Looking for a CFI at Des Moines International Airport (KDSM)? A certified flight instructor (CFI) is the FAA-certificated pilot who teaches you to fly and signs you off for your checkride, and this page is where we gather the flight instructors who work at or near KDSM in Des Moines, Iowa. The directory lists every kind of CFI, with a one-click filter for those who also hold gyroplane experience.
CFIs at KDSM, in short
- A CFI (certified flight instructor) trains you from first lesson to checkride and beyond.
- Listings are free while we build the directory; students contact the instructor directly.
- Every certificate we badge has been checked against the FAA Airmen registry on a stated date.
- No CFI listed here yet? The form above puts your details straight in front of us.
Learning to fly at KDSM
KDSM is a Class C field with radar service and a control tower. It is a structured, realistic place to learn: a CFI here has you working with approach control and the tower from early lessons, which pays off the first time you fly into any busy airport. The field elevation is 958 feet.
Endorsements and ratings a CFI can add
Beyond the primary certificates, a certified flight instructor signs the endorsements that open up specific aircraft and privileges. Which ones a given CFI at KDSM offers depends on their own ratings, so ask, but these are the common ones worth knowing.
| Endorsement or rating | What it lets you do |
|---|---|
| Tailwheel | Act as pilot in command of a conventional-gear (taildragger) aeroplane. |
| High performance | Fly an aeroplane with an engine of more than 200 horsepower. |
| Complex | Fly an aeroplane with retractable gear, flaps and a controllable-pitch propeller. |
| Instrument (CFII) | Train toward an instrument rating and fly in instrument conditions. |
| Multi-engine (MEI) | Train and add a rating in multi-engine aeroplanes. |
| Gyroplane | Train in gyroplanes. Use the gyroplane filter above to find these CFIs. |
| Flight review / IPC | Stay legal and current: the flight review every 24 months and the instrument proficiency check. |
Ready to connect with a CFI at KDSM? If instructors are listed above, reach out to them directly. If the list is still thin, use the request form near the top of this page: tell us your zip code and what you want to fly, and we will work to line up a certified flight instructor near Des Moines for you, and show the demand to instructors looking at the area.
