Gold Seal?

[illinipilot]

I've heard a lot about "Gold Seal" and "Master Flight Instructors" How do I go about researching the requirements for these type of programs and what benifits can one expect from becoming a gold seal flight instructor or the equivelent?

 

[Toy Soldier]

illinipilot

Attached are the Gold Seal requirements. This is an excerpt from AC61-65D. Dasmith provided the link to the NAFI Master program in his post.

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18. GOLD SEAL FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATES. The specific requirements for the gold seal flight instructor certificate are contained in FAA Orders 8700.1, General Aviation Operations Inspector’s Handbook, and 8710.3C, Pilot Examiner’s Handbook. Flight instructor certificates bearing distinctive gold seals are issued to flight instructors who have maintained a high level of flight training activity and who meet 9/20/99 AC 61-65D
special criteria.

Once issued, a gold seal flight instructor certificate will be reissued each time the instructor's certificate is renewed. Applicants for gold seal flight instructor certificates must meet the following requirements:
a. The flight instructor must hold a commercial pilot certificate with an instrument rating (glider flight
instructors need not hold an instrument rating) or an ATP certificate;
b. The flight instructor must hold a ground instructor certificate with an advanced or instrument ground
instructor rating; and
c. The flight instructor must have accomplished the following within the previous 24 months:
(1) Trained and recommended at least 10 applicants for a practical test, at least 8 of whom passed
their tests on the first attempt;
(2) Conducted at least 20 practical tests as a designated pilot examiner, or graduation tests as chief
instructor of a 14 CFR part 141 approved pilot school course; or
(3) A combination of the above requirements. (Two practical tests conducted equal the credit given
for one applicant trained and recommended for a practical test.)
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As far as the "benefits" go. NAFI does have a slew of them to offer. Those are listed on their webpage. However, the benefit overall is that it shows that you have reached the "next level" in your CFI career when you have reached either of those milestones.

It also serves as an excellant marketing tool since there are only a handfull of NAFI Master CFI's and Gold Seal instructors. For NAFI, there are less than 400 Masters out of 81,000 CFI's. I am not sure what the numbers are on the Gold Seal members.

It's not necessarilly what having those "awards" can do for you. It's what you do with those awards. Good luck!