Your very first flight instructor will have a lot of impact on your learning, that is why it's important to find one who can make the training process pleasant, organized and worth all the time, effort and money you put into it. If becoming a pilot is your dream, here are some tips on how to choose the flight instructor who will best fit your needs:

Your flight instructor must be qualified. Your flight instructor became one because he or she earned an advanced pilot certificate. That means that they hold an airline or commercial transport pilot certificate. They can't teach unless they have a flight instructor certificate or CFI. Look for this with your primary flight instructor.

Your instrument instructor, on the other hand, must have received his or her instrument instruction rating or CFII. You'll need to meet some FAA requirements and if you received your training from unauthorized flight instructors, you may not be able to receive your pilot's license. All your training hours and the cost that went with it will be for nothing.

Test fly your flight instructor. It's a good idea to go with a potential flight instructor during a routine flight to observe how they fly and the way they teach. Most of them will offer an introductory flight anyway, so take advantage of the chance and see for yourself.

Your flight instructor should have a genuine interest to help you reach your goal and you should feel comfortable with his teaching style. However, he doesn't have to be extra amiable to be the best choice. You want a flight instructor who will expect excellence, discipline and hard work. If he's too lax and you're undisciplined, you might have some problems with learning effectively.

Check if documentations are kept. There is no point of getting any training in aviation if your flight instructor or the school doesn't keep accurate records. Documents will prove the type of training you have undergone and how many hours you have put in. You'll need to fly a minimum number of hours to get your pilot's license and if these can't be corroborated, you might be forced to repeat your training.

Where to find them If you live near an airport, call them up and ask to speak to a flight instructor. You can also arrange to attend some classes taught at the school. Flight academies also often put ads in the yellow pages, so you might want to check those out, too.