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FAA CFII working as a Standardization Instructor Pilot and Maintenance Examiner

Asked by: 5833 views FAA Regulations, Flight Instructor, Helicopter

Greetings, I am an ex-military Helicopter Standardization Instructor Pilot who currently holds a CFII, I have been diligent on keeping my license from expiring by completing online training with Gleim... As I am flying daily as a Standardization Instructor Pilot and Maintenance Test Pilot/Examiner at the Colombian Regional Helicopter Training Center in South America (Joint Initial Entry Rotary Wing School - Based at Melgar Air Base (Melgar, Tolima), it is a flight school for Colombian combat-helicopter pilots), I am required annually to undergo a ground & flight evaluation covering all phases of flight ranging from Emergency Procedures to Night Vision Googles as well as Maintenance Examiner tasks. I have created many of the flight instructors using the authorization provided to me by the Department of Defense as well as fully qualified Helicopter Maintenance Test Pilots. Can I use the time-flown as well as the training/evaluations I provide here at the center towards my CFII's renewal process?

Thank you in advance for your time and answers...

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6 Answers

  1. Best Answer


    Kris Kortokrax on May 02, 2014

    There are several ways to renew a flight instructor certificate. Some are little known.

    61.197 (a)(2)(iv) would allow you to renew if you have taken a US Armed Forces military instructor pilot proficiency check in the last 12 months.

    If your annual evaluation is conducted by the US Armed Forces (you did say it was a Joint program), you could renew on that basis.

    61.197 (a)(2)(ii) allows you to renew if within the last 24 months you served as a company check pilot, chief flight instructor, company check airman or flight instructor in a prt 121 or part 135 operation, or in a position involving the regular evaluation of pilots.

    This “regular evaluation of pilots” clause is what airline captains use to renew their flight instructor certificates. However, when one looks at Order 8900.1, Volume 5, Chapter 2, Section 11, Paragraph 5-504C, one finds the following language:

    “Section 61.197(a)(2)(ii). Individuals have asked FAA about the intent of the statement, “in a position involving the regular evaluation of pilots” in § 61.197(a)(2)(ii) and whether it has the same meaning as the old provision in § 61.197(b). The FAA rewrote § 61.197 to expand the renewal provisions, mainly to include other PICs. For example, the following PICs, who regularly evaluate pilots, have the same reward provisions as a PIC in a part 121 operation:

    A PIC of a multiple pilot flightcrew aircraft under part 135,

    Corporate PICs of a multiple pilot flightcrew aircraft under part 125 or part 133,

    U.S. military pilots who are PICs of a multiple pilot flightcrew aircraft,

    U.S. military instructor pilots and examiners who regularly evaluate pilots, and

    Flight instructors who actively instruct in part 61 schools.”

    These appear to be “examples” and it would seem there are other positions involving the regular evaluation of pilots that have not been listed.

    Is your instruction being conducted under Part 61 or 141 and resulting in US pilot certificates? If so, that would appear to be a basis for renewal.

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  2. Andrew D. Gee on May 02, 2014

    61.197 (a)(2)(iv) would allow you to renew if you have taken a US Armed Forces military instructor pilot proficiency check in the last 12 months. = This then applies to me since I am working for the DoD (Active duty Military Unit) as a contractor, I fall strictly under the military regulations… My IP Proficiency check was conducted by a Military Department of Standardization Evaluator…

    If your annual evaluation is conducted by the US Armed Forces (you did say it was a Joint program), you could renew on that basis. = Same as above…

    61.197 (a)(2)(ii) allows you to renew if within the last 24 months you served as a company check pilot, chief flight instructor, company check airman or flight instructor in a prt 121 or part 135 operation, or in a position involving the regular evaluation of pilots. = My job day in and day out… I am the Training Center’s Chief Pilot (Standardization Instructor Pilot is used in the military) currently conducting training and evaluations to include no-notices for the Center’s Instructor Pilots. The school is not a Part 121 nor 135 even though all Instructors I train do get certified using the famous Home of army Aviation Doctrine at Fort Rucker, Alabama and which are recognized by the Department of Defense…

    I can support my request with documentation we currently keep at the school, could you shine some light as to what kind of proof I would have to submit, the routing and how to format the request for my renewal this coming Dec please?

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  3. Kris Kortokrax on May 03, 2014

    For the first option, I would guess that the document that records the proficiency check would be sufficient.

    For the second option, I think that since the operation is not local, an inspector might want to see something from the head of the school outlining your responsibilities and the fact that you are employed by the school.

    In either case, I would contact an inspector in the office which you intend to visit for the renewal and discuss it with him. Some inspectors (probably most) might not be familiar with these options.

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  4. LTCTerry on May 05, 2014

    Andrew noted in his second post that he is a contractor. He is not a military/DoD/armed forces pilot. He is training military pilots who will not automatically have an FAA certificate.

    My guess is that unless he got really lucky an examiner at some FSDO is going to say, “not 61, not 135, not in the military” and so on and then say “no.”

    American Flyers has $99/lifetime online renewal. Easy, cheap, and much more of a sure thing than hoping that his civilian gig with the Army in south america following US Army doctrine is going to ensure his success.

    What if it’s late December and the FSCO says no? Then he’s out of a job. Renew smarter, not harder.

    Terry

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  5. Kris Kortokrax on May 05, 2014

    Apparently the American Flyers FIRC does not teach that the renewal can be applied for 3 calendar months preceding the expiration month and retain the expiration date. He could apply in September and retain the December date.

    See 61.197 (b)(2)(i)

    Nothing smarter about spending money and time if there is no need.

    If the proficiency check was conducted by the U.S. military and recorded on a U.S. military form, no inspector (they are not examiners) should turn him away. A phone call by him to the FSDO is still cheaper than $99.

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  6. Andrew D. Gee on May 05, 2014

    I really appreciate your guys’ time to answer my question. I feel the need to clarify that I DO work for an active duty unit, the guidelines used for my work are Military Doctrine and to answer the proficiency check part, I am evaluated annually by the U.S. Military and annotated on a U.S. Military Form (DA Form 7122).

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