Dear CFI Candidate,

We would like to take a brief moment to share some details about our school before potentially scheduling a first interview and also provide some do’s and don’ts when submitting your materials. The interview process begins at first contact with us, whether you are making an informational inquiry or submitting your cover letter and resume. These tips will help you get through the first part of the process by providing quality paperwork and putting your best foot forward.

Who We Are
Chicago Executive Flight School – Established over 30 years ago at KPWK.

Experienced Leadership:

  • Our Chief Pilot has over 36 years of flight experience.
  • Our Safety Officer has been flying since 1966.

Our Fleet & Instructors:
Aircraft (Total: 9):

  • 2 Beechcraft C23s
  • 3 Cessna 150s
  • 4 Cessna 172s

Currently, we employ 9 Certified Flight Instructors (CFIs) and are hiring 4 more.

What We Do
We provide premium flight instruction services, primarily catering to high-net-worth individuals—including C-suite executives, doctors, and lawyers—as well as younger pilots beginning their aviation careers. We specialize in beginners.

What We Provide

  • Employment Status: You will be hired as an employee, not a contractor.
  • For Apprentice CFIs (ACFIs):
    • We cover part of your continuing education expenses at our school.
    • You will receive a 20% discount on aircraft rentals.
  • Compensation:
    • Starts at $20/hour for both ground and flight instruction in one-on-one student sessions.
    • Once you’ve completed the ACFI Program and become certified as a Chicago Executive Flight School CFI, your base rate increases to $25/hour for both ground and flight instruction.
    • Instructors with greater experience will begin at pay rates commensurate with their expertise.
  • Immersion Flight Pay:
    • Remains at $20/hour, as instructors typically earn $20 to $100 in cash tips per Immersion Flight, which can add up to a few hundred dollars extra per week. We encourage you to provide excellent service to maximize your tips as a valuable source of income.
  • Pay Increases:
    • As you gain skills and experience, your pay may increase based on performance evaluations by the Chief Pilot.
  • Additional Earning Opportunities:
    • Selling an Immersion GoPro: $10 per sale.
    • Filming an Immersion Flight: $10 per flight.
    • Selling a Phase 2 Flight Lesson: 10% commission on the package price.
    • Flight Hours Bonus: Incremental $2/hour increases based on monthly flight hour benchmarks.

What We Expect/Require

  • Availability:
    • Weekend availability is required, as this is our busiest time with students.
    • Instructional slots start as early as 7 AM.
  • Workload:
    • We anticipate that you’ll be flying many hours, especially during the summer months. (The first three flights that a student experiences are conducted with three different instructors, after which the student selects their primary instructor. The higher the quality of instruction you provide, the more likely students are to choose you as their primary instructor.)
  • Commitment & Professionalism:
    • A commitment to providing high-quality instruction without compromising safety.
    • Maintaining a professional image at all times.
    • A 1-year commitment is required.

Next Steps
Please send us the following information if it is missing from your resume:

  • Cover Letter.
  • Test scores from FAA exams. YES, these scores matter! They are your transcripts.
  • Any criminal background information, if applicable.
  • Hours flown in each type of aircraft (e.g., type of Cessna, etc.).

Dos and Don’ts

Do:

Communication:

  • Have voicemail set up on your cell phone.
  • Return calls within 24 hours and emails within 48 hours.

Resume & Cover Letter:

  • Include your educational background and flight training on your resume.
  • Include your current address.
  • Ensure your resume is up to date.
  • Personalize your cover letter.
  • List the flight hours per aircraft flown on your resume.
  • Include all work experience (not just in the aviation field) on your resume.

Interview Preparation:

  • Practice interviewing via Zoom with a friend or family member (e.g., lighting, how to blur your background, where to look, background noise, etc.).
  • When answering interview questions, keep your answers concise and on topic—no more than 2-3 minutes in length.
  • Look the part (professional attire and grooming).
  • Log into the video interview at least 5 minutes prior to the start time.

Research:

  • Research Chicago Executive Flight School’s social media presence (website, Facebook, Instagram, etc.) and take notes—we will NOT proceed forward with a candidate that is incapable of doing this research.
  • Join Chicago Executive Flight School’s social media pages; create an account if necessary.
  • Follow the directions on all emails/invites sent by Chicago Executive Flight School. (If you can’t do this, why would we trust you in an airplane???)

Inquiries:

  • Reach out prior to the interview if you have questions and/or concerns.

Don’t:

Voicemail:

  • Have your voicemail box full or not set up.
  • Have an unprofessional voicemail message or answer the phone unprofessionally.

Documentation:

  • Put the wrong company’s name on the cover letter (seriously!!!).
  • Don’t use AI to write your cover letter. (Your application will not make it past our screening.)
  • Use the word “esteemed” in your cover letter.
  • Misspell a person’s name in the organization on documentation.
  • Leave a generic watermark on your resume and/or cover letter.

Interview Conduct:

  • Use profanity or “slang” terms in your interview(s).
  • Make it look like you are available for employment when you aren’t available in the very near future (like a month).
  • Even attempt to conduct a video interview in a public place or in your car (we will end the interview immediately and not reschedule).
  • Use headphones during a video interview.

We look forward to reviewing your materials and potentially scheduling a first interview. Thank you for your interest in Chicago Executive Flight School.

Sincerely,
Chicago Executive Flight School

To apply, please email your resume and cover letter to our Vice President of Operations, Scott Kuhfeldt, at [email protected]. Then, follow up with a call at 1-800-901-0730 ext. 154.