"Ridge" wrote in message
...

Is a gift to the CFI appropriate/traditional/required/expected?

In my experience a gift is neither expected nor required, but it may be
appropriate. As a CFI I have never received one, but I have given a couple
after passing checkrides. Once a big box of chocolates for whomever at the
school, and another time an LED flightbag flashlight that I hope my ex-CFI will
use to preflight his Boeing someday. YMMV