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Remote Cfi Flight Instructor Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Remote Cfi Flight Instructor information

What is a remote CFI flight instructor?

A Remote CFI (Certified Flight Instructor) Flight Instructor is a certified aviation professional who provides flight instruction to students primarily through remote or online platforms. This role leverages technology to teach ground school, theory, and flight procedures without requiring both instructor and student to be physically present in the same location. Remote CFIs can conduct lessons via video calls, virtual flight simulators, and online coursework, making aviation education more accessible and flexible. They still must meet FAA certification requirements and may supplement remote instruction with in-person flight training as needed.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a remote CFI flight instructor?

To thrive as a Remote CFI Flight Instructor, you need an FAA Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) certificate, thorough knowledge of aeronautical subjects, and strong teaching abilities. Familiarity with online training platforms, flight simulation software, and digital communication tools is typically required. Outstanding communication, patience, and adaptability are crucial soft skills for effectively instructing and motivating remote students. These skills and qualifications are essential for ensuring flight safety, regulatory compliance, and effective remote learning experiences.

What are some common challenges faced by remote CFI flight instructors, and how can they be addressed?

Remote CFI Flight Instructors often face challenges such as maintaining effective communication with students in a virtual environment, adapting lesson plans for remote instruction, and ensuring students remain engaged and motivated. To address these issues, it's important to leverage interactive online tools, establish clear communication protocols, and provide regular feedback. Building a supportive learning atmosphere and staying updated on best practices for remote aviation instruction can also help instructors succeed in this role.

What is the difference between Remote Cfi Flight Instructor vs Part-Time Flight Instructor?

AspectRemote Cfi Flight InstructorPart-Time Flight Instructor
CertificationsCertified Flight Instructor (CFI), FAA certificationsCertified Flight Instructor (CFI), FAA certifications
Work EnvironmentRemote online instruction, virtual trainingOn-site flight schools, flight training environments
Employer & Industry UsageFlight schools, online training platformsFlight schools, aviation academies

The main difference is that a Remote Cfi Flight Instructor provides online, remote instruction, often focusing on ground training and theory, while a Part-Time Flight Instructor typically teaches in person at a flight school, conducting actual flight training. Both roles require FAA CFI certification, but their work environments and delivery methods differ significantly.

What are the most commonly searched types of Cfi Flight Instructor jobs in California?

The most popular types of Cfi Flight Instructor jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Remote Cfi Flight Instructor jobs in California?

For Remote Cfi Flight Instructor jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Remote Cfi Flight Instructor jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Remote Cfi Flight Instructor jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Remote Cfi Flight Instructor jobs?

Cities in California with the most Remote Cfi Flight Instructor job openings:

Infographic showing various Remote Cfi Flight Instructor job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% Remote job distribution.

Wildland Firefighter (Smokejumper)

Forest Service

Redding, CA • On-site, Remote

$62K - $87K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 7 days ago


USDA Forest Service rating

7.4

Company rating: 7.4 out of 10

Based on 120 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

159th of 297 rated public sector bodies


Job description

Summary
These positions will be located at a USDA Forest Service Unit.
The primary purpose of this position is to perform wildland firefighting work. These crews perform work directly related to wildland fire suppression and control activities including suppression, preparedness, prevention, monitoring, and hazardous fuels reduction.
See ADDITIONAL INFORMATION section for the specific contact information.
Learn more about this agency
Duties
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  • Duties listed are at full performance grade GW-8 level.
  • Serves as flight crew member/Spotter on smokejumper aircraft with flight duties assigned involving smokejumper preflight gear checks, preflight aircraft inspections, navigation, agency communications and flight checklist responsibilities.
  • Ensures all flight-following policies and procedures are adhered to including full responsibility for aircraft navigation and radio communication.
  • When assigned as Incident Commander, independently manages complex fire operations, directing a variety of fire fighting resources including air tankers, helicopters, hand crews, and engines.
  • Completes reports for time and attendance, fire time, crew time, accident/injury, fire action, individual fire, training, fire replacement requisitions.
  • Where contracted aircraft are assigned to the base, performs the duties of a Project Inspector when so designated by the Base Manager for day-to-day administration of aviation contracts.
  • Serves as an instructor on Forest and Regional training cadres providing expertise in wildland fire suppression, smoke jumping, Incident Command System and air operations.

Requirements
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Conditions of employment
  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service or exempt.
  • Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
  • Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
  • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify.
  • Must be 18 years of age.
  • This is a drug testing designated position. You will be subject to pre-employment and random drug testing. Appointment is based on a negative result. This announcement constitutes 30 days advance notice.
  • Must pass the Work Capacity Test for certain Interagency Fire Program Management or Fire Program Management positions.
  • Willing to live/work in remote locations (volatile/unpredictable).
  • Some Fire positions may have Conditions of Employment such as: a valid state driver's license; a commercial driver's license (CDL); pre-appointment and random drug testing; or a physical or medical examination.
  • Under age 37; less than age 37 after subtracting the months of Permanent Federal Service in a primary or secondary firefighter/law enforcement position or a veteran preference eligible, older than age 37 and is requesting a waiver to the requirement.
  • As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
  • Must be licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as a Senior Parachute Rigger.

Qualifications
In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards.
Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements.
Specialized Experience Requirement:
For the GW-07: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GW-06) in the Federal Service. Examples of specialized experience may include: Performed many technical specializations such as parachute rigging and repair, parachute maneuvering and tree climbing, in support of fire management activities independently; Practiced methods and procedures associated with wildfire suppression to resolve a full range of irregular or problem situations when suppressing wildland fires; Served as a member of a smokejumper crew that parachutes into rugged terrain for fire management purposes.
For the GW-08: Applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GW-07) in the Federal Service. Examples of specialized experience may include: Served as spotter and made critical safety decisions on jump actions and fire strategies and tactics; Assisted in managing Smokejumper Safety Programs such as Smokejumper First Aid or Prescribed Fire/Fuels Treatment and Chainsaw Safety, or Smokejumper Spotter/Pilot Program; Served as a cargo dropper in charge of aerial delivery missions in a variety of aircraft involving both paracargo and free-fall delivery using systems.
Smokejumper duties present unusual hazards and require that personnel be in excellent physical condition and possess a high degree of emotional stability and mental alertness. The health of individuals must be such that they have the capacity to meet demands for performance in the position and for human reliability. Before entrance on duty, and periodically during employment, smokejumpers must undergo a medical exam, physical conditioning, and an adeptness test. Failure to meet any of the required standards will be considered disqualifying for employment or a basis of termination.
See Medical Requirements for Smokejumper Positions.
During the training period, incumbents are continually evaluated on their ability to demonstrate a high level of proficiency in various aspects of parachute jumping and smokejumper-related tasks, including aircraft exit procedures, parachute landing falls, parachute maneuvering, timber let-down procedures, parachute and cargo retrieving, tree climbing, and chainsaw and hand tool use. Incumbents who cannot perform up to the required standards of proficiency will be terminated from the smokejumper program. Smokejumpers must perform safely and efficiently in extreme temperatures and weather conditions, often with severe smoke and dust. Terrain may be extremely steep, uneven, rocky, and covered with thick tangled vegetation. Conditions riding in aircraft may be hot, cramped, and extremely turbulent, which may promote airsickness. The hazardous nature of the work requires that protective clothing (jump suit, helmet, boots, gloves, fire resistant clothing, etc.) be worn and protective equipment, including fire shelters, be carried.
Selective Placement Factors:
Must be licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as a Senior Parachute Rigger under FAR part 65.
Primary firefighter positions include the following age requirements: Under age 37 -OR- less than age 37 after subtracting the months of Permanent Federal Service worked in a primary or secondary firefighter/law enforcement position -OR- a veteran preference eligible, older than age 37 and is requesting a waiver to the maximum age requirement -OR-currently occupy a permanent position with primary fire fighter retirement coverage.
For those who do not currently occupy a permanent Federal position covered under primary fire fighter retirement, you must be under age 37; less than age 37 after subtracting the months of Permanent Federal Service in a primary or secondary firefighter/law enforcement position; or a veteran preference eligible, older than age 37 and requesting a waiver to the requirement.
FIREFIGHTER RETIREMENT COVERAGE: This is a primary/rigorous position covered under the special retirement provisions of 5 USC 8336(c) for the Civil Service Retirement System and of 5 USC 8412(d) for the Federal Employees Retirement System.
WORK CAPACITY TEST (WCT) for Wildland Firefighters: This position participates in wildland firefighting activities. Based on the type of work performed, TAKING and PASSING the WCT at the ARDUOUS level is a condition of employment.
To receive consideration for this position, you must provide updated required documents and meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
Education
There is no substitution of education for specialized experience.
Additional information
For additional information about the duties and location(s) of these positions, please contact regional representative: To see the different locations within the Regional Offices | US Forest Service (usda.gov)
Region 1: Northern Region - Tiffany Counts at tiffany.counts@usda.gov
Region 2: Rocky Mountain Region - Timothy Griffin at timothy.e.griffin@usda.gov
Region 3: Southwestern Region - Tobe Haught at tobe.haught@usda.gov
Region 4: Intermountain Region - Bradley Bugger at bradley.bugger@usda.gov
Region 5: Pacific Southwest Region - Brian Grabowski - brian.grabowski@usda.gov
Region 6: Pacific Northwest Region - Shalyn Whitson shalyn.whitson@usda.gov
Region 8: Southern Region - Russ Marchion at russell.marchion@usda.gov
Region 9: Eastern Region - Brian Hicks at brian.a.hicks@usda.gov or Dave Dukart at david.dukart@usda.gov
Job Corps Center: All Region- Dirk Huber at dirk.huber@usda.gov
Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors.
These are permanent positions with varying tours of duty and may include weekend work. Some positions may have irregular and protracted hours of work. Tours of duty include full-time or less than full time (guaranteed minimum 13 pay periods full-time employment).
Government housing and federal day care facilities may be available.
The duty station for this position will be at one of the duty locations listed in this announcement. Salary range as shown is the locality pay Rest of U.S. (RUS). Pay rates vary by location. Please visit the Office of Personnel Management's website for additional information on pay rates.
Recruitment or Relocation Incentive may be authorized. Final determination to pay an incentive will be made by the hiring official at time of job offer.
The Forest Service may use certain incentives and hiring flexibilities, currently offered by the Federal government, to attract highly qualified candidates. Additional Information is available on the OPM Website.
Selectee will be responsible for tax obligations related to payments for moving expenses - 2017 Tax Cuts and Job Act, Public Law 115-97. Questions should be directed to the Travel Help Desk, 877-372-7248, Option 1, or email SM.FS.asc_tos@usda.gov
PROMOTION POTENTIAL: If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is neither implied or guaranteed.
Positions filled from this announcement may be a bargaining or a non-bargaining unit position represented by either NFFE, AFGE or NAGE.
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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Benefits
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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

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