At the most fundamental level, all CFIs are the same, in that they have received the required training, passed the test to become commercial pilots and passed another set of tests to be certificated to teach others. However, beyond those fundamentals there are vast differences and variables such as personality, teaching style, availability, and organizational skills.

You may have an intro flight with an instructor who is all business, while you want a more relaxed atmosphere, and you'd like to chat and get to know them a bit better. Maybe you're the one who prefers the all-business approach, and a friendly, outgoing instructor rubs you the wrong way. Maybe they are more assertive than you would prefer, or not assertive enough.

There are many different personality types, and you will need to invest a lot of time (and money) with your flight instructor, so it’s essential to find the right fit for your personality and preferences. It’s perfectly acceptable to pursue your flight training with a different instructor than the one you flew with for your first flight.

Ask any potential CFI about their teaching style, and how they might adapt their approach to your style of learning. You may get more out of visual aids and group discussions than one-on-one lectures. Every CFI receives training on how to adapt to different learning styles, and the key is communicating about your needs up front. The discussion should also include the amount of feedback the CFI provides, and in what form. You should feel comfortable throughout your flight training that you’re receiving ongoing evaluation of and constructive feedback about your progress. Assembling the building blocks of learning how to fly should be a wholly satisfying experience.

Also, your CFI should be able to fly when you are available. If you have school, work, or family commitments, you need to be open and honest about how often you’ll be able to fly, and when. Find a CFI who is available when you are and who can support a consistent training schedule.

Finally, the CFI should be able to provide you with an organized curriculum and clear, achievable goals. This will ensure you always know what the instructor's expectations are, how to meet them, and how much time (and therefore how much money) it will take to achieve your goal.

Flying is fun, and your CFI is a central factor in that experience. Find one who checks all the boxes of what you are looking for in an instructor. Why not do a little research on the topic? Check out AOPA’s resources on this. The choice is all yours.