FAA Drops Expiration Date on CFI Certificate

The agency’s new rule aligning flight instructor certificates with other airman certificates goes into effect December 1.

However, according to the FAA,  instructors will still need to renew their certificate every 24 calendar months by completing a Flight Instructor Refresher Clinic (FIRC), acquiring an additional instructor certificate, or by additional instructional activity. That activity, according to the rule, includes, "at least 15 flight activities recognized under the FAA-sponsored pilot proficiency program, during which the flight instructor evaluated at least five different pilots and has made the necessary endorsements in the logbooks of each pilot for each activity."

Additionally, the rule said that CFIs who endorse at least five applicants for a practical test in 24 calendar months and have a 80 percent passage rate can also use this per 61.197(b)(2)(i) to renew their certificates.

According to the 35-page document published in the Federal Register, the removal of the expiration date will bring the CFI certificate in line with the private and commercial certificates that do not have expiration dates.

Additionally, it is seen as a cost saving measure as it will save the FAA the expense of printing and mailing reissued plastic certificates.

The final rule amends Part 61 of Title 14 in the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) on the reinstatement requirements for flight instructor certificates providing a CFI who has let their certificate lapse a three-month grace period to do an FIRC to regain privileges. Prior to the rule the only option was for the lapsed instructor to take a checkride.

The removal of an expiration date will mean a change in the way instructors endorse a client’s logbook per FAR 61.51, as instead of noting the CFI certificate expiration date, the CFI will note recency of experience.

This final rule also adds two new methods for flight instructors to qualify to train initial applicants and relocates and codifies the requirements for relief for U.S. military and civilian personnel who seek to renew their expired flight instructor certificate but are challenged because they are outside the U.S.