The FAA is seeking public comment on a proposed rule that would remove the expiration date on flight instructor certificates.
The proposed rule, published in the Federal Register May 23, 2023, notes that the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has been advocating for this change since 1999 — telling the FAA that it imposes an “unnecessary and costly burden” on CFIs.
The association also notes that this action would bring flight instructor certificates in line with other pilot certificates that do not expire.
“AOPA asked the FAA to eliminate the expiration date on a flight instructor certificate and add a three-month grace period to allow a flight instructor to reestablish recent experience by completing a Flight Instructor Refresher Course (FIRC) within those three months,” the FAA wrote in its rulemaking proposal. “AOPA asserted that these changes would directly benefit the public, encourage many flight instructors with expired certificates to rejoin the instructional community, and eliminate the need for over 9,700 salary hours of unnecessary administrative processing at the Airman Certification Branch of the Civil Aviation Registry Division. AOPA also maintained that these changes would not adversely affect the quality of flight training or flight safety.”
“AOPA appreciates the FAA’s recognition and proposed adoption of AOPA’s recommendations to make it easier for CFIs to remain current, proficient, and knowledgeable,” AOPA President Mark Baker. “These steps will create significant savings in both time and money for thousands of CFIs, while maintaining the highest levels of pilot training and safety for the general aviation community.”
The proposed amendments to CFI renewal requirements include the three-month grace period that AOPA sought, allowing CFIs whose currency has lapsed that extra time to restore it without having to take a new CFI practical test.
The proposed rule gives CFIs several options to maintain — or restore — currency, including:
- Pass a practical test.
- Demonstrate that within the preceding 24 calendar months, the person has endorsed at least five students for a practical test and at least 80% of those students passed that test on the first attempt.
- Show, within the preceding 24 calendar months, that the flight instructor has served as a company check pilot, chief flight instructor, company check airman, or flight instructor in a Part 121 or Part 135 operation, or in a position involving the regular evaluation of pilots.
- Successfully complete an approved FIRC within the preceding three calendar months.
- Present a record showing that, within the preceding 24 calendar months, the person passed an official U.S. Armed Forces military instructor pilot or pilot examiner proficiency check in an aircraft for which the military instructor already holds a rating or in an aircraft for an additional rating.
- And a new option: Designating the FAA’s WINGS Pilot Proficiency Program as an approved program that flight instructors can use to satisfy flight instructor certificate renewal requirements.
“Flight instructors are an integral part of the aviation community and play an important role in reducing the number of general aviation accidents by providing training and modeling best practices,” the FAA says in the proposed rule. “Lessons and activities provided to flight instructors by the WINGS curriculum help to ensure flight instructors are familiar with current flight training standards and procedures. For these reasons, the FAA has determined that § 61.197 should include a standalone method that would allow persons to renew their flight instructor certificates or establish recent experience, as proposed, by serving as a flight instructor and participating in the WINGS program.”
Comments on the proposed rule must be made by June 22, 2023. You can see the full rule here, which includes a place to submit your comment.
Having not to get a new CFI certificate every two years helps, but little else has changed (except for the 3 month grace period) in the renewal process. FYI, the Wings Program has always been a way to renew your CFI certificate, At least that is what my local FSDO FAAST team manager says. We need more information on this before it can be hailed as a monumental change to the CFI renewal process.
Does this mean that if I don’t meet other criteria, I would have to complete an FIRC every three months?
I have be renewing my CFI Certificate since back when the FAA was running the FIRC’s.
I believe the very early 70’s. I applaud their proceeding with this new approach, as it certainly will save a lot of added time and expense. I’ll be anxious to see what the final outcome on the ruling will be,
I’m an airline pilot with an expired cfi/cfii/mei that lapsed 3 years ago. If this means I can get back into instructing without preparing for another practical that’s great, but I don’t totally understand how this will work yet.
Hi, Any idea how this will effect those
of us flying on BasicMed? I guess we still not
be able to charge f fee.
This rule would also open the door for those with expired CFI certificates to renew their certificate and potentially qualify for an FAA Aviation Safety Inspector position. This is great for pilots forced to retire due to age but still wish to work and utilize their abundance of knowledge.
Unless I misunderstand the legalese of the FAA, a CFII should also qualify if they have done IPCs to get pilots back to currency (as opposed to students passing the written). And the same holds true for CFI/MEI doing Biennial flight reviews and related.
“Show, within the preceding 24 calendar months, that the flight instructor has served as a company check pilot, chief flight instructor, company check airman, or flight instructor in a Part 121 or Part 135 operation, or in a position involving the regular evaluation of pilots.”
I can see where, in not naming Part 91, that the transition flights (e.g., going from Cessna to Piper where one has to do fuel management, etc.) may not be included by the FAA’s Legal group putting out another opinion… And this would adversely affect instructors not part of a flying school.
And then there are the HI-Perf, complex, and tail wheel endorsements.
How will I be able to renew my CFI by the wings program.?I am a current CFI till 5/25.
Being a retired airline pilot and possessing an expired CFII certificate by all means I’m interested in recertification of my expired certificate. Yes too to joining the wings airman program to ensure my knowledge base is current and to add to potentially keeping others interested in flying and working as a flight instructor once again in the aviation community.
Thank you for asking for our inputs to this proposal.
Regards,
Harry Gutshall
Having renewed every 2 years since 1989, this would be a welcomed relief.
Since 1980. I take the King refresher every March/April as mine expires 5/31 each year. I like the idea of not having to print out a paper copy an d wait for the new plastic to arrive. It will save the taxpayer money as well.