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2 Answers

Flight Instructor Renewal Process

Asked by: 4199 views FAA Regulations, Flight Instructor, General Aviation

As a upcoming CFI, I need to know after the first two years of instructing, the CFI must complete a FIRC to renew his/her CFI certificate and continue teaching.

At this point should I also complete a BFR under CFR part 61, or is that already accomplished through completion of a FIRC?

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2 Answers



  1. Boiler on Feb 08, 2014

    The FIRC is not the only method to renew your CFI but if you accomplish a FIRC, 61.56 (f) applies. 61.56(f) reads:
    A person who holds a flight instructor certificate and who has, within the period specified in paragraph (c) of this section, satisfactorily completed a renewal of a flight instructor certificate under the provisions in 61.197 need not accomplish the one hour of ground training specified in paragraph (a) of this section.

    Based on that, yes you still need a flight review. You do not however need to do the one hour of ground instruction. If you are getting your CFI I highly recommend digging into that big blue flight instructor Bible (the FAR AIM) and get used to looking this kind of thing up.

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  2. Mark Kolber on Feb 08, 2014

    Shane, think for a moment:

    Why would an FIRC, which is a ground course, satisfy the “flight” part of a flight review requirement?

    The other point Boiler made is spot on – the FIRC is only one of the ways for a CFI to renew his or her certificate. As a upcoming CFI, I’ll leave it to you to read it.

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