How do I go about renewing or reinstating my CFI certificate?
Many Pilots cum Flight Instructors, when they move on to the airlines’ business end up letting their CFI certificate expire. And then down the road when a need or the passion rekindles again, they realize that it has to be reinstated. So, the question arises: How do I go about renewing or reinstating my CFI certificate? Note that this discussion is about the expired flight instructor certificates.
Here is a list of a few things you need to know about the expired flight instructor certificates, and how to reinstate them (or renew them):
- Flight Instructor certificates expire every 24 calendar months. If not renewed before the expiration date, then you have to go through reinstatement procedure.
- To reinstate a CFI certificate (irrespective of the ratings you have on it, i.e. CFII, MEI) you have to take a checkride with either an FAA DPE or an FAA Inspector. In either case, it is a checkride with oral and flight portion.
- Most FSDOs have authorized DPEs who can conduct your CFI reinstatement checkride and upon successful completion issue you a new temporary CFI certificate with all the ratings you originally had on it. You can try getting a “free” checkride out of the FSDO inspector, but from my experience, it is very difficult. There is a reason why they have DPEs authorized for this purpose. But your mileage may vary from FSDO to FSDO.
- You may take most of the CFI reinstatement checkride in a non-complex aircraft, but you will still have to do the takeoffs and landings, and emergency procedures in a complex aircraft. So if you are planning to go this route, make sure you have 2 aircraft available at the time/place of the checkride, and you are ready to prove the airworthiness of both aircraft, and that you have the POHs mastered for both aircraft as well.
- The CFI reinstatement checkride will definitely cover the VFR maneuvers, like ground reference maneuvers, emergency procedures, slow flights and stall etc. Think about it, if you are going to get your CFI certificate back, you are getting all those privileges back as well. And we want you to be safe, so use this as an opportunity to brush up and get back in shape.
- Now, if you are missing a rating on your expired CFI certificate, for instance, instrument airplane, or multi-engine, then you may want to think about getting your CFII and/or MEI rating added on. This way you won’t have to take any reinstatement checkride, and your add-on rating checkride will get you your CFI certificate reinstated.
So, what is the best way to get the CFI reinstated?
Many instructors focus on reinstatement mechanics without stepping back to consider the broader professional role and responsibility of a Certified Flight Instructor.
Here is a list of a few things you need to know about the expired flight instructor certificates, and how to reinstate them (or renew them):
- Go find yourself a good flight instructor or a school and go through some ground and flight training, take your CFI reinstatement checkride and you are done! This is the fastest and easiest way.
- Go find yourself a good flight instructor or a school and go through some ground and flight training, take your CFI reinstatement checkride and you are done! This is the fastest and easiest way.
- Before you schedule any training session, I would recommend that you read through the latest FAR/AIM sections pertinent to the CFI checkride, Airplane Flying Handbook (front to back), Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (front to back), Fundamentals of Instruction (front to back).
- Also, if your instrument knowledge and skills have deteriorated, might as well review the Instrument Flying Handbook and get your knowledge up to the par.
- The 2 steps that I stated above – will make your and your instructor’s life easy, and save you a lot of time and money. It is recommended that you take a CFI Refresher Course (not required, but very helpful) online, or at some school (16 hours) to review all the knowledge as stated above.
- For the ones who are missing a rating on the CFI certificate, your best bet is to simply get your CFII or MEI (and in some cases your single-engine add-on) ratings. Kill 2 birds with one stone.
- Lastly, do not let this happen to you again! Even if you are not in teaching the aviation business anymore.
Refer: 14 CFR 61.183 and 14 CFR 61.199
