CFI Reinstatement Knowledge Tests???

[brownj17]

My CFI/CFII expired April 2019. I plan to take the CFII again. Will I have to also retake the FOI/FIA knowledge tests as well? TIA!!

 

[MauleSkinner]

No.

(a) Flight instructor certificates. The holder of an expired flight instructor certificate who has not complied with the flight instructor renewal requirements of § 61.197 may reinstate that flight instructor certificate and ratings by filing a completed and signed application with the FAA and satisfactorily completing one of the following reinstatement requirements:
(1) A flight instructor certification practical test, as prescribed by § 61.183(h), for one of the ratings held on the expired flight instructor certificate.
(2) A flight instructor certification practical test for an additional rating.
(3) For military instructor pilots, provide a record showing that, within the preceding 6 calendar months from the date of application for reinstatement, the person—
(i) Passed a U.S. Armed Forces instructor pilot or pilot examiner proficiency check; or
(ii) Completed a U.S. Armed Forces' instructor pilot or pilot examiner training course and received an additional aircraft rating qualification as a military instructor pilot or pilot examiner that is appropriate to the flight instructor rating sought.
(b) Flight instructor ratings.
(1) A flight instructor rating or a limited flight instructor rating on a pilot certificate is no longer valid and may not be exchanged for a similar rating or a flight instructor certificate.
(2) The holder of a flight instructor rating or a limited flight instructor rating on a pilot certificate may be issued a flight instructor certificate with the current ratings, but only if the person passes the required knowledge and practical test prescribed in this subpart for the issuance of the current flight instructor certificate and rating.
(c) Certain military instructors and examiners. The holder of an expired flight instructor certificate issued prior to October 20, 2009, may apply for reinstatement of that certificate by presenting the following:
(1) A record showing that, since the date the flight instructor certificate was issued, the person passed a U.S. Armed Forces instructor pilot or pilot examiner proficiency check for an additional military rating; and
(2) A knowledge test report that shows the person passed a knowledge test on the aeronautical knowledge areas listed under § 61.185(a) appropriate to the flight instructor rating sought and the knowledge test was passed within the preceding 24 calendar months prior to the month of application.
(d) Expiration date. The requirements of paragraph (c) of this section will expire on August 26, 2019.

 

[Pinecone]

My plan is to add my MEI. Since I have to take a checkride, might as well add a rating.

 

[Fracpilot]

My CFI/CFII expired April 2019. I plan to take the CFII again. Will I have to also retake the FOI/FIA knowledge tests as well? TIA!!

Have you seen the new rule for CFI reinstatement? Looks like you just have to do an online renewal to get your CFI reinstated as of Oct 2024.

Long-awaited FAA rule removes CFI expiration

The FAA issued a rule that streamlines the process by which flight instructors renew their certificates.

www.aopa.org

 

[MauleSkinner]

Have you seen the new rule for CFI reinstatement? Looks like you just have to do an online renewal to get your CFI reinstated as of Oct 2024.

Long-awaited FAA rule removes CFI expiration

The FAA issued a rule that streamlines the process by which flight instructors renew their certificates.

www.aopa.org

I’m thinking it’s been more than 3 months since April 2019.

Now they can do so by taking an approved flight instructor refresher course (FIRC) if their recent experience has not lapsed for more than three months.

 

[midlifeflyer]

Have you seen the new rule for CFI reinstatement? Looks like you just have to do an online renewal to get your CFI reinstated as of Oct 2024.

Long-awaited FAA rule removes CFI expiration

The FAA issued a rule that streamlines the process by which flight instructors renew their certificates.

www.aopa.org

The new rule goes into effect December 1, not October, and the grace period for reinstatement three months from expiration, not five years.

 

[Fracpilot]

I’m thinking it’s been more than 3 months since April 2019.

The new rule goes into effect December 1, not October, and the grace period for reinstatement three months from expiration, not five years.

The ruling came out in October 2024. That's how I should've written it at originally. Yes, the new rule takes effect December 1.

"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."

It sounds like all expired CFIs will have until March 2025 to take advantage of this opportunity to reinstate their CFI's. Outside of the initial three month grace period, they have to comply with the new Dec 1 rule or use the traditional method to reinstate their CFI.

FAA Introduces New Rules for CFIs Effective December 1 : Flight Training Central

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...

flighttrainingcentral.com

 

[midlifeflyer]

"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."

It sounds like all expired CFIs will have until March 2025 to take advantage of this opportunity to reinstate their CFI's. After that then they have to use the traditional method to reinstate their CFI.

FAA Introduces New Rules for CFIs Effective December 1 : Flight Training Central

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...

flighttrainingcentral.com

To me the regulation (not someone's interpretation of some article about it) says that, even if your CFI expired September 2024, can still reinstate in December. It does not say that if your CFI expired in 1998, you can reinstate in December.

 

[MauleSkinner]

It sounds like all expired CFIs will have until March 2025 to take advantage of this opportunity to reinstate their CFI's. Outside of the initial three month grace period, they have to comply with the new Dec 1 rule or use the traditional method to reinstate their CFI.

It’s a poorly-written article. This is from the Federal Register:

Amend § 61.199 by revising the section heading and paragraph (a), and removing paragraphs (c) and (d). The revisions read as follows:

§ 61.199
Reinstatement of flight instructor privileges.
(a) Flight instructor privileges. The holder of a flight instructor certificate who has not complied with the flight instructor recent experience requirements of § 61.197 may reinstate their flight instructor privileges by filing a completed and signed application with the FAA and satisfactorily completing one of the following reinstatement requirements:
(1) If 3 calendar months or less have passed since the last month of the flight instructor's recent experience period, the flight instructor may successfully complete an approved flight instructor refresher course consisting of ground training or flight training, or a combination of both, or satisfy one of the requirements specified in paragraph (a)(2) of this section.
(2) If more than 3 calendar months have passed since the last month of the flight instructor's recent experience period, the flight instructor must satisfactorily complete one of the following:
(i) A flight instructor certification practical test, as prescribed by § 61.183(h), for one of the ratings held on the flight instructor certificate; or
(ii) A flight instructor certification practical test for an additional rating.
(3) For military instructor pilots and pilot examiners, provide a record showing that, within the preceding 6 calendar months from the date of application for reinstatement, the person—
(i) Passed a U.S. Armed Forces instructor pilot or pilot examiner proficiency check; or
(ii) Completed a U.S. Armed Forces instructor pilot or pilot examiner training course and received an additional aircraft qualification as a military instructor pilot or pilot examiner that is appropriate to the flight instructor rating sought.

 

[midlifeflyer]

Let's reformat the reg for easier reading and emphasize the applicable language. This is, of course , unnecessary since the CFIs affected all know how to read regulations

61.199 Reinstatement of flight instructor privileges.

(a) Flight instructor privileges. The holder of a flight instructor certificate who has not complied with the flight instructor recent experience requirements of §61.197 may reinstate their flight instructor privileges by filing a completed and signed application with the FAA and satisfactorily completing one of the following reinstatement requirements:​

(1) If 3 calendar months or less have passed since the last month of the flight instructor's recent experience period, the flight instructor may successfully complete an approved flight instructor refresher course consisting of ground training or flight training, or a combination of both, or satisfy one of the requirements specified in paragraph (a)(2) of this section.​

​

(2) If more than 3 calendar months have passed since the last month of the flight instructor's recent experience period, the flight instructor must satisfactorily complete one of the following:​

(i) A flight instructor certification practical test, as prescribed by § 61.183(h), for one of the ratings held on the flight instructor certificate; or​

​

(ii) A flight instructor certification practical test for an additional rating.​

(3) For military instructor pilots and pilot examiners [snipped]...​

What the articles are talking about is, for the purpose of the regulation, the expiration date of a pre-December 2024 CFI certificate is being treated as the "last month of the flight instructor's recent experience period." That makes sense (and it's kind of covered by 61.197). But, "if you have ever in your life held a CFI certificate, you have 3 months from December 1 to reinstate it" is neither said, implied, nor makes any sense.

 

[Revtach]

Nice move by the FAA. Thank you.

 

[BillTIZ]

The original's posters CFI expired in 2019. He is so far beyond the 3 month grace window that he's in outer space. He gets to start from Scratch.

 

[MauleSkinner]

The original's posters CFI expired in 2019. He is so far beyond the 3 month grace window that he's in outer space. He gets to start from Scratch.

No, he just has to take a checkride.

 

[Pinecone]

No, he just has to take a checkride.

Exactly.

My CFI expired in about 2001 or 2002. And all I need is a check ride. With probably add MEI. Why take a check ride and not get a new rating???

 

[Clip4]

Let's reformat the reg for easier reading and emphasize the applicable language. This is, of course , unnecessary since the CFIs affected all know how to read regulations

61.199 Reinstatement of flight instructor privileges.

(a) Flight instructor privileges. The holder of a flight instructor certificate who has not complied with the flight instructor recent experience requirements of §61.197 may reinstate their flight instructor privileges by filing a completed and signed application with the FAA and satisfactorily completing one of the following reinstatement requirements:​

(1) If 3 calendar months or less have passed since the last month of the flight instructor's recent experience period, the flight instructor may successfully complete an approved flight instructor refresher course consisting of ground training or flight training, or a combination of both, or satisfy one of the requirements specified in paragraph (a)(2) of this section.​

​

(2) If more than 3 calendar months have passed since the last month of the flight instructor's recent experience period, the flight instructor must satisfactorily complete one of the following:​

(i) A flight instructor certification practical test, as prescribed by § 61.183(h), for one of the ratings held on the flight instructor certificate; or​

​

(ii) A flight instructor certification practical test for an additional rating.​

(3) For military instructor pilots and pilot examiners [snipped]...​

What the articles are talking about is, for the purpose of the regulation, the expiration date of a pre-December 2024 CFI certificate is being treated as the "last month of the flight instructor's recent experience period." That makes sense (and it's kind of covered by 61.197). But, "if you have ever in your life held a CFI certificate, you have 3 months from December 1 to reinstate it" is neither said, implied, nor makes any sense.

What is the flight instructor's recent experience period?

 

[MauleSkinner]

What is the flight instructor's recent experience period?

The short version is that it’s the equivalent of what would currently be an unexpired instructor certificate.

§ 61.197
Recent experience requirements for flight instructor certification.


(a) A person may exercise the privileges of the person's flight instructor certificate only if, within the preceding 24 calendar months, that person has satisfied one of the recent experience requirements specified in paragraph (b) of this section. The 24 calendar month period during which the flight instructor must establish recent experience shall start from one of the following—


(1) The month the FAA issued the flight instructor certificate;

(2) The month the recent experience requirements of paragraph (b) of this section are accomplished; or

(3) The last month of the flight instructor's current recent experience period provided the recent experience requirements of paragraph (b) of this section are accomplished within the 3 calendar months preceding the last month of the certificate holder's current recent experience period.

(b) A person who holds a flight instructor certificate may establish recent experience by satisfying one of the following requirements—

(1) Passing a practical test for—

(i) One of the ratings listed on the flight instructor certificate; or

(ii) An additional flight instructor rating; or

(2) Satisfactorily completing one of the following recent experience requirements, and submitting documentation of such in a form and manner acceptable to the Administrator—

(i) During the preceding 24 calendar months, the flight instructor has endorsed at least 5 applicants for a practical test for a certificate or rating and at least 80 percent of those applicants passed that test on the first attempt.

(ii) Within the preceding 24 calendar months, 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.

(iii) Within the preceding 3 calendar months, the person has successfully completed an approved flight instructor refresher course consisting of ground training or flight training, or a combination of both.

(iv) Within the preceding 24 calendar months from the month of application, the flight instructor 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.

(v) Within the preceding 24 calendar months from the month of application, the flight instructor has served as a flight instructor in an FAA-sponsored pilot proficiency program, provided the flight instructor meets the following requirements—

(A) Holds a flight instructor certificate and meets the appropriate flight instructor recent experience requirements of this part;

(B) Has satisfactorily completed at least one phase of an FAA-sponsored pilot proficiency program in the preceding 12 calendar months; and

(C) Has given at least 15 hours of flight training under the FAA-sponsored pilot proficiency program to at least 5 pilots and has made appropriate endorsements in the logbooks of those pilots.

(c) Except as provided in paragraph (f) of this section, a person who fails to establish recent experience in accordance with paragraph (b) of this section during the 24 calendar month period specified in paragraph (a) of this section may not exercise flight instructor privileges until those privileges are reinstated in accordance with § 61.199.

(d) The practical test required by paragraph (b)(1) of this section may be accomplished in a full flight simulator or flight training device if the test is accomplished pursuant to an approved course conducted by a training center certificated under part 142 of this chapter.

(e) A person who holds an unexpired flight instructor certificate issued before [THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF FINAL RULE] may renew that certificate by establishing recent experience in accordance with paragraph (b) of this section prior to the month of expiration on that person's flight instructor certificate. Except as provided in § 61.40, if that person fails to establish recent experience prior to the expiration of that person's flight instructor certificate, that person may not exercise flight instructor privileges until those privileges are reinstated in accordance with § 61.199.

(f) A person who qualifies for the relief prescribed in § 61.40 may establish recent experience in accordance with paragraph (b) of this section, provided the requirements of § 61.40 are met.

 

[midlifeflyer]

What is the flight instructor's recent experience period?

@MauleSkinner quoted the reg. In terms of current certificates with an expiration date, at worst (a)(1) applies to those. But as I mentioned, I expect they’ll be treating the current “expiration date” as the end of the new “recent experience” period.

They really should have come up with an interim policy. I’ve seen some different takes on what happens with expiring certificates. There’s a new series of ACs. I have not gone through them but perhaps one of them covers this, maybe 61-83K.

• 61-65J - Certification: Pilots and Flight and Ground Instructors (and the sample endorsements). https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/AC_61-65J.pdf
• 61-83K - Nationally Scheduled, FAA-Approved, Industry-Conducted Flight Instructor Refresher Course, https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/AC_61-83K.pdf
• 61-91K - WINGS—Pilot Proficiency Program, https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/AC_61-91K.pdf, https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/AC_61-91K.pdf
• 61-98E - Currency Requirements and Guidance for the Flight Review and Instrument Proficiency Check, https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/AC_61-98E.pdf