The CFI, CFII, and MEI are not necessarily included, but in the US, most pilots get these ratings after their CPL to get their first job and build hours (some schools in the US have programs where the ratings are included once you finish your CPL and then they hire you to teach at their school for awhile, for a good example, look at airline transport professionals). Many pilots at part 121 operations (scheduled airlines) were a flight instructor once upon a time and they often view those without flight instructor experience as less knowledgeable pilots. Also, with the new 1500 hour rule in the US, there won´t be pilots going to the airlines with 300hrs anymore like back in 2007. Getting the flight instructor ratings is usually the intermediary step between CPL and ATP in the USA.
CFI= Certified Flight Instructor
CFII= Certified Instrument Instructor
MEI= Multi Engine Instructor
In Europe, you won´t find many programs where they include instructor ratings. In Europe, pilots tend to go to airlines with less hours and also pay to fly is more common (it is almost non-existent in the US and will probably be killed when 1500hr rule comes into full effect).
The instructor ratings in the US include taking a written test, getting training with an instructor in both ground and flight, and taking a checkride which are very difficult (in the US, about half of the CFI candidates fail at least one of their instructor checkrides). You must have an approved examiner, either from the FAA or designated by the FAA.
In Europe, you have to attend an approved course with ground and flight instruction with an instructor and pass a flight test. There is usually 125hrs of theory, 30 hrs of flight, and when you are all done, you have a restricted Flight instructor rating which requires supervision and I think it is restricted to teaching PPL students. I´m sure someone here can expand/clarify/correct me since i´m not 100% on the JAA FI rating.
In Europe, they have FI=Flight instructor
IRI= Instrument Rating Instructor
there is also a separate rating for multi engine instructor and MCC instructor. Your flight tests must be completed by a FIE (flight instructor examiner)
also medicals are different...
FAA Class I - For ATP
FAA Class II - For CPL
FAA Class III - For PPL
JAR Class 1 - ATPL and CPL
JAR Class 2 - PPL
JAR Class 3 - ATC
Last edited by zondaracer; 6th February 2011 at 15:48.