Flight intstructor renewal

[Ace McCoy]

I have some expired CFI ratings but was looking to get them renewed. I guess the only way is to do the dreaded checkride. Anyone out there know what is involved in the checkride and who does it? (FAA, DPE etc) Thanks in advance.

 

[Bluto]

Don't know about your area specifically, but some examiners/FSDOs will renew an expired CFI if you add a rating to your CFI (MEI, II, CFIG, etc.) This practice doesn't strictly follow part 61 as I read it, but there are (or were at least) a few examiners in the PHX area that would do this.

 

[avbug]

Its your flight instructor certificate that expires...not the ratings. If you're expired, you require reinstatement. If you're flying Part 121 or 135, this can sometimes be done in conjunction with the recurrency if those performing the recurrency are authorized. Otherwise, you'll need a new checkride with the feds.

Rather than take a checkride for an existing rating on your instructor certificate, you can also add a rating, and reinstate the certificate and all other ratings at the same time. If you're going to pay the money, why not go that route? If, for example, you hold airplane and helicopter ratings as instructor, why not add a glider rating. You needn't take the ride in a helicopter or airplane. You can add the new rating, take the practical test, and your instructor certificate is thus reinstated with an additional rating...and your helicopter and airplane ratings are also restored.

If your'e going to spend the money anyway, why not? Just a thought. I've let mine lapse twice under varying circumstances, and went for reinstatement each time. Once I did it with a designated examiner by merely adding an additional rating, and once I did it on a 135 ride with the FAA...they reinstated it when conducting the practical at the same time as the 135 initial ride.

 

[EagleRJ]

If you go for an additional rating on your CFI, that will revalidate it was all existing ratings. The only difference is that if it is expired, the DE will include an inital-CFI evaluation. How thorough it is will probably depend on how long your ticket has been expired for. If it has been years, you can probably count on a full inital-CFI checkride, as well as the evaluation required for the additional rating.