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FAA Introduces New Rules for CFIs Effective December 1

November 1, 2024/in News, Regulations/by Eric Radtke

Big changes are coming for certified flight instructors on December 1, 2024. While it’s been widely publicized that CFIs will no longer have an expiration date associated with their certificate under the new rules, CFIs are required to maintain recent flight instruction activity or participate in a flight instructor refresher course (FIRC) at least every 24 months. Failure to document and apply for recency will have the same effect as a CFI expiring.

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October 30, 2024/in Video Tips/by Bret Koebbe

Clouds are often referred to as “sign posts in the sky”, and for good reason since they are one of the best visual indicators of what mother nature has planned for the weather. This week’s tip takes a look at the various types of clouds, when and where they form and what kind of flying conditions pilots can expect when flying in and around them.

FAA Introduces New Rules for CFIs Effective December 1

November 1, 2024/in News, Regulations/by Eric Radtke

Video tip: what kind of cloud is that?

October 30, 2024/in Video Tips/by Bret Koebbe

CFIs now required to document recency every 24 months

Instead of renewing, CFIs will be required to document recency every 24 months via IACRA.

What’s in the article?

Why the change?
What is changing?
CFI Recent Experience Requirements
CFI Reinstatement Options—New Three-Month Grace Period
Qualifications for Training Initial Flight Instructor Candidates
For more information

Why the change?

According to the FAA, this change better aligns the CFI certificate with other certifications and reduces the administrative burden associated with certificate renewals while ensuring that CFIs remain active and engaged in aviation education activities.

What is changing?

To keep their certification current, CFIs must now meet specific activity-based requirements.

To keep their certification current, CFIs must meet specific activity-based requirements, such as providing a minimum number of endorsements or completing a Flight Instructor Refresher Course (FIRC) every 24 calendar months. The changes also add a new method for flight instructors to establish recent experience by serving as a flight instructor in an FAA-sponsored pilot proficiency program (WINGS).

CFI certificates issued before December 1, 2024, will still have expiration dates printed on the certificate that remain in effect until the end of the expiration calendar month. At the next renewal, CFIs will then receive a certificate without an expiration date and must comply with the recent experience end date requirements every 24 calendar months.

CFIs who do not meet the renewal requirements within 24 calendar months will lose their ability to instruct, but they can restore their instructor privileges by completing a FIRC within a new 3-month grace period (three months beyond their currency expiration). Beyond the 3-calendar month grace period, CFIs will have to follow the existing reinstatement options which is completing a practical exam.

It’s worth noting that, effective December 1, 2024, all CFIs may take advantage of the a 3-month reinstatement period even if an expiration date is printed on their certificate.

The new rule also adds two new options for CFIs to qualify to train initial CFI candidates. The first new option is based on training and endorsing successful applicants for practical tests. The second new option as a method of qualification by completion of a flight instructor enhanced qualification training program (FIEQTP) designed to prepare flight instructors to train initial flight instructor applicants.

CFI Recent Experience Requirements

The new CFI rule retains the current methods for flight instructor certificate renewal, as specified in § 61.197, but refers to them as flight instructor recent experience requirements as CFI certificates will no longer have an expiration date tied to their certificate. Instead of renewing their flight instructor certificate every 24 calendar months, a flight instructor will need to establish recent experience at least once every 24 calendar months.

CFIs will still be required to submit an Airman Certificate and/or Rating Application (8710), along with associated documentation to the FAA upon completing the recent experience requirements. The 8710 will still need to be validated by a certifying official (DPE, ACR, FAA). The submission of the 8710 via IACRA remains the only method for a flight instructor to submit their data to the FAA to validate and track the flight instructor’s recent experience. Failure to document this recent experience will have the same effect as a CFI expiring and requires resinstatement.

CFI Reinstatement Options—New Three-Month Grace Period

Currently, § 61.199 prescribes the requirements for those who wish to reinstate their expired flight instructor certificates. These include (1) satisfactory completion of a flight instructor certification practical test as per § 61.183 for one of the ratings on the expired flight instructor certificate, or (2) satisfactory completion of a flight instructor certification practical test for an additional rating.

The new rules retain all former reinstatement options, now relocated in § 61.199(a)(2) and (3), for flight instructors seeking to reinstate their privileges when they have not reestablished recent experience prior to the last month of their flight instructor recent experience period.

Additionally, the rule adds a new reinstatement option in § 61.199(a)(1) creating a three-calendar-month reinstatement period (grace period) immediately after lapse of the flight instructor’s recent experience period. During the three-calendar month grace period, flight instructors can reinstate their privileges by completing an FAA-approved FIRC and submitting an 8710 via IACRA; however, CFIs are not permitted to exercise the privileges of the flight instructor certificate during this grace period.

Qualifications for Teaching Initial CFI Candidates

The new CFI rule provides three different qualification options for CFIs teaching initial CFI applicants.

The new CFI rule provides three different qualification options for CFIs teaching initial CFI applicants. The first option retains the existing requirements of current § 61.195 which include the requirements for the flight instructor to have held the flight instructor certificate for at least 24 calendar months and to have given at least 200 hours of flight training as a flight instructor.

The second qualification option modifies the previous § 61.195(h)(3). Previously, § 61.195 allowed a person to serve as a flight instructor in an FAA-approved course for initial flight instructor applicants if that person had trained and endorsed at least five applicants for a practical test, at least 80 percent of those applicants passed on their first attempt, and the flight instructor has given at least 400 hours of flight training.

This new rule modifies these requirements in the new § 61.195(h)(2)(ii) by removing the minimum flight training hour requirement (400 hours) and removing the requirement for the flight instructor to be serving in an FAA-approved course. Section 61.195(h)(2)(ii) now requires a flight instructor to have trained and endorsed, in the preceding 24 calendar months, at least five applicants for a practical test for a pilot certificate or rating, and at least 80 percent of those applicants must have passed that test on their first attempt.

For the third qualification, a flight instructor must have graduated from an FAA-approved flight instructor enhanced qualification training program (FIEQTP). Additionally, they must have given at least 200 hours of flight training as a flight instructor before being eligible to complete the FIEQTP.

Additionally, to allow part 141 pilot schools to provide the FIEQTP, the FAA is revising § 141.11 by adding the training program to the list of special preparation courses. The FAA is also adding the new training program to appendix K of part 141, which prescribes the minimum curriculum for the special preparation courses.

For More Information

The new rule was published in the Federal Register and takes effect December 1, 2024. The rule can be found here.

Half Sized Blog Element (Single Author Style)

Half Sized Blog Element (Multi Author Style)

FAA Introduces New Rules for CFIs Effective December 1

Video tip: what kind of cloud is that?

FAA Introduces New Rules for CFIs Effective December 1

Video tip: what kind of cloud is that?

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

FAA Introduces New Rules for CFIs Effective December 1

CFIs now required to document recency every 24 months

Why the change?

What is changing?

CFI Recent Experience Requirements

CFI Reinstatement Options—New Three-Month Grace Period

Qualifications for Teaching Initial CFI Candidates

For More Information

Video tip: what kind of cloud is that?

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