customizable

Always up to date

Hundreds of Lessons, Slides and Syllabi

Lifetime updates

Save 200+ hours

Samples

I. Fundamentals of Instructing

II. Technical Subject Areas

  • A. Human Factors
  • B. Visual Scanning & Collision Avoidance
  • C. Runway Incursion Avoidance
  • D. Principles of Flight / Slides
  • D. Forces of Flight (Addt'l info)
  • E. Flight Controls & Operation of Systems
  • F. Performance & Limitations
  • G. National Airspace System
  • H. Navigation Systems & Radar Services
  • I. Navigation & Flight Planning
  • J. 14 CFR & Publications
  • K. Endorsements & Logbook Entries
  • M. Night Operations
  • N. Supplemental Oxygen
  • O. Pressurization

III. Preflight Preparation

IV. Preflight on a Lesson

  • A. Maneuver Lesson

V. Preflight Procedures

  • A. Preflight Assessment
  • B. Flight Deck Management
  • C. Engine Starting
  • D. Taxiing, Airport Signs & Lighting
  • E. Before Takeoff Check

VI. Airport Operations

  • A. Comms, Light Signals & Runway Lighting
  • B. Traffic Patterns

VII. TOs, LDGs & Go-Arounds

  • A. Normal Takeoff & Climb
  • B. Normal Approach & Landing
  • C. Soft-Field Takeoff & Climb
  • D. Soft-Field Approach & Landing
  • E. Short-Field Takeoff & Climb / Slides
  • F. Short-Field Approach & Landing
  • M. Slip to a Landing
  • N. Go-Around/Rejected Landing
  • O. Power-Off 180 Approach & Landing

VIII. Fundamentals of Flight

  • A. Straight-and-Level
  • B. Turns
  • C. Straight Climbs & Climbing Turns
  • D. Straight Descents & Descending Turns

IX. Maneuvers

X. Slow Flight, Stalls & Spins

  • A. Maneuvering During Slow Flight
  • B. Demonstration of Flight Characteristics
  • C. Power-Off Stalls
  • D. Power-On Stalls
  • E. Accelerated Stalls
  • F. Cross-Controlled Stalls
  • G. Elevator Trim Stalls
  • H. Secondary Stalls
  • I. Spin Awareness & Spins

XI. Basic Instrument Mnvrs

XII. Emergency Operations

XIV. Postflight Procedures

  • A. After Landing, Parking & Securing

XV. Appendix

  • A. Energy Management
  • B. Flight Review
  • C. Plan of Action
  • D. Common Carriage
  • E. ADM, CRM & SRM

I. Fundamentals of Instructing

II. Technical Subject Areas

  • A. Human Factors
  • B. Visual Scanning & Collision Avoidance
  • C. Runway Incursion Avoidance
  • D. Principles of Flight / PowerPoint
  • D. Forces of Flight (Addt'l info)
  • E. Flight Controls & Operation of Systems
  • F. Performance & Limitations
  • G. National Airspace System
  • H. Navigation Systems & Radar Services
  • I. Navigation & Flight Planning
  • J. 14 CFR & Publications
  • K. Endorsements & Logbook Entries
  • M. Night Operations
  • N. Supplemental Oxygen
  • O. Pressurization
  • P. One Engine Inoperative Performance / PowerPoint

III. Preflight Preparation

IV. Preflight on a Lesson

  • A. Maneuver Lesson

V. Preflight Procedures

  • A. Preflight Assessment
  • B. Flight Deck Management
  • C. Engine Starting
  • D. Taxiing, Airport Signs & Lighting
  • E. Before Takeoff Check

VI. Airport Operations

  • A. Comms, Light Signals & Runway Lighting
  • B. Traffic Patterns

VII. TOs, LDGs & Go-Arounds

VIII. Fundamentals of Flight

  • A. Straight-and-Level
  • B. Turns
  • C. Straight Climbs & Climbing Turns
  • D. Straight Descents & Descending Turns

IX. Maneuvers

  • A. Steep Turns
  • E. Ground Reference Maneuvers

X. Slow Flight, Stalls & Spins

  • A. Maneuvering During Slow Flight
  • C. Power-Off Stalls
  • D. Power-On Stalls
  • E. Accelerated Stalls
  • F. Cross-Controlled Stalls
  • I. Spin Awareness & Spins

XI. Basic Instrument Mnvrs

XII. Emergency Operations

XIV. Postflight Procedures

  • A. After Landing, Parking & Securing

XIII. Multiengine Operations

  • A. Maneuvering with OEI
  • B. VMC Demonstration
  • C. Effects of Airspeeds & Configurations OEI

XV. Appendix

  • A. Energy Management
  • B. Flight Review
  • C. Common Carriage
  • D. ADM, CRM & SRM

I. Fundamentals of Instructing

  • A. The Learning Process
  • B. Human Behavior & Effective Communication
  • C. The Teaching Process
  • D. Teaching Methods
  • E. Critique & Evaluation
  • F. Flight Instructor Characteristics & Responsibilities
  • G. Planning Instructional Activity

II. Technical Subject Areas

III. Preflight Preparation

IV. Preflight on a Lesson

  • A. Maneuver Lesson

V. Air Traffic Controls Clearances & Procedures

  • A. ATC Clearances
  • B. Compliance with Departure, En Route, and Arrival Procedures & Clearances
  • X. ATC System
  • XX. Low Visibility Taxi

VI. Flight by Reference to Instruments

  • A-E. BAI Flight / PowerPoint
  • A. Straight-and-Level Flight
  • B. Turns
  • C. Change of Airspeed
  • D. Constant Airspeed Climbs & Descents
  • E. Constant Rate Climbs & Descents
  • F. Timed Turns to Magnetic Compass Headings
  • G. Steep Turns / PowerPoint
  • H. Recovery from Unusual Flight Attitudes

VII. Navigation Systems

VIII. Instrument Approach Procedures

  • A. Non-Precision Instrument Approach
  • B. Precision Instrument Approach
  • C. Missed Approach
  • D. Circling Approach
  • E. Landing from a Straight-In Approach
  • X. Procedure Turns

IX. Emergency Operations

  • A. Loss of Communications
  • B. Approach with Loss of Primary Flight Instruments
  • C. Engine Failure during Straight-and-Level & Turns
  • D. Instrument Approach & Landing with an Inoperative Engine

X. Postflight Procedures

  • Checking Instruments & Equipment

XI. Appendix

  • A. ADM, CRM & SRM
  • B. Instrument Proficiency Check

I. Preflight Preparation

II. Preflight Procedures

  • A. Preflight Assessment
  • B. Flight Deck Management
  • C. Engine Starting
  • D. Taxiing
  • E. Before Takeoff Check

III. Airport Operations

  • A. Comms, Light Signals & Runway Lighting
  • B. Traffic Patterns

IV. TOs, LDGs & Go-Arounds

  • A. Normal Takeoff & Climb
  • B. Normal Approach & Landing
  • C. Soft-Field Takeoff & Climb
  • D. Soft-Field Approach & Landing
  • E. Short-Field Takeoff & Climb
  • F. Short-Field Approach & Landing
  • M. Power Off 180 Approach & Landing
  • N. Go-Around/Rejected Landing

V. Maneuvers

  • A. Steep Turns
  • B. Steep Spiral
  • C. Chandelles
  • D. Lazy Eights
  • E. Eights on Pylons

VI. Navigation

  • A. Pilotage & Dead Reckoning
  • B. Navigation Systems & Radar Services
  • C. Diversion
  • D. Lost Procedures

VII. Slow Flight & Stalls

VIII. High Altitude Operations

  • A. Supplemental Oxygen
  • B. Pressurizations

IX. Emergency Operations

  • A. Emergency Descent
  • B. Emergency Approach & Landing
  • C. System & Equipment Malfunctions
  • D. Emergency Equipment & Survival Gear
  • E. Engine Failure during Takeoff
  • F. Engine Failure After Liftoff
  • G. Approach & Landing with an Inop Engine

X. Multiengine Operations

  • A. Maneuvering with One Engine Inoperative
  • B. VMC Demonstration
  • C. One Engine Inop by Reference to Instruments
  • D. Instrument Approach & Landing with One Engine Inop

XI. Postflight Procedures

Get Samples

Get the complete sample pack

Skip the individual downloads - we’ll email you every sample file instantly.
Thank you! Your samples are on the way!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

A Simple, Stress-Free Path to Checkride-Ready.

Streamline your preparation with Backseat Pilot's resources, so you can focus on flying and teaching.

Prep

Turn two months of writing lessons for your checkrides into a 2 minute download with our ready-to-use lesson plans and slide decks covering every single CFI, MEI, & CFI-I ACS and PTS task. Tailor them to your needs (or use them as-is) and start practicing teaching!

Check

Go to your instructor checkrides confident with personally tailored lessons & slide decks designed for YOUR success.

Teach

Take your tailored lessons & slide decks and seamlessly transition to instructing future pilots with detailed syllabi, ACS Reviews, and our adaptable resources.

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.
BSP Wingman™

Join BSP Wingman

Type
Placement
Thank you for your message!
Please try again later.