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Answers for Pilots

Back to school

CFIs must remain current

"I am a long-since-lapsed flight instructor (ASEL) and have not flown in 11 to 12 years," an AOPA member recently wrote in an e-mail message to AOPA ( aopahq@aopa.org). "I am in the process of getting checked out in some back-to-basics flying in a Citabria. Two flight schools have urged me to get my CFI reinstated as well. Since it has been so long since any active involvement, I would like to take some formal and intensive training to get up to date on the required maneuvers, regs, complex airplane, etc.

"Do you know of a flight school where they offer such a formal course in a reasonably short period of time? I would be willing to take some vacation time to go for, say, a couple of weeks."

AOPA Aviation Technical Specialist Paul Smith, a flight instructor himself, responded: "I can't think of a school that offers a fast CFI course, and I don't think that you want to go to a 'quickie' school anyway. Better that you get a copy of the FAR/AIM and get to boning up on things. A great deal has changed in the past few years. Start flying with a CFI.

"The only way that you can retain this stuff is to get out there and do it — over and over again. A lot of the knowledge is still in there, so the process may not take as long as you might think, but you'll have to at least get current on airspace and METAR/TAF. To get your CFI current again, you'll have to go for another ride with an FAA examiner. Mostly the CFI ride consists of a few of the commercial maneuvers and some spot landings, but the oral exam is a bear. There are many hypothetical questions that you answer based on your experience and your knowledge of parts 61 and 91."

AOPA Aviation Technical Specialist Craig Brown, also a CFII, concurs with Smith's advice, adding, "The first thing is to get up to speed as a pilot. An instructor is a pilot first. You need to take care of the basics — get a current medical, have a flight review with another instructor. Then you'll need to concentrate on reinstating your CFI certificate." Brown emphasizes that the certificate will need to be reinstated, not simply renewed. "An instructor's certificate must be updated every 24 months, and that can be accomplished by taking a weekend course such as an AOPA Air Safety Foundation Flight Instructor Refresher Course (FIRC). But a flight test is mandated if your certificate has expired."

In addition to getting back up to speed as a pilot, Brown recommends intensive review of certain aspects of the regulations that have changed in the past several years. This includes Part 61, which was rewritten in 1996; designations that have changed; changes to the weather-reporting systems; and the medical requirements that changed in 1996. "The flying is the easy part; it's the regulation and airspace changes that are harder," said Brown.

As an AOPA member, you have access to the best resource anywhere for information and answers for pilots. AOPA provides information for its members through a vast array of communications technology. You can reach experts in all fields of aviation via AOPA Online ( www.aopa.org/members/), the AOPA Pilot Information Center (800/USA-AOPA), and via e-mail ( aopahq@aopa.org). Aviation technical specialists respond promptly to member requests. AOPA Online provides members with access to information and resources 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The toll-free AOPA Pilot Information Center gives you direct access to specialists in every area of aviation. The center is available to members from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday.

AOPA Web resources

AOPA's A Pilot's Guide to Getting Back Into Flying tells you what you need to know to rejoin your airborne counterparts in the sky.
www.aopa.org/members/files/guides/getback.html

The AOPA Air Safety Foundation's Airspace For Everyone Safety Advisor discusses VFR and IFR operations within different classes of airspace.
www.aopa.org/asf/publications/sa02.html

A review of FAR 61.56 on the requirements of the flight review.
www.aopa.org/members/files/topics/fltrvw.html

Information on the new medical certificate issuance format.
www.aopa.org/members/resources/medical.html

Julie Walker
Julie Summers Walker
AOPA Senior Features Editor
AOPA Senior Features Editor Julie Summers Walker joined AOPA in 1998. She is a student pilot still working toward her solo.

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