NPRM In the Pipeline Would See CFI Currency Treated Like Other Pilot Privileges

Some interesting rumblings are afoot, according to the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE). A screen grab from a rumored FAA presentation has been making the rounds as an early "pre-decisional proposal" thought to be a surreptitious test of public opinion and discussion starter online. The proposal? Eliminate expirations for flight instructors and simultaneously restrict "exercising the privilege" based on required activity and experience like any other pilot certificate. 

SAFE writer David St. George notes that it's far too soon for CFI's to celebrate the change, since it will have to go through "a very long official NPRM – comment – process" before making its way to their logbooks. The text from the slide - in all it's surreptitiously-photographed powerpoint graininess - says "Flight Instructor Renewal Requirements" with the first bullet point reading: "Pre-decisional proposal to: Remove the expiration date on flight instructor certificates" and "remove the requirement for a flight instructor to renew his/her flight instructor certificate." Following that, "instead, flight instructors may meet and demonstrate recent experience requirements to exercise privileges of the certificate". 

St. George notes that there have been more than a few calls to increase NTSB oversight of CFI's, like harder enforcement of the 80% pass rate for active instructors. Currently, there are a few ways for them to renew their certificate through activities or experience every 2 years under Part 61.197 or the FAA WINGS program as per AC 61-91J. Unfortunately, he relates, "Flight Instructor Refresher Courses (FIRCs) now almost exclusively online, have increasingly diminished in duration and quality in recent years." Unlike other lines of work, it's not at all uncommon for a professional, working pilot to have a role instructing on the side. Full-time instructors, he notes, are only about 8% of the current CFI population, meaning that any change to the way they maintain currency with their instructor privileges should be carefully crafted so it does not hobble their ability to stay current even while working the line elsewhere. "Professional pilots, teaching part-time, are the richest source of experience in our flight training community," he said, a ringing endorsement of real-world experience. 

A portion of the proposal, possibly set for NPRM introduction next May, can be found on a government website in the "proposed rule stage". 

FMI: www.reginfo.gov