Originally Posted by
Marekjefrajer
Hello everyone. I need a bit of a help with FAA regulations. I am an airline pilot under EASA but I am looking for some information concerning pilot training under FAA.
As far as I am concerned, there are either FAA-approved flight schools or certificated flight instructors. My question being, what are the documents regulating flight schools and certificated flight instructors (like Title 14: Aeronautics and Space, Part 61)?
An "approved school" operates under Part 141 so you may also hear the term "141 school." An approved school uses a more structured syllabus so there is some reduction in the hours required versus Part 61 training.
Are these the only two means of obtaining flight training? Can certificated flight instructor offer flight instructions to anyone, while not being employed by any approved flight school? Does he need to have any approved manuals? Is there anything like not-certificated flight instructor as well?
Yes, yes and no. In theory anyone could teach you to fly. However unless they are a CFI the time spent with them doesn't count.
If a certificated flight instructor is allowed to provide flight instructions outside of a flight school, can he provide flight training for all types of licenses, or for example only up to private pilot license, and, if a pilot wants to obtain a higher license (instrument rating, commercial pilot license, etc.), does he have to receive this training in an approved flight school? Does a certificated flight instructor have to have his own aircraft, or can he provide flight training on his client‘s aircraft?
CFI certificates have categories and ratings just like pilot certificates. A pilot could have a commercial SEL/MEL/glider pilot certificate but only have a CFI-glider and therefore only be able to instruct in gliders. I would say most CFIs start with a CFI airplane certificate. If the took their checkride in a SE airplane they would only be able to give instruction in SE aircraft. But they could instruct PVT, COMM or ATP level students. There is an additional checkride for a ME CFI and another written exam and checkride for an instrument instructor rating. Some of the instruction for an IR must be given by a CFI-I however the 3 hours instrument time for the PVT can be given by a plain CFI. A CFI could own their training aircraf or instruct in the student's aircraft. The normal situation is they work for a flight school either Part 61 or Part 141 and teach in the school's aircraft.
To be more specific with my question, for example §61.109 Aeronautical experience says, that „(a)…a person who applies for a private pilot certificate with an airplane category and single-engine class rating must log at least 40 hours of flight time that includes at least 20 hours of flight training from an authorized instructor and 10 hours of solo flight training…“
Is the term authorized instructor equal to certificated flight instructor? Does an applicant have to fly those 20 hours with an instructor within an approved flight school or can it be with any certificated flight instructor, who might not be employed by any flight school? Last but not least, 40 hours total minus 20 with instructor minus 10 hours of solo flight training results in remaining 10 hours required for private pilot license. Is there any other regulation concerning these 10 hours?
If there is someone who can explain me the basic rules of FAA regulations, I would appreciate it very much!
Thanks in advance, Marek
An authorized instructor is a CFI with the appropriate ratings. A CFI-G could not instruct in an airplane.
Yes, there is a gap in the required hours. Not many students are ready for their checkride at 40 hours. I recall hearing years back the average student had about 55-60 when they took their checkride under Part 61. The 3 hours X-c, 3 hours night and 3 hours hood time can overlap. As the holder of a foreign license you would have to figure out which of your foreign hours could count for the FAA requirements. The one thing for sure you would need is the 3 hours checkride preparation in the prior 2 months.
To the last post above, if you are taking an ATP checkride in a simulator you don't need any medical. Simulator training falls under Part 142 which has different requirements for instructors.