how to renew cfi with pass rate?

Refer to 14 CF4 61.197 to find several of the renewal methods. In addition to these, the FAASTeam lays out instructions in the WINGS User Guide to complete the CFI renewal required every twenty-four months.

But first, how do you actually validate activities, anyway? The first step to validate a student’s activities is, of course, to have a WINGS profile yourself. If you haven’t done so yet, go the WINGS page and follow the instructions to participate in the WINGS program. If you are an instructor, you can utilize the “Instructor Portal.” Here, you can validate WINGS credit for others. You can validate WINGS credit for others based on two scenarios: 1. You completed the training as their instructor, or 2. They presented proof of activity completion to you. The first scenario is self-explanatory. Let me provide an example for the second scenario. I have attended Part 142 training where the personnel at the center is not familiar with the WINGS program, yet there is an associated activity in the activity database. In this case, when I return from training, I present a CFI colleague with my training record showing I’ve completed the training and hence, the associated WINGS activity. He or she can validate the WINGS activity based on this proof of completion.

Back to the CFI renewal. To meet the requirement of CFI renewal through the WINGS program, you must perform the training. To be eligible, you must validate a total of fifteen (15) activities for at least five (5) different students. Here is the entire list of requirements:

The FAASTeam really tees this up for you; on the last few pages of the WINGS User Guide, they list out commonly used WINGS activities for most students. These include basic activities like takeoffs, landings, and go-arounds. This creates an easy to reference list from which you can pick activities. Presumably, a moderately active flight instructor could complete the requirements for CFI renewal under the WINGS Program in a matter of weeks or months.

So, who would this method of see if I renewal be good for? This would be a great message for anyone who wants to create awareness about the WINGS program. If you are a safety evangelist, and you think this is a great program like I do, exposing your primary students to the WINGS program is a great way to be a safety advocate.

On a more practical level, using the WINGS program to renew your CFI would be good for active flight instructors who might not endorse lots of students for practical test. For instance, if your flight school specializes in aerobatics only or provides mostly tailwheel endorsements, this might be a great method to keep up your CFI. Granted, this will still require going to your local FSDO, filling out IACRA, and presenting supporting documentation to the FAA inspector. However, if for whatever reason, you don’t endorse lots of students for practical exams, you don’t need to worry about the minimum of five endorsements and an 80% pass rate. Nor do you need to worry about paying for a CFI renewal program every two years.

For an active instructor, the WINGS CFI renewal method strikes me as the easiest, least expensive way to renew your CFI. By creating an attractive way to renew a CFI certificate, the FAASTeam has possibly created the most effective way to spread awareness about the WINGS program. CFIs are the educating link to the vast majority of the flying public; by incentivizing CFIs to participate in the WINGS program themselves, interest in the WINGS program will undoubtedly increase. Widespread awareness of the WINGS program isn’t required for you to take advantage of the benefits, though. You know this well-kept secret now, so next time your CFI is due for renewal, use the FAA WINGS program!

• Passing a practical test, a flight instructor rating.
• Submit proof to the FAA that you have signed off at least five students for a practical test within the last 24 months, and at least 80% of those signed off passed on the first attempt.

Related: The Value of Goals for Flight Training

How do you get your CFI? You have to have completed flight school, you need to speak, write and read English, you also need to be over 18 years of age and have an instrument rating, plus you need to have logged over 250 hours of flight time.  After you have completed all that, you can become a Certified Flight Instructor.  Your certificate only lasts for 24 months, so you want to make sure you are on top of the CFI renewal process.

Why should you become a Certified Flight Instructor or CFI?  Most pilots go for their CFI because it helps to gain more experience flying, and you can log more hours in the air.  Once you’ve become a pilot, there is obviously a love of flying, and who doesn’t want to become an expert at their craft.  Obtaining your CFI Certificate helps you to become well respected in the aviation community, and it also provides you the chance to give back to a fellow future pilot with the knowledge you have learned over the course of your career.

Once you do become a Certified Flight Instructor, you will want to stay on top of your renewals, as it will only last two years.  If you let your CFI certificate expire by even a day, you will need to retake all your classes, training and complete a check ride.  It’s a good idea to get a head start when your expiration date is approaching.  Here are some ways to stay ahead of the curve.

Here’s the good news, you can start the CFI renewal process up to 3 months before your expiration date, which is a good idea considering how drastic the measures are. If you let your CFI Certificate expire by one day, you will basically have to start all over.  No one likes repeating classes, especially when it could take up to 12 weeks to complete a flight instructor refresher course, and you will also need to retake a checkride which is a live test in the air.

One way you can renew your CFI is to complete a FIRC (Flight Instructor Refresher Clinic) that is completed online or by attending an Industry Sponsored event in person.  You may prefer this process as it’s a nice refresher course.  Just don’t let your CFI Certificate expire and then be forced to complete a CFI refresher course, and you will also need to complete a checkride all over again.

If you are an A student and have always scored highly on tests, gone above and beyond to be knowledgeable in your craft, you can get your CFI renewal just by studying hard and achieving a high score.  The way to do this is if you maintain an 80% First Time Student Pass Rate out of a minimum of 5 recommendations for a practical test, you can renew your CFI Certificate this way.  Make sure you keep all your documentation within the next two years just in case you need to prove your academic achievements.

Another way you can get your CFI Certificate renewal is by serving as a Check Airman in part 121 or 135 operations within two years of achieving your CFI Certificate.  Just make sure your logbook entries are all well documented so you can show the FAA your credentials and have proof of your Check Airman experience.  Basically, it’s the same thing as “license and registration,” except this time it’s the FAA asking, and your Check Airman experience is your license and your registration.

A fun way to renew your CFI Certificate is to participate in the FAA Wings program, and complete 15 hours of flight training to other participating pilots, and sign off on at least five pilots for their phase of this program.  It’s a great way to give back and earn some more flight time hours, which may be needed depending on your pilot career “flight path.”

Now, if you were an A+ student on the honor roll and valedictorian, you might want to consider studying extra hard for your first-time practical test.  Because if you earn 80% on the first-time practical test pass rate out of 10 recommendations in the 24 months following your CFI Certificate, you will get a Gold Seal Certification, which is a top-notch score that few receive.  Consider it a flight school honor roll, but it can only be used once to renew your Certified Flight Instructor Certificate.