Requirements to be CFI??

[The Mixmaster]

Hello all - was hoping some experienced bods could help out with a question.

Are there any minima required by the authority in order to hold the position of Chief Flying Instructor within an FTO?? I know you must meet and pass certain criteria laid down in order to be an examiner, but are there the same requirements in order to be the CFI of an organisation???

Many thanks in advance:ok:

[Whopity]

From JAR-FCL 1.055CHIEF FLYING INSTRUCTOR (CFI)
15 The CFI shall be responsible for the supervision of flight and synthetic flight instructors and for the standardisation of all flight instruction and synthetic flight instruction. The CFI shall:
(a) hold the highest professional pilot licence related to the flying training courses conducted;
(b) hold the rating(s) related to the flying training courses conducted;
(c) hold a flight instructor rating for at least one of the types of aeroplane used on the course; and
(d) have completed 1 000 hours pilot-in-command flight time of which a minimum of 500 hours shall be on flying instructional duties related to the flying courses conducted of which 200 hours may be instrument ground time.
Note this is for a FTO; not a Registered Facility for PPL training! There is no requirement for a CFI at a RF.

[The Mixmaster]

Ah Whopity that's great, many thanks for the info. You can probably guess my next question!! When does a RF become an FTO in the eyes of an aviation authority?? Many thanks again:ok:

[Whopity]

Normally an RF would not become an FTO. An FTO is required for professional training such as FIC, CPL, IR, and for ME Class and Type ratings. In the helicopter World, its a little more complicated, as even a second Type on a PPL requires training to be at a TRTO. (A classic sledgehammer to crack a nut!)

It becomes an FTO when it applies to do so and approval is granted. The granting of the approval requires that all requirements of the approval are met including staffing.

[S-Works]

An idle question as an aside. Does a TRTO need any further approval to teach for the PPL?

[Whopity]

A TRTO may only train licence holders, so it cannot train for a PPL. The original concept of a TRTO was to train for MP Type Ratings.

Type ratings for SPH can be conducted at a FTO however for some reason they became TRTOs meaning that they also have to be a Registered Facility if they want to train PPL students.

JAR-FCL 1.125 and 2.125 An applicant for a PPL shall complete at a FTO or an accepted Registered Facility the requirements in accordance with...

Perhaps the daftest thing is that a Registered Facility can train a PPL(H) on a R44, or a R22 but it has to be a TRTO to convert the pilot to the other Type once they are qualified!

[The Mixmaster]

Thanks again Whopity...much appreciated! So much bloody legislation...time to dust off JAR FCL/EU OPS!!

[BillieBob]

The meaning of JAR-FCL is quite clear, which is more than can be said for the UK CAA's 'decision' making in this area.

The default position is the FTO, which can teach any course, including MP type ratings, for which they can meet the approval criteria. If an organisation wishes to teach only licence holdes for type ratings and associated instructor qualifications they become a TRTO and if they wish to teach only for the PPL they become a Registered Facility.

There has never been a satisfactory, let alone a good reason to require organisations to hold both FTO and TRTO approval and, in some cases, to be Registered Facilities as well!