Checkrides & Flight reviews

[a-v-8er]

Does a flight instructor checkride reset the clock for a flight review another 24 calendar months, or does it have to be a new certificate or rating on your pilot certificate?

Granted that you do the much of the same type of maneuvers and an instructor oral covers more than what's needed on a flight review, but the flight instructor certificate is a separate certificate...

My self and a few instructors have had a debate over whether a CFI adding a CFII or MEI can go another 24 months before his next flight review or if he has to count the time from when he last had an addition to his pilot certificate. Comments?

 

[Rick1128]

Personally I would say it does. You are taking a checkride in an aircraft for an additional certificate or rating. You are required to fly the aircraft and preform to a higher professional standard.

 

[mwaugh]

I believe the Part 61 FAQ's point of view is that an instructor certificate is not a pilot certificate (hence the 2 different pieces of paper). So when you pass an instructor checkride no action is taken on your pilot certificate, so you don't meet the 61.56 exception.

A reasonable interpretation? I think I demonstrated piloting skills on my instructor checkrides, but what do I know.....

Mat

 

[A Squared]

I beleive that mwaugh is correct. I have seen a legal opinion from the eastern regional counsel which states that. I can dig it up if anyone's interested.

Here's how it works: 61.56 (d) specifies a "pilot proficiency check" a flight instructor checkride is not a *pilot* proficiency check, it's a *flight instructor* proficiency check, even though pilot skills have been checked.

Now, you may think that this is a bad interepretation, and you may be right, but hte fact remains that as far as I know this is the only interepretation on this issue from FAA legal counsel. If you beleive that this is incorrect, present your case to the Chief Counsel.

On the brighter side, you can certainly ask the examiner to endorse your logbook for having completed a flight review. That's a reasonable request, especially in light of the interepretation.

regards

 

[Rick1128]

After researching 61.58 a little more, it becomes a little more fuzzier. Subparagraph (d) states that any pilot proficency check conducted by an examiner, approved check airman or military check is considered a flight review. Most CFI initials are conducted by FAA Inspectors. Which leads me to believe that if you take any checkride with an inspector it can not be considered a flight review. However, when you take a checkride with the feds, you are placing your certificates at risk and the checkride meets the requirements of 61.56 (a). I don't believe the inspector would sign it off. However, you can ask the instructor who signed you off for the checkride to sign off the flight review.