Training and Safety Tip: Verify your CFI
Recent regulation changes have caused confusion
During flight training, you learn about the rules of the sky in FAR Part 91 and pilot certificate or rating requirements and privileges in FAR Part 61.
But have you ever considered the rules your flight instructor must comply with in order to provide instruction?
CFI certificates issued on or after December 1, 2024, no longer have an expiration date printed on the certificate. However, CFI instructional privileges expire just as they did before—at the end of their 24-month renewal window, which is now the recent experience end date, or what we at the AOPA Air Safety Institute call the REED.
The difference? CFIs whose recent experience end date has passed will not hold instructional privileges but are allowed to enter a three-month reinstatement period that provides them an opportunity to regain those privileges by means of taking and passing an online flight instructor refresher course (FIRC) consisting of ground or flight training, or a combination of both. See FAR 61.197 for details. If the three-calendar-month period passes without completing a FIRC, a CFI will need to take a practical test to reinstate instructional privileges. CFIs who successfully complete the course are again ready and legal to provide flight instruction. (CFIs who renewed their certificates before December 1, 2024, can also take advantage of this reinstatement period—see the sidebar.)
The complication? Because the printed date no longer appears on the certificate, some CFIs may not be aware or may simply overlook when their instructional privileges expire. This could cause them to mistakenly provide training and sign endorsements during their reinstatement period when they no longer hold those CFI privileges. And when that happens, any training or endorsements they provide during that time are unfortunately invalid for the purpose of documenting such training toward a certificate, rating, or flight review.
The good news? Any CFI can look up their expiration status on the FAA’s Airmen Inquiry portal to avoid any problems that would temporarily disqualify them from providing flight instruction. Should they have slipped into the three-month reinstatement period, all they need to do is complete a FIRC during that time and they are back in business.
So, to avoid paying for and logging training that doesn’t qualify, you may also want to check your instructor’s record in the airman inquiry portal—especially if you start training with a new flight instructor. If all is well, you’re good to go. If not, notify your CFI immediately and wait for them to requalify.
