CFI Pass Rate and the FSDO

I started training four Chinese students a few months ago with an 83% pass rate (12 passes and 2 fails). These guys were a struggle to get through Private Pilot but, the first two passed and the last two failed; I am reluctant to sign the last two off gain. This gives me a 77% pass rate now (14 passes and 4 failures).

I recall hearing something about dropping below an 80% pass rate and having two or more failures in a row. Has anyone had any issues with this? Will get the attention of the FSDO?

I know of an instructor with an overall pass rate of around 50-60% and to my knowledge he hasn't heard anything. Some of those were multiple fails on the same ride too. While I would't consider him the rule I would imagine you are pretty safe. a 77% isn't too far off of the 80%.

I don't know what the real number is before they come calling, but I would imagine it has to do with pattern of failures developing.

I went through a rough spot with checkrides a few months ago (three consecutive failures on PPL checkrides), but I never heard anything about it from the FSDO or the DPE, so I suspect the FSDO's mostly get involved if there's a complaint about the instructor from students or DPE's, or if something else brings brings the competency of the instructor into question.

As long as you don't make a habit of failing students over a sustained period or have them massively unprepared (DPE's can tell the difference between someone who is unprepared and someone who gets "checkride-itis"), you should be fine.

As stated above, there would have to be a significant pattern, and it would have to be brought to the FSDO's attention. The only time I've ever heard about it even coming close to happening is a CFI at our flight school that signed the same guy off for the same ride 4 or 5 times, and the guy either got a discontinuance or a failure every time. Several other CFI's were concerned enough to bring it up to our POI

CFI pass rate? Who cares.... Either you're producing competent pilot's or you're not. You do what it takes to get them to perform to PTS, you sign them off. Then it's up to them and the DPE.

BTW, the pass rate only counts for the initial recommendation. If they screw the pooch once, its done. If they pass on round two then great, you don't get credit. If they fail then you don't get dinged.

If you've signed off at least 10 students with an 80% 1st time pass rate then youre eligible for a gold seal on your CFI certificate, but that's the only time I've ever heard a pass rate mentioned for CFI's

Renewal...

It has to do with your renewal. 61.197(a)(2)(i). Word!

There's also the 80% first time pass requirement for 141 schools, and I think a lot of 141 holders interpret that as "fire anyone with less than an 80% pass rate".

^ thats for the school as a whole not the individual instructor.

Our FSDO has been awesome with our CFI initials. They've been nothing but fair and given good rides. Our pass rate is well above "excellent" and they're quick to get them assigned to an inspector and get a date set when you call up. My ride from there was very straight forward and had an approximately 3hr oral and then a 1.5 flight, nothing too bad.

I know a guy that was had to sit down the feds due to his pass rate. Don't remember what that rate was.

The decision should be yours based upon the performance of the student and that alone. If there is reluctance to endorse a student you feel deserves it, think of the situation in reverse. If you had a 100% pass rate and a failure would only drop it down to a 99%, would you sign off someone who didn't deserve it? Use your good judgment and just do the right thing.

I have known of CFIs getting attention from the FAA, but never because of pass rate alone. Typically it is either following an incident with one of their students (they get lost and end up doing something very noticable) or the DPEs think the quality of the students they receive from a CFI is so bad they complain to the FSDO. In the second type of case, I've never seen one where the DPEs didn't first try to take with the CFI.

just because it come up every once in a while. "search function"

http://forums.jetcareers.com/threads/709-for-instructors.108713/