haven't flown for a while

[coa]

hello fellow pilots!! this is my first post on this forum. I'm so glad i found this forum!!

i haven't flown since 2002, i was a cfi and my cfi expired at the end of that same year. i was lazy then, and never really realized what kind of an impact that expiration would have later on if i wanted to get back into flying.

well, now i want to get back into flying, maybe even instructing. so my question is, how do i go about doing that?

my medical cerificate is current, that's the only thing that i kept renewing over the years. i believe it's a second class medical.

do i need to go to a designated examiner and take checkrides for my private, instrument, commercial & cfi? or can i can through an instructor and take a flight review?

also, if i were to get my cfi again, do i have to go through the faa fsdo again and take the checkride with them or can i take a checkride with a designated examiner?

what about the written exams? do those need to be taken over again?


thanks for any advice.

eddie

[mavsfflife]

[ QUOTE ]
hello fellow pilots!! this is my first post on this forum. I'm so glad i found this forum!!

i haven't flown since 2002, i was a cfi and my cfi expired at the end of that same year. i was lazy then, and never really realized what kind of an impact that expiration would have later on if i wanted to get back into flying.

well, now i want to get back into flying, maybe even instructing. so my question is, how do i go about doing that?

my medical cerificate is current, that's the only thing that i kept renewing over the years. i believe it's a second class medical.

do i need to go to a designated examiner and take checkrides for my private, instrument, commercial & cfi? or can i can through an instructor and take a flight review?

also, if i were to get my cfi again, do i have to go through the faa fsdo again and take the checkride with them or can i take a checkride with a designated examiner?

what about the written exams? do those need to be taken over again?


thanks for any advice.

eddie

[/ QUOTE ]

I can't answer all of your questions but I can at least tell you that your private, instrument, and commercial certificates never expire as long as you have a current medical. It's probably smart to go get back in the swing of things with another pilot but no checkrides will be necessary. As for your questions dealing with the whole CFI aspect, I'm not too sure of. Written exams, I'm 90% sure you don't have to worry about those either. Good luck!

[Pilot Hopeful]

If you are serious about jumping back into instructing, I would suggest looking through a copy of this year's FAR/AIM. In addition to finding answers to all of your certificate questions (see part 61), you will also note pertinent changes since you last flew, both as a pilot and as a flight instructor. Notably, pilots must now carry a valid photo ID in addition to their licenses, and flight instructors must verify citizenship of all students before beginning training (a new TSA requirement).

Some specific answers to your questions…

1. Complete a flight review and IPC with a qualified instructor. Most likely, your pilot certificates do not have expiration dates. No written test will be required, unless your instructor opts to administer one.

2. The recertification checkride for your CFI privileges may be with either the FSDO or a designated examiner, I believe. The FARs are not specific, but you can always check with a local examiner (or the FSDO) to verify the current policy in your region.

Specific questions about regulation interpretation or about recent industry changes are always welcome.

[coa]

thanks for the replies!!

i definitely need to pick up a current copy of the FAR/AIM

i have an old one (2001?) at home and was going through that but did not want to go by what was stated in there as i figured it would be outdated.

i do remember that as long as your medical is current, your ppl, instrument, & commercial will not expire. great to hear that they haven't changed that!!

however, i'm definitely going to pick up new gleim/jeppesen study guides for all those written exams. just to review everything.


as far as the cfi goes, i remember that in the FARs it states that if your going for your INITIAL cfi certificate, you would have to go through an FAA examiner/FSDO for the checkride. i would really like to avoid taking the checkride with the FAA. i had a horrible and herendous experience when i dealt with them in 2000 for my cfi. i (and i think i speak for everyone else going for their instructor certificates) would rather avoid them and just take the checkride with a designated examiner.

does this initial cfi apply to me? because i had a cfi before so it isn't my initial cfi.

i'm getting back into flying because i've missed it. i already have a career now that i'm very happy with so i don't plan to get into instructing to build time and pursue a professional pilot career. and i'm also not getting back into instructing for the money. lol


by the way, does anyone know if there is a 2005/2006 version of the FAR/AIM available online??


thanks again!!

[EatSleepFly]

[ QUOTE ]
by the way, does anyone know if there is a 2005/2006 version of the FAR/AIM available online??


[/ QUOTE ]

Here you go!

Current FAR's- Online!

[Pilot Hopeful]

Current FAA regulations...

[coa]

thanks for the links guys...

i have still yet to find it stated anywhere that i need to take my cfi checkride with the fsdo.

i'm going to call the fsdo monday or tuesday and find out from them, however, i don't think i'll get the right answer from them becasue i've received misinformation from them before.

just out of curiosity, has anyone taken their initial cfi checkride recently, especially ny, with a fsdo?

if so, how was it?



thanks for any replies and advice/suggestions.

[kellwolf]

Took my initial CFI-I with the FSDO, and it's more or less an experience I would rather not repeat.....ever. 6 hour orals over things that are no where NEAR the PTS (hey, it does say MINIMUM as far as the topics) are no fun. Top that off with a flight with an inspector known for having a 0% pass rate and doesn't even own a headset (used the speaker), and it was probably the most stressful thing I've ever done.

Now, my add-ons for the MEI and CFI were with DEs, so those weren't so bad. You should be able to get current on the ppl, instrument, comm etc with a BFR and an IPC with an instructor. There's a couple of ways you can get current on the CFI stuff.

First, you can take another checkride. Second, do you have your CFI-I? If you get together with a CFI and train for that, once you pass that checkride, your CFI is magically renewed. If you're gonna have to take a full on checkride anyway, might as well get something out of it.

[coa]

my cfi checkride experience with the fsdo was the same as yours kellwolf. it's the longest, hardest, most grulling test i've ever taken in my life! and yes, it was very stressful for me as well.

unfortunately, i don't have my cfi-i. however, if i start training for it, do i still need to take the checkride with the fsdo or can i take it with just the examiner? i mean, i'm probaably going to get the cfi-i anyway, and if it means avoiding the fsdo to take the checkride, i will do that instead.

is that what you meant when you stated that i can train for the cfi-i and take the checkride with a DE instead of the fsdo and be able to get the cfi-i and cfi in one checkride??

thanks

[kellwolf]

DEs can do add-ons here in the DFW area. FSDO is only necessary for the initial. I'm guessing it's probably the same up in your area, too.

[coa]

kewl

so there is a way to avoid the fsdo!! and get a 2-for-1 at the checkride with the DE!!


sweeeeeet

[Van_Hoolio]

§ 61.199 Expired flight instructor certificates and ratings.

Check it out!

[Grabo172]

I let my CFI expire back in 2002 because I was on a carrier in the middle of a war...

It's not all that hard to do.

You just have to pass a checkride with a DPE. It took me about 15 hours fo practice to get up to speed again and went for the ride.

Here's a LINK to my story... hope it helps and PM me if you have any more questions...

-Erik