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CFI! The Book: A Satirical Aviation Comedy
An underpaid, overworked Certified Flight Instructor cheats death while attempting to teach a cast of incompetent student pilots to fly at a skeezy South Florida flight school; all in the quest to build flight time so he can get a “real job” at an airline. The planes break, the regs break, metal gets bent, students are lost at sea, and a Top Gun wannabe student, who has four hundred hours of flight instruction, still hasn’t made his first solo flight. “CFI! The Book” is an over-the-top satirical aviation comedy that’s loosely based on real world experiences of flight instruction, but if the FAA asks, this is all strictly fictional.
156 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 29, 2018
222 people are currently reading
127 people want to read
About the author
Alex Stone
296 books19 followersAlex Stone grew up in Munster, Indiana. He's been flying since age fourteen and received a Bachelor's Degree in Aviation Science from Western Michigan University. He has worked as a flight instructor and was a "Freight Dog" in the air cargo industry for seven years. In 2009 he released his first novel "Hauling Checks" and in 2018 he released his second novel "CFI! The Book."
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
April 1, 2019
Insight into inner workings of part of a system of air transport, something we all assume, should be working perfectly, by its very nature of transporting people at heights with no return, unless everything is perfect, right? Wrong. Besides inherent entropy, unavoidable because of complexity of these machines, there's also part of it caused by human stupidity, irresponsibility and greed. To survive that, or anything else that's unavoidable, there's one-item checklist: 1. turn it to laugh out loud humour.
Check!
Check!
March 24, 2019
Brought back memories...
I worked as a flight instructor, freight dog, weather manipulator (cloud seeding) bush pilot, and corporate pilot before flying F-15s for Uncle Sugar, and then the airlines until retirement. This book brought back so many crazy memories- trust me, it may seem like Alex is exaggerating the student descriptions, but he is not. If anything, he's being kind!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I'm anxious to read his next one. I think anyone with an interest in aviation will love this tale, but former CFI's will most definitely relate.
√6
I worked as a flight instructor, freight dog, weather manipulator (cloud seeding) bush pilot, and corporate pilot before flying F-15s for Uncle Sugar, and then the airlines until retirement. This book brought back so many crazy memories- trust me, it may seem like Alex is exaggerating the student descriptions, but he is not. If anything, he's being kind!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I'm anxious to read his next one. I think anyone with an interest in aviation will love this tale, but former CFI's will most definitely relate.
√6
January 29, 2019
As a CFI I really enjoyed this book. I would love it if Alex added a chapter on dealing with crazy DPEs.
August 13, 2025
Hilarious, and way too true. A must-read for flight instructors who want a good laugh.
April 8, 2019
There is a general pressure for creators to deliver in their second work because of the expectation they set in their first . However, Alex Stone has out done himself with this short but wonderful prequel which technically becomes the first book, so no pressure!
I love how he opens with this amazing joke-".. hours of boredom followed by seconds of sheer terror, followed by several minutes of screaming, and then we did it again, over and over..." . It truly left me laughing with tears in my eyes. I mean! Alex has managed to pull off what seems to be the funniest aviation novel, much better than his previous book- Hauling Checks. I feel less sorry for him than I did last time, because really, when he himself is able to laugh it out, why shouldn't we? Besides, apart from the several near death experience, everything seems to be blatantly funny .
In an attempt to collect the required amount of flight time before looking for a full-time job, Alex joins a company and becomes a flight instructor only to be surrounded by lunatics at work and head weighted, whining students who are either disinterested or completely lack the knack of flying. To top it all, Alex lives a sorry life with 10 other flight instructors in small space with nearly nothing to eat, a lousy boss and a colleague who quits in the last minute.
People who are capable of laughing at themselves are the best kind of people and you can truly see it in Alex. I can almost imagine him shaking his head as these events unravel itself his life. His sarcasm is gold when he describes his experiences traveling with friends in a single car, going out with people and just losing his head over students who ignore the rules. He boldly jokes about instances that I am sure are most likely illegal. But hey, this is all fictional, isn't it? His approach and ability to turn some of the most painful and traumatic experiences into a sequence of comical events is just commendable. These preposterous and totally absurd episodes are completely distinctive and yet very familiar.The sarcasm of the narration is sometimes so stealthy that one might confuse it to politeness. A lot of incidents in the book keeps you guessing and makes you think if its actually true.His jokes are fast and spontaneous. the exchange between the instructors, the students or "the customers" as the boss calls it is just all over the place and makes you want to smack your forehead and wonder how he stayed for so long. But then you think about Hauling Checks and be like this is luxury compared to that.
I love how he opens with this amazing joke-".. hours of boredom followed by seconds of sheer terror, followed by several minutes of screaming, and then we did it again, over and over..." . It truly left me laughing with tears in my eyes. I mean! Alex has managed to pull off what seems to be the funniest aviation novel, much better than his previous book- Hauling Checks. I feel less sorry for him than I did last time, because really, when he himself is able to laugh it out, why shouldn't we? Besides, apart from the several near death experience, everything seems to be blatantly funny .
In an attempt to collect the required amount of flight time before looking for a full-time job, Alex joins a company and becomes a flight instructor only to be surrounded by lunatics at work and head weighted, whining students who are either disinterested or completely lack the knack of flying. To top it all, Alex lives a sorry life with 10 other flight instructors in small space with nearly nothing to eat, a lousy boss and a colleague who quits in the last minute.
People who are capable of laughing at themselves are the best kind of people and you can truly see it in Alex. I can almost imagine him shaking his head as these events unravel itself his life. His sarcasm is gold when he describes his experiences traveling with friends in a single car, going out with people and just losing his head over students who ignore the rules. He boldly jokes about instances that I am sure are most likely illegal. But hey, this is all fictional, isn't it? His approach and ability to turn some of the most painful and traumatic experiences into a sequence of comical events is just commendable. These preposterous and totally absurd episodes are completely distinctive and yet very familiar.The sarcasm of the narration is sometimes so stealthy that one might confuse it to politeness. A lot of incidents in the book keeps you guessing and makes you think if its actually true.His jokes are fast and spontaneous. the exchange between the instructors, the students or "the customers" as the boss calls it is just all over the place and makes you want to smack your forehead and wonder how he stayed for so long. But then you think about Hauling Checks and be like this is luxury compared to that.
January 8, 2019
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
The hilarious and fringe world of aviation comes back into play in author Alex Stone’s second novel, “CFI! The Book: A Satirical Aviation Comedy”. Here is the synopsis:
The Synopsis
An underpaid, overworked Certified Flight Instructor cheats death while attempting to teach a cast of incompetent student pilots to fly at a skeezy South Florida flight school; all in the quest to build flight time so he can get a "real job" at an airline. The planes break, the regs break, metal gets bent, students are lost at sea, and a Top Gun wannabe student, who has four hundred hours of flight instruction, still hasn't made his first solo flight. "CFI! The Book" is an over-the-top satirical aviation comedy that's loosely based on real world experiences of flight instruction, but if the FAA asks, this is all strictly fictional.
The Review
It was fun, exhilarating and exciting to jump back into the world of Alex Stone’s fictional, satirical yet all too real world of aviation hijinx. An interesting approach to the satirical aviation comedy series that the author has created, this second book of the author’s actually will surprise readers as it alludes to a prequel setting for the first novel of the author, “Hauling Checks”. You can read my review of that novel using the button below.
The story was sometimes heart-pounding, sometimes realistic but always hilarious as the author showcased many cases of impossible students and shady bosses. From an Italian student who refuses to show up to class, to an entitled student pilot who demands the instructor’s compliance and a sneaky boss who will do anything to squeeze a few more bucks out of these clueless students.
The Verdict
This is a worthy successor to the first novel author Alex Stone published. Witty, charming, sarcastic and real, this was a well written satire that showcases the aviation world in a whole new light. The fusion of aviation rules and insider knowledge of the industry mixed with the hilarious fictional characters and scenarios the author has created made this one of the most unique follow ups I’ve ever read. If you enjoy humorous, satirical works or anything involving the aviation world, then “CFI! The Book: A Satirical Aviation Comedy” by Alex Stone is the book for you. Grab your copy today!
The hilarious and fringe world of aviation comes back into play in author Alex Stone’s second novel, “CFI! The Book: A Satirical Aviation Comedy”. Here is the synopsis:
The Synopsis
An underpaid, overworked Certified Flight Instructor cheats death while attempting to teach a cast of incompetent student pilots to fly at a skeezy South Florida flight school; all in the quest to build flight time so he can get a "real job" at an airline. The planes break, the regs break, metal gets bent, students are lost at sea, and a Top Gun wannabe student, who has four hundred hours of flight instruction, still hasn't made his first solo flight. "CFI! The Book" is an over-the-top satirical aviation comedy that's loosely based on real world experiences of flight instruction, but if the FAA asks, this is all strictly fictional.
The Review
It was fun, exhilarating and exciting to jump back into the world of Alex Stone’s fictional, satirical yet all too real world of aviation hijinx. An interesting approach to the satirical aviation comedy series that the author has created, this second book of the author’s actually will surprise readers as it alludes to a prequel setting for the first novel of the author, “Hauling Checks”. You can read my review of that novel using the button below.
The story was sometimes heart-pounding, sometimes realistic but always hilarious as the author showcased many cases of impossible students and shady bosses. From an Italian student who refuses to show up to class, to an entitled student pilot who demands the instructor’s compliance and a sneaky boss who will do anything to squeeze a few more bucks out of these clueless students.
The Verdict
This is a worthy successor to the first novel author Alex Stone published. Witty, charming, sarcastic and real, this was a well written satire that showcases the aviation world in a whole new light. The fusion of aviation rules and insider knowledge of the industry mixed with the hilarious fictional characters and scenarios the author has created made this one of the most unique follow ups I’ve ever read. If you enjoy humorous, satirical works or anything involving the aviation world, then “CFI! The Book: A Satirical Aviation Comedy” by Alex Stone is the book for you. Grab your copy today!
January 20, 2020
This was just the book I needed - a lighthearted satire from the impoverished, overworked CFI's perspective. :) My absolute *favorite* part was the King James Checklist. (Although the bits about what it's like in Florida when the temperatures get below 60 F were pretty hilarious, too.) The stories about the cavalier (and downright illegal) practices with students, solos, and billing were a bit hard to take (but hey, it's a satire). And then there was George, the eternal student who couldn't navigate (or land) but wanted to re-enact Top Gun. Some of this probably isn't that far from reality :)
May 3, 2019
From Publishers Daily:
Step into a world where student pilots repeatedly overshoot runways, foreigners desperate for a pilot's license are casually extorted for an upfront nonrefundable fee of $10,000. And their instructors are all so broke that they spray Windex on their dress shirts every day to avoid the expense of washing them.
Is this comical fiction or appalling fact?
Flight instructor-turned author Alex Stone isn't saying for the record. But his hilarious look inside one hapless flight school employee's life is enough to make you wonder if the skies above you are safe or if an incompetent student pilot isn't about to suddenly nose dive into your house. It's possible & even arguably probable if this book, with its memorable, offbeat characters and uneasy message are to be believed. But in the end, it's probably just a harmless good read.
Stone delivers a solid, well-written narrative with an ensemble cast of fallible, believable players, like George, the perennial student who can't seem to find the airport at which he's supposed to land even when he's flying right over it. Then there's the beyond-weird father and his look-alike five-year-old son who show up for a demo ride, saluting and giggling right up to the moment he panics in-flight, seizing the controls in a dangerous death grip.
And finally, running this sleazy fly-by-night flight school is Todd, the owner who would rather see one of his planes disappear with all hands on board so he can collect on insurance than perform anything like proper maintenance on his ratty fleet of Sixties-era aircraft.
It's a dysfunctional gathering of misfit students and desperate pilot instructors that populate the pages of this rare glimpse into just how the pilot of your last commercial flight may have paid their dues down in the likes of this Florida flight school, where instructors are cheating death every day just trying to earn enough flight hours to move up one more level to a flying job that is more than a cut above the national poverty level.
Five stars to CFI!. It's a heckuva good book -- but don't read it if you're about to go up in a private plane. You might seriously wonder if you'll ever come down again in one piece. - Publishers Daily
Step into a world where student pilots repeatedly overshoot runways, foreigners desperate for a pilot's license are casually extorted for an upfront nonrefundable fee of $10,000. And their instructors are all so broke that they spray Windex on their dress shirts every day to avoid the expense of washing them.
Is this comical fiction or appalling fact?
Flight instructor-turned author Alex Stone isn't saying for the record. But his hilarious look inside one hapless flight school employee's life is enough to make you wonder if the skies above you are safe or if an incompetent student pilot isn't about to suddenly nose dive into your house. It's possible & even arguably probable if this book, with its memorable, offbeat characters and uneasy message are to be believed. But in the end, it's probably just a harmless good read.
Stone delivers a solid, well-written narrative with an ensemble cast of fallible, believable players, like George, the perennial student who can't seem to find the airport at which he's supposed to land even when he's flying right over it. Then there's the beyond-weird father and his look-alike five-year-old son who show up for a demo ride, saluting and giggling right up to the moment he panics in-flight, seizing the controls in a dangerous death grip.
And finally, running this sleazy fly-by-night flight school is Todd, the owner who would rather see one of his planes disappear with all hands on board so he can collect on insurance than perform anything like proper maintenance on his ratty fleet of Sixties-era aircraft.
It's a dysfunctional gathering of misfit students and desperate pilot instructors that populate the pages of this rare glimpse into just how the pilot of your last commercial flight may have paid their dues down in the likes of this Florida flight school, where instructors are cheating death every day just trying to earn enough flight hours to move up one more level to a flying job that is more than a cut above the national poverty level.
Five stars to CFI!. It's a heckuva good book -- but don't read it if you're about to go up in a private plane. You might seriously wonder if you'll ever come down again in one piece. - Publishers Daily
May 2, 2019
This was fun but a bit over the top unbelievable frequently. I'm a private instrument rate holder and and a native Floridian, who flown the major part in Florida, so have a bit of experience on the lesson end and the Florida nut balls. I am not one, at least not in the air. I think part of this fun was more the Florida characters, which are being taken over but still exist. It was less the CFI aspect. Even the author points out that the old Toyota they drove, held together with paperclips and rubber bands, OK it was some other products but close enough, it wasn't the most dangerous car on the road. It is the Florida characters. Read a few Carl Hiaasen novels and you get the feel. What is most interesting is knowing that this IS where our pilots come from if not from the military. Yes, most in the airlines are still from military but we are going to be short soon and these CFIs, that then become cargo and regional, are going to be there next airline captains. Hey, if you can survive George, you are doing pretty damn good. Survival training from hell.
July 3, 2020
This was an Interesting read. Though I was never an instructor myself, having done my flight training in the US, I can relate to the training stories Alex stone narrates. And student pilots are always an array of whack-a-doodle characters so the ones in the book really come alive. Some of it does seem far fetched but it is "supposed to be" fiction so that takes care of that. It has a few truly laugh out loud moments. Extremely entertaining!
July 4, 2019
Great fun
I do have to say that I really felt sorry for the author with all the abuse he had to endure with that job. And I thought my job was bad! Some of the stories were so horrifically that if you don't bust a gut laughing you may already be dead yourself! Every story told will leave you 😀
I do have to say that I really felt sorry for the author with all the abuse he had to endure with that job. And I thought my job was bad! Some of the stories were so horrifically that if you don't bust a gut laughing you may already be dead yourself! Every story told will leave you 😀
June 18, 2019
A satire,?
As a former licensed (single engine) pilot , I found little good humor in those extreme described events. For humor to be amusing it need a little more believability . Just my opinion.
As a former licensed (single engine) pilot , I found little good humor in those extreme described events. For humor to be amusing it need a little more believability . Just my opinion.
January 13, 2019
Meh.
This was a quick read that was kind of funny. The writing is riddled with errors and at times seems to be trying too hard to be funny.
This was a quick read that was kind of funny. The writing is riddled with errors and at times seems to be trying too hard to be funny.
March 3, 2019
I really liked this book but I read it in about 3 hours... Funny
March 25, 2019
This book was awesome, I recommend to everyone especially if you love planes
July 25, 2019
Just a “Good” Landing
An unbelievable tale! If the author actually experienced the working environment he describes, he should have his license pulled. Pure fiction—I hope.
An unbelievable tale! If the author actually experienced the working environment he describes, he should have his license pulled. Pure fiction—I hope.
August 8, 2019
Dumb and dimmer
This was worse than the movie, perhaps the visual of the movie dumb and dumber made it better, reading this got exasperating.
This was worse than the movie, perhaps the visual of the movie dumb and dumber made it better, reading this got exasperating.
November 16, 2019
Enjoyed listening to this while commuting to/from work. I'd be interested to know how much of the book is based on true stories and how much of it was satirical.
May 7, 2020
Good read
Thanks. Good read about a questionable part of the aviation business. Author brings clarity and humor to a breathtaking business
Thanks. Good read about a questionable part of the aviation business. Author brings clarity and humor to a breathtaking business
August 3, 2021
As an aspiring pilot, this was a little too realistic for my taste. It was engaging and a short read, so it's one of few books I've read in one sitting!
December 17, 2021
Fun read
Fun read, especially if you are a student pilot! Or a Certified Flight Instructor , or CFI. Never knew that my CFIs led this existence….
Fun read, especially if you are a student pilot! Or a Certified Flight Instructor , or CFI. Never knew that my CFIs led this existence….
March 9, 2024
This book is excellent. Short easy to read chapters, couldn’t stop reading it. Finished in about three days. Work at a local small airport and all the stories are relate able and hilarious
April 1, 2025
Quick and enjoyable read
May 2, 2025
lol. Anyone who has ever worked at a flight school will see that this “absurdism” is actually at minimum 75% accurate.
Nice.
Nice.
September 30, 2025
Alex does it again! I so love his humor. Just an all around easy book to lay up with. And I should know. I curled up with this one for a week, and it's only 145 pages!
October 27, 2022
Fantastically relatable to anyone who has done flight training or instructed. I highly doubt anyone involved in flight training of any form would not find this even a bit relatable. Good couple of laughs as well, if only there were more books of this kind relating to aviation.
March 12, 2021
This book contains mediocre writing and a repetitive plot. But it hit the funny bone, so it gets a passing grade.
April 11, 2025
Hilarious. Just real good fun satirical world that is flight training. Might not be the best book for you if you have a fear of flying. 😂
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews