What categories of aircraft can a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) provide instruction for?

A Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) is authorized to provide instruction for a specific set of aircraft categories defined by the FAA. The correct choice includes the categories "Airplane," "Rotorcraft," "Glider," and "Lighter-than-air."

"Airplane" refers to fixed-wing aircraft, which is perhaps the most common category for instruction. "Rotorcraft" encompasses both helicopters and other types of rotor-driven aircraft. "Glider" pertains to unpowered fixed-wing aircraft that rely on air currents for flight. "Lighter-than-air" includes hot air balloons and airships, which are capable of flight through buoyancy rather than traditional aerodynamic lift.

This combination clearly aligns with the structure of aircraft categories recognized by the FAA and enables the CFI to instruct students across a broad spectrum of aviation types. Understanding this categorization is essential for both the instructor and the students, as it outlines the scope of instructional authority and the different methods and regulations that apply to each category of aircraft.

The other choices either mislabel aircraft categories or do not align with the FAA's official categories of flight instructor authorization. For instance, terms like "heavier-than-air" are overly broad and not specifically recognized as a category within the FAA framework, while "