Stronger
Instructors,
Safer Skies.
A confidential peer support network built by flight instructors, for flight instructors — because the people who shape pilots deserve support too.
Our Mission
A Safe Space for the People Who Train Pilots
Flight instructors carry enormous responsibility — and extraordinary stress. The CFI Collective exists to create a confidential, stigma-free community where CFIs can talk about professional and personal challenges without fear.
Mental well-being is critical to aviation safety. By normalizing support for CFIs, we reduce burnout, improve retention, and strengthen the entire pilot pipeline.
"Healthier, supported CFIs means better training and safer skies for everyone."
— The CFI Collective
Our model is built around the real needs of working flight instructors — shaped by the community it serves.
What Is Peer Support?
"People who share common experiences or face similar challenges come together as equals to give and receive help based on the knowledge that comes through shared experience."
— Mental Health Alliance · Penney, 2018
For CFIs, peer support means connecting with another instructor who has sat in the same seat, felt the same pressure, and understands what the job actually demands.
Equal Footing
No hierarchy, no judgment. Peer supporters aren't clinicians — they're fellow CFIs who've navigated the same terrain.
Lived Experience
The foundation of peer support is shared experience — something no textbook or outside professional can fully replicate.
Mutual Benefit
Support flows both ways. Helping a peer process their experience is itself a meaningful and restorative act for the supporter.
What We Offer
Four Pillars of Support
Every service is designed specifically for the aviation community, by people who know the job.
Confidential Peer Support
One-on-one, non-medically disqualifying support from trained CFIs who understand the job and the stressors that come with it.
Non-MDQGroup Forums & Webinars
Regular sessions on burnout, stress management, and career transitions — designed to meet instructors wherever they are.
With NAFI Mentor LiveResource Hub
An online collection of aviation-specific wellness tools, mental health resources, and self-paced materials available any time.
Always AvailableReferral Pathway
When deeper help is needed, we connect instructors with aviation-friendly mental health professionals who understand the unique culture.
Aviation-Friendly ProvidersHow It Works
Built on Trust & Expertise
Every part of our model is designed to protect you while genuinely helping you.
Trained Volunteers
Volunteer CFIs and professionals are trained in active listening and aviation-specific stressors — people who've lived what you're going through.
Confidentiality First
Your conversations are protected. Mandatory reporting applies only to immediate safety concerns — everything else stays between you and your peer.
Community Driven
Our approach is grounded in the realities of professional flight instruction — shaped by CFIs, for CFIs, at every step of development.
Why This Matters
The Need Is Real
We are making aviation safer as a whole by equipping flight instructors to not only have access to mental wellness support, but to proactively encourage other instructors and their community to pursue mental wellness.
- While students and airline pilots often have access to peer support, instructors are frequently left without these resources.
- Mental health stigma remains a barrier in aviation — trust must be built through consistency and a cultural shift toward viewing mental wellness as a component of safety.
- As CFIs become healthier and more supported, they are better equipped to support their students, their peers, and the broader pilot community.
Our Mission
To create a safe, confidential space for flight instructors to discuss professional and personal challenges without stigma.
Our Goal
To provide a mental well-being resource currently unavailable to flight instructors — through confidential, non-medically disqualifying peer support.
Come Find Us
EAA AirVenture — Oshkosh, WI
NAFI Booth 354
Tuesday, July 21 • 8:00 AM
The Well-Being Briefing: Peer Support in the Aviation Community
Peer Support Call Request
Connect With a Trained CFI Peer
Whatever you're carrying — burnout, a difficult student, a career crossroads, or something harder to name — you don't have to work through it alone. Fill out the form and we'll match you with a trained CFI peer who's been there.
The People Behind It
Meet the Team
Our team has diverse backgrounds and stories, united by the common belief that the aviation community can make an impact in mental well-being.
Paul Prim
Founder & Director · Savannah, GA
Paul is a CFI and CFII based in Savannah, GA. He studied Aviation Management at Auburn University, where he had the opportunity to co-lead Auburn Aviation Peer Support — an experience that showed him firsthand how much a little support can change an instructor's trajectory.
Why I Do This
"Flight instructing is one of the most challenging and rewarding things you can do in aviation. I've felt that firsthand — and I've also felt what it means to have a community show up for you in hard times. That's the value of peer support. That's why I'm here."
Emily Patrick
Co-Founder & Director · Auburn, AL
Emily is currently based in Auburn, Alabama where she is beginning her training as a CFI. She hopes to encourage and uplift students the way her own CFIs did for her. A graduate of Auburn University's Professional Flight program, she co-founded the Auburn Aviation Peer Support Program, where she developed a deep understanding of how meaningful support can be in helping people achieve their goals.
Why I Do This
"Everyone deserves the chance to receive support and a listening ear in the times that are needed most. As a pilot, there are so many pressures and sometimes, we all just need someone to listen. I know firsthand that peer support makes a difference — a difference in being here to listen, understand, and care about you."
Jacob Smith
Co-Founder & Director · Atlanta, GA
Jacob is a CFI based in Atlanta, GA. He studied Professional Flight at Auburn University, where he co-founded Auburn Aviation Peer Support. While Jacob does not currently instruct, he plans to continue flying with an ultimate goal of becoming an aerial firefighter or EMS pilot. With a background in both peer support and pilot training, he understands the challenges CFIs face balancing work and life outside the flight deck.
Why I Do This
"I believe that everyone deserves to be heard and feel valued. For those instructing or going through training to become a CFI, you understand the weight this rating puts on your shoulders. Having felt that weight myself, I wish there was more support available. That is why I am here, to provide the support that others need!"
Lillie Bradford
Co-Founder & Director · Dallas, TX
Lillie is based in Dallas and is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Counseling at Southern Methodist University. Following graduation, she plans to obtain her LPC and LMFT credentials with the goal of serving individuals in the aviation industry. She earned degrees in Professional Flight and Psychology from Auburn University, where she co-led Auburn Aviation Peer Support. As a pilot herself, Lillie understands that aviation is a uniquely rewarding and demanding profession — one that can only be fully understood by those who have lived its culture firsthand.
Why I Do This
"I want to be a resource for those who dedicate their lives to this profession. My hope is that every pilot, controller, dispatcher, mechanic, and aviation professional knows they have a place to turn for support and that they never have to face life's challenges alone."
Join The Movement
Get Involved
Whether you want to volunteer as a peer supporter, partner with us, or just have a question — this is the place. The CFI Collective is built by people who've been there, and there's a role for everyone who wants to help.
Training Provided
All volunteers receive training in active listening, aviation-specific stressors, and confidentiality protocols before they begin supporting peers.
Flexible Commitment
We work around your schedule. Whether you have a few hours a month or more to give, there's a role that fits your availability.
Remote-Friendly
Support fellow CFIs from anywhere. Most peer support and webinar work is conducted online, so geography isn't a barrier.
Make a Real Impact
Your experience as a CFI is exactly what another instructor needs to hear. You've been in the right seat — now help someone else find their footing.
Get Involved
Tell us how you'd like to get involved and we'll be in touch. All submissions are confidential.