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2 Answers

CFI & Single Engine Commercial Rating

Asked by: 2276 views
FAA Regulations, Flight Instructor

Hey there, 

If I'm a pilot that have four rating which are Private, Instrument, Commercial-multi engine and single-engine Land, and I meet the requirements for the CFI. My questions are:

  1. Am I qualified to give a Commercial Single Engine in full Training?
  2. What are the ratings that I'm qualify to give?  

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2 Answers



  1. Jeff Baum on Oct 19, 2021

    Your question and the way you list your certificates and ratings is a little confusing. I’m assuming that the below is close to what you hold.

    Commercial – Single Engine Land and Multiengine Land
    Instrument Airplane
    Private Privileges – Glider (or Lighter-Than-Air or Rotorcraft or some such aircraft category)

    So, exactly what does your certificate list?

    You say that you “meet the requirements for the CFI” yet do not list a CFI Certificate, without a CFI Certificate here are the quick answers to your questions.

    1) None. Without a CFI certificate you may not conduct any training towards any certificate/rating/endorsement.

    If you hold a valid CFI-Airplane Single Engine, you would be able to conduct training and make endorsements for a Private/Sport/Recreational/Commercial Single Engine certificate. If you hold a Single Engine Sea rating on your Commercial you would be able to conduct training towards a SES rating. To conduct training in a multiengine airplane you would need to hold a CFI-Airplane Multiengine. Same for training towards an Instrument rating. You would need a CFI-Instrument Airplane.

    2) None. As a CFI you may not “give” anyone a rating nor certificate. Additionally, without a CFI Certificate you may not endorse anyone for taking an Aeronautical Knowledge Test nor a Practical Test.

    Certificates and Ratings are issued by FAA ASIs or Designated Pilot Examiners, not CFIs. CFIs do make endorsements for Solo, Required Certificate Pre-Testing, Tailwheel, High Performance, Complex, Pressurized airplanes and so on. CFIs also conduct Flight Reviews and, assuming a CFI-Instrument Airplane, Instrument Proficiency Checks.

    Now, if you do hold a valid Flight Instructor Certificate, you would be able to conduct training in aircraft which you hold the appropriate Instructor Rating(s), i.e. Multiengine Airplane. And, you must be qualified to act as PIC. I.e. you would need to be qualified to act as PIC in tailwheel airplanes to instruct and make a tailwheel endorsement in a Supercub. Or you would need to be qualified, with the appropriate endorsement in your logbook to conduct training in a PC-12 towards a Pressurized Aircraft endorsement. But, if you do hold a FAA CFI Certificate, you should already know these.

    One area which occasionally causes some confusion is where pilots hear that there is a FAR which states that some pilots may instruct without a CFI Certificate. FAR 61.167(b) does state that a pilot, holding an ATP Certificate may instruct without a CFI Certificate. But there’s a lot more to that situation. The ATP may instruct, but it must be for an “Air Transportation” program such as a 121 or 135 certificated carrier, in their training program, in aircraft for which the ATP is rated. This regulation rarely applies outside of that kind of training program.

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  2. John Scarry on Oct 19, 2021

    Your question is a bit confusing but:
    If you hold a CFI certificate but are not a CFII you may not give the 10 hours of instrument training that are required for the Commercial Pilot Certificate.

    Refer to § 61.195 Flight instructor limitations and qualifications. (c )(1)

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