QFI revalidation.

[docseuss]

Not having instructed for some three and a half years, I have been considering getting my 'ticket' back. Can any of you chaps offer advice on costs, what is required and part-time employment prospects. Is the much vaunted instructor shortage likely to materialise and does anybody really believe that instructing will ever be financially viable? Oh, I am based in the North-West of England so any recommendations would be appreciated

[BEagle]

Unless you are a CFS graduate, you cannot be a 'Q'FI. What you seek is to 'renew' your lapsed rating to become a FI(A). As we're now into JAR-FCL requirements, you will have to pass a flight check (£150 Examiner's fee as well) which also includes a ground element rather longer than the old UK FI revalidation. You will also have to do the 2-day seminar, typically run by folk such as The Examiner Training Agency ( www.flightexaminers.com (http://www.flightexaminers.com) ) costing about £195+VAT excluding overnight accommodation. You will also have to study JAR-FCL and JAR-OPS in order to sign the declaration of knowledge required before you may teach for JAR-FCL licences. See AIC 55/1998 for details. Then , to keep your FI(A) rating valid, you will have to do 2 out of 3 requirments: 100 hours instructing in the 3 years of the rating's validity period including 30 hours in the last year, revalidation proficiency check, 2-day seminar.

[foxmoth]

A bit picky arn't we Beagle, most people use QFI (Qualified Flying Instructor). Just because the CAA have named us in a particular way does not mean we have to use in general use.

[BEagle]

Yes - I am a bit picky as I'm getting a bit fed up with people who are current FI(A)s and who haven't bothered to keep up with the changes in terminology. The CAA gave us a Good Deal when they merely asked for a declaration confirming that FIs had self-studied in order to qualify to instruct for JAR licences - it is plain that some abused this trust. Calling yourself a 'Q'FI is pointless if it doesn't reflect your actual qualification, you are either an FI(A) or FI(A)(R) unless you've graduated from the Central Flying School. And yes - it does annoy me when some adolescent C150 driver arbitrarily awards himself the same status as a CFS graduate!!

[Capt Homesick]

I understood that the FI Rating was once officially known as the QFI rating. As I have ben referred to as a QFI by, among others, a CFS examiner and an ex-CFS CAAFU examiner. As a way of mentally keeping track of which instructors within an organisation have particular qualifications, it is convenient.

[rolling circle]

BEagle is quite correct - The civil instructor rating is, and always has been, a FIR (flying instructor rating), it's probationary partner being the AFIR (assistant flying instructor rating). Under the JAA system the equivalents are the FI(A) (flight instructor(aeroplanes)) and the FI(A)(R) (flight instructor (aeroplanes) (restricted)). These european jhonnies do like their brackets!

In order to become a B2 (probationary) QFI (Qualified Flying Instructor) you would have to have continuous 'above average' assessments as a pilot and completed a six month course at the Central Flying School of the Royal Air Force. I think it is fair to say that, judging by the FI ratings that I have renewed/awarded over the last 15 years, 90% of AFIs would have lasted no more than 2 days at CFS.

FIs - KNOW YOUR PLACE!

[BEagle]

The FI Rating has NEVER been officially referred to as a QFI Rating. But I share your enthusiasm for a good curry, Capt H!!

[rnobson]

Ha ha ha "The CAA gave us a good deal"

Somebody better not tell them they'll charge for it

[BEagle]

SSSSSSSSSHHH - They might hear you!!

[docseuss]

Beagle, thank you for your comprehensive reply, the relevant bits have been noted and will be utilised. I must point out however that your 'pickiness' and attention to minutae has not extended to the content of my posting. Perhaps you would like to read it again and, in the full glare of this forum, explain where, in the text you saw me refer to myself as a 'Q'FI, an 'A'FI or any other such abbreviation. Neither did I betray my source of training or current employ, be it civilian or military.I feel that you have hijacked the thread of my enquiry for some hidden agenda.
I was merely sitting at my PC (that, in general parlance is an abbreviation for Personal Computer) and thought I would get a quick answer from 'the chaps' at PPRUNE. As I have stated, the relevant bits of your reply are useful, and I thank you for them, but both your opening line in your first reply and the reply of 'rollingcircle' exposed an unhealthy, archaic prejudice that saddens and embarrasses many of us and really is to be pitied. Incidentally, some former military pilots display a similar disposition to yourselves when they arrive, cap-in-hand, on civvie street at airlines like my own. Line training, CRM requirements and a good dose of reality usually puts pay their problem, failing that there is the old fire-axe! 'Adolescent C150'...indeed, can you perhaps enlighten me as to the 'official' abbreviation for 'anally retentive crab?'

[BEagle]

1. The heading of this thread refers to 'Q'FI revalidation; yours being the first post, it seems natural to assume that you wrote the heading.

2. No disrespect was intended to you personally. Generic adoption of the term 'QFI' by those not entitled to its use is disrespectful to CFS graduates.

3. At no stage was I implying that you were an adolescent C150 driver.

4. Your assertion of 'Pickiness', I presume, reflects a preference for lack of precision.

5. The laziness of many FIs to get to grips with the new regulations is inexcusable given that they had all signed a declaration stating that they had attained the relevant knowledge of JAR-OPS and JAR-FCL.

5. I do not understand your reference to anal retention. I can only assume that it is a represents an unhealthy level of interest in the rectum and is a subject dear to the hearts of those who used to bob up and down in boats and uphold the traditions of Earl Mountbottom of Bummer.

[StrateandLevel]

Thanks Beagle, now I know wot the "Q" stands for. Whats CFS by the way?

[Wee Weasley Welshman]

I'd always heard the expression of a 'QFI upgrade' for the old course that qualified you to teach IMC courses. I suspected that it was really a sloppy shorthand expression. I agree that the QFI/QWI RAF qualification is a far far superior thing but saying "I am an EffAyeR" sounds silly somehow.

WWW

[Airprox]

CFS - Central Flying School.

WWW, who is to say that the RAF product is any better than a civilian trained pilot/instructor? As I've mentioned before on this forum I was offered, no begged to take up a position at JEFTS (Joint Elementry Flight Training School) which teaches the RAF, RN and Army the basics of flight including low level navigation and aerobatics. And I am a civilain trained pilot/instructor. There is quite a few civies teaching at JEFTS so if the RAF are the best in the world and they are trained by civilian instructors what does that tell you?

By the way is there a programme for the renewal seminars cos I need to to one! Last time I checked there wasn't any planned so renewing was going to be a problem!!! http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/frown.gif

[BEagle]

Yes - there are seminars available. Have a look in Newsline Edition 10 on the CAA website at www.caa.co.uk (http://www.caa.co.uk) . However, you'll need Adobe Acrobat reader as the CAA documents are in .pdf format. Alternatively, try www.flightexaminers.com (http://www.flightexaminers.com) or e-mail [email protected] for the seminars run by Tony Kember for ETA; e-mail [email protected] for seminars run by AOPA.

The reason why civilians are training the RAF at Barkston, etc. is quite simple. The RAF can't afford to train to its own quality standards any more. Hence it is trying to make do with a contractor-run system.

[StrateandLevel]

WWW. There never was an upgrade course. The course you refer to is for the removal of the "No applied instrument instruction" limitation.

I think the Q was a comforter for AFIs who on loosing the A, had to add something to preserve their dignity.

Now we have the FI(Restricted) who upgrades to a FI(Unrestricted) Does that make them a FIU?

[This message has been edited by StrateandLevel (edited 10 February 2000).]

[Airprox]

All so picky!

We're all pilots/instructors doing our job. What does it matter what our ratings are called?

Its a real shame that every one wants to be that bit better than the other guy. Don't we all just want to fly?