Renewing an Expired FI Rating?
 

I last worked as an FI 12 years ago before moving on (financially speaking) to the world of airline flying. I visited a local airfield & the memories of those halcyon days came back to me (ok, ok so I'm using rose coloured glasses) & I booked a few lessons to renew my SEP: it's the most enjoyment I've had from flying for years, pottering along in the ubiquitous C172. I'd now love to get back into instructing but I'm really confused as to what the current requirements are, what with ever changing regs from EASA, to renew my FI rating. Just to complete the picture: I have a current UK ATPL but I've been flying under a foreign licence for the past six years so I'm really out of touch with the present situation in the UK. Trying to speak to a human being (well a human being who can answer a straight forward question at any rate) at The Belgrano seems like an aptitude test I continually fail.

Any helpful advice & pointers would be greatly appreciated.

You will need to contact an FIC provider and complete training as required to pass the FI Test with an FIE. You also have to attend a FI Revalidation Seminar, these are held at regular intervals by AOPA and ONTRACK On completion, the CAA will have to reissue the rating as it has expired by more than 5 years. At that point, there will be some options regarding an EASA licence, as you say you have a UK ATPL and that will not be valid on EASA aircraft after April 2014.

Mine had expired by more than 20 years and unless the rules have changed over the past 4 months it's very straightforward to renew.
Write to CAA for an assessment, they'll give you a full rundown, mine went like this:

1. I needed to renew my PPL - I had to do a skills test for that
2. I Attended a 2 day AOPA instructors seminar
3. I took the FI test following a few flights with my son in order to practice the patter

It's amazing how it all comes flooding back and like you say it's a breath of fresh air from handling the big jets - not that I don't still enjoy my everyday job, it's just that light aircraft flying is a lot more fun!

Good luck and I hope the renewal runs smoothly.

On closer inspection they have; EASA does not require you to receive training from an FIC Instructor whereas JAR-FCL did, now you simply do the Seminar and Test. But, if you also wanted to renew an SEP class rating under EASA you would have to go to an ATO for training!

I renewed mine earlier this year after over 15 years off. It wasn't too challenging apart from the legislation which had completely changed. I'd thoroughly recommend doing the OnTrack seminar before the flying. This year they had useful presentations on EASA and teaching techniques.
Still haven't tried to find any work, though.

Thank you
 

Thanks for the very informative answers everyone, much appreciated.

Whopity, I should have said that I have a current JAR UK issued licence so that, from what I understand, is a straight swap for the EASA licence? I'm going to renew my IR on a SEP to keep my UK JAR licence; after I've renewed that particular rating I'll renew my FI ticket. Really enjoying it & looking forward to it but, wow, has it ever got expensive back in Blighty!

Another question: can US flight schools conduct PPL training on an LSA or VLA typed aircraft? I was reading somewhere that certification was approved in Europe for such aircraft but not in the USA? I ask the question because I regularly layover in LAX & the cost is so much cheaper than in Britain.

Sapco2, I hear you but sitting in the cruise for hour after hour is no fun for me anymore, it's just that I could never afford to give up my day job but, yes, I still do get a buzz from aeroplanes & I wouldn't want to do anything else. I love aviation: it's given me everything & now, perhaps I'd like to put something back.