CFI Bootcamp: Exhaustive Study Guide on Flight Instructor Endorsements and Scenarios

Mike Shiflett Aviation Credentials and Course Background

• Mike Shiflett’s Experience:

  • Holds an FAA Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) Certificate for Airplane Multi-Engine Land.
  • Holds a CE-525 Type rating.
  • Commercial Pilot Privileges: Airplane Single Engine Land and Sea.
  • Flight Instructor Certificate: Airplane Single and Multi-Engine Land, Instrument Airplane (CFII, MEI).
  • Former FAA Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) for Recreational through ATP levels, including Initial CFI.
  • UK Certificates: Commercial Pilot - Airplane Single Engine Land; Former UK Flight Examiner for Private Pilot and IMC ratings.
  • Amassed over $16,000$ total flight hours, mostly in general aviation.
  • Administered approximately $3,000$ FAA practical tests (checkrides).
  • Author of $10$ books and over $42$ hours of video content for CFI Bootcamp.

• Course Purpose: This guide is designed as an encyclopedic adjunct for flight instructors and applicants to master training and endorsement scenarios. It contains $36$ total scenarios covering Student Pilot through Flight Instructor and Instrument ratings.

One-Off Activities and Regulation Scenarios

• Scenario 1: Complex Airplane Endorsement (61.31(e)):

  • Definition of Complex Airplane: An airplane equipped with a controllable pitch propeller, retractable landing gear, and flaps.
  • Training Requirements: Ground and flight training must be provided and logged in a complex airplane or a full flight simulator.
  • Endorsement: A one-time logbook endorsement certifying proficiency is required.
  • Exceptions: The endorsement is not required if the pilot logged PIC time in a complex airplane prior to August $4$, $1997$.

• Scenario 2: Flight Review Requirements (61.56):

  • Standard Requirements: At least $1$ hour of ground training and $1$ hour of flight training.
  • Ground Training Content: Must include a review of the current general operating and flight rules of Part $91$.
  • Flight Training Content: Selection of maneuvers and procedures is at the CFI's discretion to demonstrate the safe exercise of pilot privileges.
  • Rating Applicability: A pilot with multiple ratings (e.g., Airplane and Helicopter) only needs a flight review in one aircraft for which they are rated. Successfully completing the review in a single-engine land airplane satisfies the requirement to act as PIC in a helicopter (61.56(c)(1)).
  • Instructor Logging: If performance is unsatisfactory, do not log "Flight Review Unsatisfactory." Log it as "Dual Instruction Received."

• Scenario 3: Tailwheel Airplane Endorsement (61.31(i)):

  • Training: Flight training is required from an authorized instructor on specific tasks listed in 61.31(i)(1).
  • Ground Training: There is no specific ground training requirement for a tailwheel endorsement.
  • Exceptions: Not required if PIC time was logged in a tailwheel airplane before April $15$, $1991$.

• Scenario 4: High-Performance Airplane Endorsement (61.31(f)):

  • Definition: An airplane with an engine having more than $200$ horsepower ($HP$).
  • Specific Examples: A Piper Arrow with a $200$ $HP$ engine does NOT require a high-performance endorsement. A Cirrus SR22 with a $310$ $HP$ engine DOES require it.
  • Training: Requires ground and flight training in the airplane, simulator, or flight training device representative of a high-performance aircraft.
  • Exceptions: Not required if PIC time was logged in such an airplane/device before August $4$, $1997$, or if a Part $135.293$ competency check was completed.

• Scenario 5: Pressurized Aircraft Endorsement (61.31(g)):

  • Threshold: Required for aircraft with a service ceiling or maximum operating altitude above $25,000$ feet MSL.
  • Example: The Pilatus PC-12 has a ceiling of $30,000$ feet, thus requiring the endorsement.
  • Training: Requires both logged ground training (61.31(g)(1)) and flight training (61.31(g)(2)).

Instrument Rating and Proficiency Checks

• Scenario 6: Instrument Proficiency Check (IPC) (61.57(d)):
  • Condition: Required if a pilot has gone more than $1$ year without meeting currency (6-6-HIT: $6$ approaches, holdings, intercepting/tracking courses within the preceding $6$ months).
  • Training Requirement: There is NO ground training requirement for an IPC.
  • Standards: The pilot must perform tasks listed in the Rating Task Table of the Instrument Rating ACS to the same standards as an initial instrument rating.
  • Equipment: Can be completed in an appropriate aircraft or a flight training device (simulator) representative of the category (61.57(d)(2)(ii)).

Logging Pilot In Command (PIC) Time (61.51)

• Scenario 7: PIC Logging Conditions:
  • Student Pilot: May log PIC only when solo, properly endorsed, and undergoing training for a certificate or rating (61.51(e)(4)).
  • Private Pilot: May log PIC when they are the sole manipulator of the controls for which they are rated (61.51(e)(1)).
  • Pilot with a different category (e.g., Rotorcraft training in Airplane): Cannot log PIC while receiving dual instruction because they are not yet rated in the category/class. They may only log PIC when solo and endorsed under 61.31(d)(2) or when performing duties of PIC towards Commercial requirements per 61.129(a)(3).
  • Flight Instructor: May log PIC time anytime they are serving as an authorized instructor, provided they are rated to act as PIC of that aircraft (61.51(e)(3)).

Additional Category and Class Ratings (61.63)

• Additional Aircraft Category (61.63(b)):

  • Requires completion of training (Knowledge 61.125 / Flight 61.127) and aeronautical experience (61.129/61.109).
  • Knowledge Test: Required if moving from a non-powered to a powered category (e.g., Glider to Airplane). Not required if moving power-to-power or power-to-no-power.
  • Preparation: Training within $2$ calendar months of the checkride is required (61.39(a)(6)).

• Scenario 9: Lighter-than-Air to Commercial Airplane Single Engine Land:

  • Total Time: Requires $250$ hours of flight time.
  • Specific Experience (61.129(a)):
    • $100$ hours in powered aircraft, of which $50$ must be in airplanes.
    • $100$ hours PIC, including $50$ in airplanes and $50$ in cross-country ($10$ of which must be in airplanes).
    • Instruction Requirements: $10$ hours of instrument training ($5$ of which must be in a single-engine airplane). NOTE: A CFI without a CFII rating cannot provide this instrument training.
    • $10$ hours in a complex, turbine, or TAA airplane.
  • Solo Endorsement: Pilots adding a category/class must be endorsed for solo under 61.31(d)(2). They are NOT student pilots and are not subject to student pilot 90-day currency or student pilot limitations (61.89).

• Scenario 11: Multi-Engine Sea to Single Engine Land (Private Level):

  • Governed by 61.63(c). No specific aeronautical experience (hours) required.
  • Requires training to meet 61.107 (Flight Proficiency) for the new class.
  • No new knowledge test required.

Initial Pilot Certification Scenarios

• Scenario 12: Private to Commercial (Same Category/Class):

  • Commercial requirements must be met after receiving the Private Pilot Certificate, not during student pilot training time (per recent FAA legal interpretations).
  • No solo endorsement (61.31(d)(2)) is needed because the pilot is already rated in the category and class.

• Scenario 14: Night Solo for Recreational Pilots:

  • Under 61.101(i)(3), a recreational pilot may be authorized for night solo if pursuing a higher certificate.
  • Requires training per 61.87(o) (night takeoffs, landings, and navigation in the vicinity of the airport).
  • The pilot must have a logbook endorsement for EVERY flight (61.101(j)).

• Scenario 15: Recreational Pilot Training in High-Horsepower Aircraft:

  • A student pilot may train and take a checkride in a Cessna 182 ($230$ $HP$).
  • However, once the Recreational Certificate is issued, the pilot is prohibited from acting as PIC of an aircraft with more than $180$ $HP$ (61.101(e)(1)(iii)).

Student Pilot Solo Requirements (61.87)

• Scenario 16: Required Items for Initial Solo:

  • Medical: At least a $3rd$ class medical certificate (or BasicMed if applicable).
  • Language: English proficiency must be tested to ICAO Level $4$ (AC 60-28B).
  • Pre-solo Knowledge Test (61.87(b)): Must be administered/graded by the CFI and all incorrect answers resolved.
  • Endorsements: Pre-solo flight training (61.87(c)), Make/Model solo (61.87(n)), and 90-day currency (61.87(p)).

• Scenario 18: Solo in a New Model:

  • If a student is endorsed for a Cessna 152 and wants to solo a Cessna 182, they need a new 61.87(b) knowledge test and 61.87(c) training for the 182.
  • They also require a High Performance endorsement (61.31(f)) per recent FAA legal interpretations.

• Scenario 20: Cross-Country Scenarios:

  • Class B Operations: To land at a primary Class B airport (e.g., KTPA), the student needs a 61.95(b) endorsement. To fly in Class B airspace, they need a 61.95(a) endorsement. Instructors must provide training in that specific airspace/airport first.
  • Distance Limits: Students can fly within $25$ $NM$ without a cross-country endorsement. Landing at another airport within $25$ $NM$ requires 61.93(b)(1).

Sport Pilot and Sport Pilot Instructors

• Scenario 23: Obtaining a Sport Pilot Certificate:

  • Eligibility: At least $17$ years old, English proficient, valid U.S. driver's license (in lieu of a medical).
  • Experience (61.313): At least $20$ hours total time; $15$ hours dual, $5$ hours solo.
  • Solo Cross-country: At least $75$ $NM$ total distance, full stops at $2$ points, one leg at least $25$ $NM$ straight-line distance.

• Scenario 24: Sport Pilot Instructor (61.403):

  • A pilot can become a Sport Pilot CFI without a Commercial certificate or Instrument rating.
  • Requires at least $150$ flight hours and a logbook endorsement for the category/class.

Flight and Ground Instructor Qualifications

• Scenario 25: Training First-Time CFI Applicants (61.195(h)):

  • Flight Instruction: Instructor must have held their CFI certificate for at least $24$ calendar months AND given at least $200$ hours of flight training.
  • Alternative: Recommended at least $5$ applicants with an $80\%$ first-time pass rate.
  • Ground Instruction: Must have held the certificate for $24$ months and given $40$ hours of ground training, or given $100$ hours in an FAA-approved course.

• Scenario 31: Ground Instructor Recency (61.217):

  • A Ground Instructor must have completed training/employment as an instructor in the preceding $12$ calendar months.
  • If lapsed, they must demonstrate knowledge in subject areas (Basic, Advanced, or Instrument as applicable) and receive an A.55 endorsement.

• Scenario 33: Initial Instructor - CFII Only:

  • A pilot with a Commercial certificate and Instrument rating can choose CFII as their initial instructor rating.
  • Limitation: Without a single-engine or multi-engine flight instructor rating, they cannot provide flight instruction in an aircraft or simulator (Grayson 2010 and Beard 2012 Legal Interpretations). They may only provide ground instruction.

• Reinstating a CFI Certificate (61.199):

  • If expired by more than $3$ calendar months, the instructor must pass a practical test for a rating they already hold or for a new rating.