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Do you need an AGI to teach/sign off private ground school if you're a CFI?

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ceo_of_the_sofa

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Joined
Sep 25, 2002
Posts
618
I am a CFI, but never took the AGI. Can I teach private ground and sign everyone off for the test?

Thanks much
 
I'll preface this by saying it's been a long time since I instructed but you sign off your flight students after giving them the required groundschool, so why would this be any different? An AGI certificate allows someone who is not a CFI to teach groundschool and sign someone off for the written.
 
shamrock said:
you sign off your flight students after giving them the required groundschool, so why would this be any different? An AGI certificate allows someone who is not a CFI to teach groundschool and sign someone off for the written.
I thought so too, just wanted to justify not wanting to part with my hard earned $90 to have AGI adorn my certificate.

Thanks
 
You betchya!

That's affirm. You do not need to be an AGI to conduct the ground training for your candidate, or to endorse him or her. Being an AGI and IGI, I can say that it doesn't seem to hold any greater authority or entitle you to any other privileges not already afforded you (you just don't have to take a practical test to be a ground instructor)...
Actually, you can yield higher revenues (a.k.a. more beer money) by implementing ground instruction as part of your dog and pony show. Not only will it keep you that much sharper, it'll make your candidate smarter!

Good luck,

Jason
 
Yea, the only thing that had me concerned was the distinction between teaching "a" student vs. a "group" of applicants
 
The only difference that I can tell is that as a CFI you're required to keep pass/fail records for each person you sign off, while as an AGI you can sign everybody off and forget about it. Most people that taught me ground school had an AGI/IGI for that very reason, even though they were CFIs.
 
Just wondering How I

How could I get an AGI IGI only rating....I am no longer able to hold a medical and never had a CFI, though I had an ATP until the end....now the only thing current is Dispatch...I like to teach and wourl like to look into this possibility, maybe teach at the local college....any help would be appreciated..

Col. Bill USAF (ret)
 
Col. Bill, you take the Fundamentals of Instructing (FOI) knowledge test, which comes from the Aviation Instructors Handbook, the Advanced Ground Instructor's knowledge test, which comes from the General Aviation knowledge required for the Private and Commercial Pilot knowledge tests, and for the IGI, you take the Instrument Ground Instructor knowledge test, which is from the knowledge required for the Instrument Knowledge test.

You take the passed test results, along with an application, Form 8710-1, to a Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) and you will be given the AGI and IGI Certificates.
 
Cool

nosehair said:
Col. Bill, you take the Fundamentals of Instructing (FOI) knowledge test, which comes from the Aviation Instructors Handbook, the Advanced Ground Instructor's knowledge test, which comes from the General Aviation knowledge required for the Private and Commercial Pilot knowledge tests, and for the IGI, you take the Instrument Ground Instructor knowledge test, which is from the knowledge required for the Instrument Knowledge test.

You take the passed test results, along with an application, Form 8710-1, to a Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) and you will be given the AGI and IGI Certificates.
Thanks, I will look into this and get started....should be fun to hit the books again...Any suggestions on reading material, ie text books? or is the Gleim ATP red book good enough for these tests??
 
I am thinking about getting my IGI/AGI before I get my CFI/CFII (as a stepping stone). Will a DE/FSDO examiner look down on this (or give me a tougher chrckride) when I come in for my CFI ride?

Also, will I need a signoff from a CFI saying he covered the required information with me or not?
 
You shouldn't need a signoff for the AGI/IGI/FOI tests. Just show up.

The Gliem should cover everything you need to know, I wouldn't worry about much else.
 
gotta love those tests

rvsm410 said:
Thanks, I will look into this and get started....should be fun to hit the books again...Any suggestions on reading material, ie text books? or is the Gleim ATP red book good enough for these tests??


I took the AGI and the FOI a few months ago. I am going to take the IGI next week. I just got sick of paging between 5 figures back and forth to get an answer (in the Jepp book) so I decided about 5 min ago that I don’t care about a score in the high nineties anymore… chances are I will get it anyways but I won’t bust my a$$ for another 10 hours to ensure it for practically no reward.


IMO studying the Gleim is plenty for all three of them.


FOI is a bit of cramming. It does make sense only after you read the FAA's "Aviation Instructor's Handbook" as well. (May be the FOI Gleim book did not make sense to me at first because English is not my native language, and some of the words used in the FOI are anything but everyday language.) The handbook though is not a bad read, however if simply passing the FOI is the goal, than just cramming the Gleim is faster. About teaching, psychology, or human behavior you can obtain way better books. I only felt the need to read and understand the FAA Handbook for my CFI oral, and only because it is really geared toward aviation, especially the part that talks about instruction in the air.


For the AGI and IGI you are probably overqualified already. AGI is like a commercial written, IGI is like an Instrument written, both with a few additional questions. IGI covers helicopter questions as well, and AGI has questions on specific flight maneuvers that CFIs teach, and some common errors related to them. That part may not be familiar to you.


The problem with AGI and IGI (and in general all written tests IMHO) is that some of the questions are tricky and don't always make sense right away, or are referring to some small tiny fly dirt at the bottom of the page that you would normally miss. Also some questions can be interpreted in different ways. FAA does not publish the correct answers, and they don’t tell you what you have missed after the test.


Having said all that, if I would have to bet, I would say YOU (looking at your profile) have a good chance to pass the AGI and IGI without studying for them at all. Of course I am not saying you should try. Have fun!
 
Last edited:
Why Not???

sweptback said:
You shouldn't need a signoff for the AGI/IGI/FOI tests. Just show up.

The Gliem should cover everything you need to know, I wouldn't worry about much else.
Is this because of my dispatch license or the commander/PIC time I have? My license does not have ATP on it, as I never converted this to a civil rating mostly due to the fact I was finished flying (medically speaking)...and what is the FOI test???

Thanks for the help!:D
 
rvsm410 said:
Is this because of my dispatch license or the commander/PIC time I have? My license does not have ATP on it, as I never converted this to a civil rating mostly due to the fact I was finished flying (medically speaking)...and what is the FOI test???
It's not because of anything you have or don't have... it's simply because a signoff is not required for the exam. Just show up at the testing center and take it.

The FOI test is the Fundamentals of Instructing test, which is required for any instructor rating. If you get it done and get a ground instructor rating first, then theoretically when you take a CFI oral you are not responsible for any FOI-type questions. Although I doubt you will find an examiner that follows that, though.
 
IGI before CFI-I

Jedi_Cheese said:
I am thinking about getting my IGI/AGI before I get my CFI/CFII (as a stepping stone). Will a DE/FSDO examiner look down on this (or give me a tougher chrckride) when I come in for my CFI ride?
It's hard to generalize. The best answer would be that it depends on how much of an asshole either might be. Except for the most unreasonable examiners around, no one should look down on you for getting your ground instructor certificates first. Most could care less.
Also, will I need a signoff from a CFI saying he covered the required information with me or not?
Yes, because your CFI-I is an instructor rating separate and apart from your AGI-IGI.

I would get your ground instructor ratings. They are something else to put on your resume, something else that can help you find work, and another reason to review the material. Good luck with both.
 
bobbysamd said:
I would get your ground instructor ratings. They are something else to put on your resume, something else that can help you find work, and another reason to review the material. Good luck with both.
Thanks, I am working on my commercial and just got done with my instrument so this would be a good time to pick up these tests. I should have clarified that I know I need signoffs for my CFI-I, but I was wondering about the AGI and IGI specifically.

Sooo many tests to take :( It's like every hoop I jump through, another two springs up. Two flight and 2 written tests down, another 5 more written tests to take and 5 more flight tests to go.
 
AGI-IGI signoffs

Jedi_Cheese said:
Thanks, I am working on my commercial and just got done with my instrument so this would be a good time to pick up these tests. I should have clarified that I know I need signoffs for my CFI-I, but I was wondering about the AGI and IGI specifically.
I don't think you need signoffs for the ground instructor and FOI writtens. 14 CFR 61.213, which sets forth eligibility requirements for ground instructors, is silent in that regard:

Sec. 61.213 - Eligibility requirements.

(a) To be eligible for a ground instructor certificate or rating a person must:

(1) Be at least 18 years of age;

(2) Be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language. If the applicant is unable to meet one of these requirements due to medical reasons, then the Administrator may place such operating limitations on that applicant's ground instructor certificate as are necessary;

(3) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, pass a knowledge test on the fundamentals of instructing to include --

(i) The learning process;

(ii) Elements of effective teaching;

(iii) Student evaluation and testing;

(iv) Course development;

(v) Lesson planning; and

(vi) Classroom training techniques.

(4) Pass a knowledge test on the aeronautical knowledge areas in --

(i) For a basic ground instructor rating, §§61.97 and 61.105;

(ii) For an advanced ground instructor rating, §§61.97, 61.105, 61.125, and 61.155; and

(iii) For an instrument ground instructor rating, §61.65.

(b) The knowledge test specified in paragraph (a)(3) of this section is not required if the applicant:

(1) Holds a ground instructor certificate or flight instructor certificate issued under this part;

(2) Holds a current teacher's certificate issued by a State, county, city, or municipality that authorizes the person to teach at an educational level of the 7th grade or higher; or

(3) Is employed as a teacher at an accredited college or university.


You might need a signoff to retake a ground instructor written(s) after failure.

Hope that helps some more.
 
My license does not have ATP on it said:
Seems to me that you could still take your military records to the Flight Standards District Office and see if they will convert your ATP even though you may not meet the requirements to hold a medical certificate, that should not preclude the FAA from issuing the certificate - just precludes you from exercising many of the the certificates priviledges!

FOI is an acronym that stands for "Fundamentals of Instruction", the FAA's bible on learning how to instruct!
 

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